Red River Lawns and Landscapes

2011 mowing and landscaping season with Red River Lawns and Landscapes

2011-02-05T15:56:00.002-06:00

Red River Lawns and Landscapes is excited about the 2011 mowing and landscape season. We are aggressively working with other contractors in order to broaden our services for all current and future customers of our company. We are also proud of our MowClarksville2011 initiative to support breast cancer awareness in Tennessee. Proceeds from our 2011 mowing season will be donated to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition in Nashville. We have updated our color scheme on our website. We are assertively building our social networking presence through Twitter and Facebook and encourage everyone that reads this to follow us for updates. If you are current customer I would like to take this time to thank you for your business in 2010 and looking forward to working with everyone in 2011.

Richard Byrd
http://www.redriverlawns.com/
rbyrd@redriverlawns.com
(931( 551-6527

Pruning trees, shrubs, and groundcover in Tennessee

2011-01-16T10:50:00.000-06:00

Check out this great article from The University of Tennessee's Ag Department on pruning for trees, shrubs, and groundcover.

https://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/PB1619.pdf

Visit http://www.redriverlawns.com/ to learn more. We provide mowing services and landscaping in Clarksville, TN and the surrounding communities.

Richard Byrd
(931)551-6527
rbyrd@redriverlawns.com
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

New Phone Book

2010-11-23T17:35:00.001-06:00

Well, the new phone book is out and Red River Lawns & Landscapes is not in it. I feel a little nervousness but overall I am comfortable in my decision to not advertise with the them. As mentioned in an earlier post I was extremely disappointed in the fact that they published the wrong pictures even after they acknowledged receiving the corrected proof. I guess deadlines are more important than customers.

Moving forward I feel that the internet is the best choice for advertising. At http://www.redriverlawns.com/ potential customers can learn all about our company and the services that we provide. From there a visitor can click over to our Facebook page or Twitter page. In 2011 we will develop videos for YouTube that will provide insight into our company. These three methods provide a cost affective way to advertise our business while allowing us to tailor the message to specific seasons and provide real time updates from our company.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes will also pleased to announce our MowClarksville Initiative for next year. We will donate 2% of the gross from the first 50 customers that sign up for our lawn service in 2011 to the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition. We are very proud of this and will be pushing for it's success.

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Talk to you soon.

Richard Byrd
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

Purchase your plant material from Red River Lawns & Landscapes this fall.

2010-08-23T19:44:00.000-05:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes offers plant material for sale straight from the nursery to your doorstep. Are you wanting to design and install your own landscape project? Do you want to purchases a particular plant or variety of plant material for your existing landscape? We offer plant material straight from the nurseries to your doorstep and guarantee that we will save you money.

How it works:
Provide us a list of plant material for your project. We will source the material from a list of nurseries in middle Tennessee to insure that we obtain the best pricing. We will provide the cost of the material to you for comparison. Once you commit and give us the green light we will purchase and deliver the material to the location you designate. If we install your purchase we will guarantee the plant material for one year. It's that easy.

Give is a call today at (931) 551-6527. You can also visit our website at www.RedRiverLawns.com

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawns & Landscapes
Clarksville, TN 37040

Selecting, establishing and maintaining the Fescues by Tom Samples, Associate Professor Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design

2010-08-15T15:22:00.000-05:00

Read the following article by Tom Samples of the University of Tennessee on establishing and maintaning Fescue Grasses for your yard. This article discusses types of fescues, mowing, fertilizing, aeration, and irrigation. Excellent information.

http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1576.pdf

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawns & Landscapes
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

Red River Lawns & Landscapes Satisfaction Guarantee

2010-08-13T18:40:00.000-05:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes offers all of our customers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. What does this mean for you? As the owner of Red River Lawns & Landscapes I personally guarantee that the service we perform will be performed to the customers specifications and more. If you are not satisfied with any part of your service you can call me at (931) 551-6527. With timely notification I will correct the issue no questions ask. This is one more reason why Red River Lawns & Landscapes is changing the face of lawn care one lawn at a time.

Mow Clarksville 2011

2010-08-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

Looking at out old post I see that it has been awhile since we have posted anything on our blog. So I will start the first post of 2010 with an introduction to our MowClarksville initiative for 2011. Red River Lawns and Landscapes is gearing for 2011. We want to expand and are seeking 50 new customers for next year. This is a huge goal for Red River Lawns & Landscapes. After brainstorming for ideas we decided on the MowClarskville 2011 initiative.

MowClarskville is a plan to give back to the community. Inspired by my mothers willingness to help others in Savannah, GA I decided that a portion of the proceeds from signing on 50 new customers would be donated to a local charity or non-profit located in the Clarskville area. The catch is the customers decide who will collect the money at the end of 2011. A list will be compiled based on request from anyone who would like to see a specific charity listed. In October 2011 our customers will vote by ballot attached to their invoice. Once the votes are counted I will deliver a check to the organization that won.

This is a great plan that I encourage everyone to participate in. Now only will you get a great service provided by Red River Lawns & Landscapes but a percentage of you total invoice will be donated back into the community. After all, none of this would be possible without our customers. You can follow the process on this blog though out the year.

Thanks again.

Richard Byrd
www. RedRiverLawns.com
www.twitter.com/mowclarksville

Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2009-12-27T17:31:00.000-06:00

To all,

I would like to take a moment to say "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" to everyone who may read this. I would also like to say "Thank You" to all of our customers this year. We appreciate your business and look forward to working with all of you next year.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes is anticipating a great year for 2010. We have evaluated this years performance and are commiting to finding ways to improve our level of service for our current and future customers. Some examples of the changes we are implementing for 2010 are listed below:

Stamped self addressed envelope attached to all customer invoices.
A net 15 payment policy to insure prompt payment.
We will be using ProLandscape Software for all landscape projects.

Visit www.ProLandscape.com to learn more.

We have made it easier for customers to request an estimate from our website.

Visit www.redriverlawns.com/Contact_Us.html to learn more.

Our service plans offer level billing over the course of the season and allow you to choose services based on your budget.
Each customer will recieve a welcome packet with service dates, company policies, billing procedures, and a year end review that we request you fill out to evaluate our performance at the end of the season.

Please take a moment to browse our website. Thank you and we hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Best Regards,

Richard Byrd

Red River Lawns & Landscapes
Clarksville, TN
(931)551-6527
rbyrd@redriverlawns.com
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

Red River Lawns Bed Maintenance Packages

2009-12-21T17:17:00.002-06:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes offers the following services to our customers for our bed maintenance programs:

Weed Removal - We remove existing weeds in all beds. Weeds will be pulled three times per season in the spring, summer, and fall. You bed material will be culivated using hoes, hand cultivators and/or machines to promote moisture to the plant roots.

Mulch Installation - A mulch of your choice will be delivered and installed based on which plan you subscribe to (see Plans below). Mulch installations are scheduled for the spring and fall.

Spring and Fall Bush and Hedge Trimming - All bush, hedge, evergreen, and tree material that can be pruned without climbing will be trimmed in the Spring and Fall. Each plant is shaped to develop natural form and maintain a well manicured appearance. All debris and material is removed from the property.

Maintenance programs are combined with mowing services for billing purposes.

See www.RedRiverLawns.com/Payment for billing and payment policies

Red River Basic Bed Maintenance Plan:

Weed Removal
Choice of one:

Spring Bush and Hedge Trimming
Fall Bush and Hedge Trimming

See above for item descriptions.

Red River Deluxe Bed Maintenance Plan:

Weed Removal
Mulch Installation
Spring Bush and Hedge Trimming
Fall Bush and Hedge Trimming
See above for item descriptions.

Maintenance programs are combined with mowing services for billing purposes.

See www.RedRiverLawns.com/Payment for billing and payment policies

Richard Byrd
http://www.redriverlawns.com/
customerservice@redriverlawns.com

Can We Grow Our Food in Our Cities?

2009-12-08T21:35:00.001-06:00

Can We Grow Our Food in Our Cities?

Posted using ShareThis

Plant a tree today. Visit www.RedRiverLawns.com

2009-12-01T09:42:00.001-06:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes provides landscape services in Clarksville, Tn and the surrounding communities. Such services include landscape design, landscape installation, and landscape maintenance. We purchase our trees from nurseries in middle TN and Georgia. You can visit us online at www.RedriverLawns.com or call us at (931)551-6527.

Proper Watering in Fall

2009-12-01T09:39:00.001-06:00

Proper Watering in Fall
"Why do I need to water in the fall?

Although the trees are beginning to go dormant, it is important to give them a nice and long last drink of water before the ground freezes. When the ground is frozen and snow is piled inches high, the trees cannot draw water from the ground. This puts the trees in danger for “winter burn” later down the road. According to David Beaulieu, writer for landscaping.about.com, ”Properly watering the plants in fall, then, can be an effective means of minimizing injury to trees and shrubs during the winter”. David also suggests occasionally watering in late autumn/winter."

Fall Lawn Fertilization - Red River Lawns & Landscapes

2009-11-30T12:34:00.000-06:00

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawns & Landscapes
Clarksville, TN 37040
www.RedRiverLawns.com

Thanksgiving message I received in my email yesterday

2009-11-26T11:44:00.000-06:00

This is a copy of an email I received yesterday. I happened to open it right after I finished my last job before the holidays started. All I can say is I'm definitely thankful for my family. Happy Thanksgiving to all that may read this.

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawns & Landscapes

Hello everyone,
I wanted to take this time to not only wish all of you
and your family a very happy Thanksgiving, but want to
pose a small challenge to you this Holliday season.
Though this is for everyone, I want to particularly
talk to the younger members. It's so easy for all
of use to get caught up in the importance of growing
our businesses and achieving that "American Dream".
We certainly have become a very materialistic
society - it's caught me up in it and now I watch
my children fall victim to it as well. I was
growing my business at my prime during the Reagan
years, the YUPI period. The more you had, the
bigger it was - the better!

Now I have been very fortunate in my life so far.
I have never lost a loved-one in my immediate
family. My parents are still alive and healthy as
are my siblings. So I had never known the tragedy
of losing someone who was well - a part of you.
But in 1986, right in the middle of my blooming
career as an entrepreneur, I'll never forget the
call of panic I received from my wife while I was
cutting a lawn. Screaming in utter terror. "Get
to the hospital - Hurry! Frankie Had a Seizure -
He's Not Breathing - I Did The Best I can!"
Leaving my equipment where it laid, I bolted down
the highway at over 100 mph during the longest 15
minutes of my life. During that ride, I can remember
pleading with God, first to forgive every bad thing I
had every done. But then begging, no I think it was
a little more like demanding that he take me instead
of my little Frankie. If it wasn't my life, than I
was begging for him to take every last possession and
give me a life of poverty. I was pleading my case and
trying to give away everything I had, including my
life for the exchange of my 2-year-old son. Well, he
heard my plea and Frank would be fine - never having
another episode. Obviously God had plans for young
Frank as he would go on to finish law school at the
early age of 23.

Oh so much time has passed since that day I made a
vow of poverty. Did that change me? Oh for a season
or so. But I continued on my path of acquiring
more stuff. Boats, jet skis, bigger boats, bigger
houses - of course being the salesman that I am, I
made sure God always know why I was working so hard
for these things - you know, for the betterment of
the family! It wasn't for me - it was for them!

Well, two years ago, my older son Tommy has having
trouble with this pesky flu, as though it seemed.
He just couldn't kick it as it continued to get
worse and make him weaker. Finally one day when
it brought him to his knees, we rushed him to the
hospital. They hydrated him and diagnosed that it
was a bad virus and that he would be fine. But
Tommy and I both had a bad feeling about it.
This is one of the strongest kids you'll ever meet.
And both of us knew that no virus was going to
bring him down to his knees like that. But with
optimism in our hearts, the very next day we went
to our family doctor who is also a good friend.
That will be a day I truly will never forget.
When the doc looked into our eyes after receiving
the blood work report and explained that he was
all but certain that Tommy had Leukemia. Having
to look into that 22 year-old boys eyes and see
utter fear will stay burnt in my mind forever.
I dropped the family off at the house and drove off.
The first thing I did was pull off into a local
shopping plaza parking lot. I shut off my truck
-and wept like a baby. And then started my sales
pitch. Pleading with God to take all of my
possessions.
"Lord, you didn't take them before when you made
Frankie better - but this time you MUST!
I even have more to offer this time Lord!"
I made my best case, cleaned myself up and
proceeded to make plans just incase God had
a "different" plan this time. Being 22, Tommy
loved cars like no other. And he wanted a new
Dodge Challenger so bad - along with other
things any 22 year-old wants. I was going to
sell every possession I had, buildings, trucks,
even the business to give him everything he
wanted before he left us. Nothing was going to stop me.

Well, three days later while meeting with a cancer
specialist, the doctor came back from his lab,
report in hand, and said - "Good news. He
doesn't have cancer." It turned out to be a
deep-seated flu-like virus that had his white
blood-cell count so low, it gave the appearance
of cancer. They said that if he weren’t such a
strong kid, it would have brought him down months
earlier.

Well, I still have an un-defeated record. My
family's in tact and healthy. So many of us
are certainly not so fortunate. So what's the
message? Why to the younger guys out there?
Because I want you all to know that no matter how
much stuff you acquire. No matter how big you
grow your business. You will beg to give it
away in times of real trial. When you are out
there growing you businesses – don’t do it at
the sacrifice of time with your family. Hold
tight to the people that are dear to you and
squeeze every last drop out of the time you
have with them. Take the time to coach, to
umpire, to be at your daughters dance recitals.
Trust me on one thing –the period of time you
spend growing your company seems to never end.
It’s the longest thing you will ever encounter.
But the time you get to spend with your parents,
your wife, your kids – it’s literally a blink
of an eye. And it’s over. The business will
be there forever.

I know that many of don’t have an un-defeated
record. That you have lost a loved one. And
giving thanks may not seem so instinctive right
now. So I want to challenge all of you do one
thing this holiday. I mean really dedicate
this holiday to one single thing – REFLECTION.
Look at your life and just reflect on God’s
grace. The wonderful things and people he has
given you. Yes, some may not be around any
longer. But reflect on the influence they had
on your life. And more important, reflect on
what you have in front of you. The things you
can control. The people you can influence. Got
teenagers? It gets better! They do come around
and become your best friends. Don’t give up on them.

And one more thing. I said I never lost anyone
in my immediate family. But I have lost people
who were very dear to me. Friends, ants, uncles,
grandparents. One thing that always seems to
happen to me. I have these special people in
my life that were very influential to me. Most
don’t even know how much they influenced me.
That’s because of the type of people they were.
They led by example. The way they lived served
as a kind of fixed model that was always there
when I needed it. But of course I never told
them that. I took it for granted that they
would always be there. And then when their
gone or their so sick that they are not cognicent
enough for me to even explain it to them –
I lose that opportunity to tell them how special
they were and how much they meant to me. So
this Holiday – tell that someone just how
special they are and what they have meant to you.
If you are like me and sometimes just can’t get
up the courage to tell that someone – drop them
a card or a letter. Heck last mothers day, I had
to send my Mom a video of me telling just how much
she means to me because I just can’t find the words
(or the courage) when I’m in front of her. Stupid,
I know. But at least she knows.

Tomorrows more than a good meal – so much more.
Lets Reflect. Lets really give thanks!

Tommy

Mailing Address:
235 Meriden Road
Waterbury, CT 06705

Plant a tree day December 5th Worldwide!

2009-11-24T18:26:00.000-06:00

Visit this link below to learn how you can participate.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/treeoclock/

Sign up for lawn service in 2010 at Red River Lawns & Landscapes.

2009-10-15T13:24:00.000-05:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes, located in Clarskville, TN, is offering all new customers for 2010 a 10% discount if you sign up by the end of this year. The discount applies to your total annual cost and is in addition to any military or senior discounts that may apply to your service.

We offer lawn maintenance programs as well as landscape design and installation.Visit www.redriverlawns.com to learn more about our company and discover what we can do for you. You can also visit us at www.facebook.com/redriverlawns or www.twitter.com/redriverlawns.

Mulching around trees!

2009-02-27T10:12:00.000-06:00

While I was out giving estimates yesterday I noticed several properties that had just been mulched. The properties looked good except for the fact that the mulch at the base of the trees was not pulled way from the trunk. I see this in almost every neighborhood I visit. The proper method is to pull the mulch to the edge of the drip line. It should look like a donut around the base of your tree. The inside of the mulch ring will collect water and send it down to the root system. For further information click on http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/pdf/2962.pdf to find out how mulch not installed properly is killing your trees.

If you would like a quote for installing mulch at your property give Red River Lawns & Landscapes a call at (931) 551-6527 or you can visit us on the web at www.RedRiverLawns.com.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes
customerservice@redriverlawns.com

Aerate your yard this spring!

2009-02-23T09:15:00.000-06:00

Spring is closely approaching. Now is the perfect time to relieve your yard of compaction. Aerating opens up your lawn allowing the grass and soil to breath. Water and nutrients have a difficult time flowing down into your lawn when the soil is compacted. Oxygen and nutrients are a vital element in maintaining a healthy yard. Red River Lawns & Landscapes offers an aeration program that includes mowing your yard down to a couple of inches and then aeration with a core aerator. Pricing is based on square footage of lawn. If you want to see a difference in your yard this year give Red River Lawns & Landscapes a call today.

Red River Lawns & Landscaping
Clarksville,TN
(931) 551-6527
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

Now on Twitter

2009-02-21T17:53:00.000-06:00

Someone ask me 'Why Twitter?". My response was "Why not?". In today's fast paced world a business should be accessible to it's customers and any potential new business. We realise that all of our clients may not use Twitter. However, what about the one that does? Without going into a spill about demographics and marketing, a business should take advantage of today's technologies to be obtainable for it's current customers and potential customers. As the owner of Red River Lawns & Landscapes I plan to do just that.

When I started Red River Lawns & Landscapes I needed to market myself and set myself apart from other similar companies in Clarksville, TN. I was going to think outside the box. Not only was I going to build the most professional company in town, I was going to set it up so that no matter what source a potential customer was using to find a lawn maintenance company, Red River Lawns & Landscapes was going to there as an option. Twitter is just one example of that.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes
Clarksville, TN
www.RedRiverLawns.com
customerservice@redriverlawns.com
(931) 551-6527

Turf Grass Maintenance for Clarksville

2009-02-02T20:23:00.000-06:00

Turfgrasses require routine maintenance. Mowing, fertilization and irrigation are primary maintenance practices most often needed to keep turfs healthy. Mowing maintains uniform plant height, suppresses weeds and stripes the turf. Turfs are fertilized to provide nutrients that would otherwise limit plant growth. An application of lime may be necessary to neutralize soil acids and supply plants with calcium and magnesium. Actively growing turf grasses often contain more than 70 percent water and use from 1/10 to 3/10 inch of water each day. Click in the following link for more information on turf maintenance in Tennessee:
http://tennesseeturf.utk.edu/maintenance.htm

Call Red River Lawns & Landscapes today for help with your lawn maintenance.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes
Clarksville, TN
(931)551-6527
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

Process for getting started with landscape projects.

2009-01-29T13:57:00.000-06:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes will schedule an initial landscape consultation at your residence or commercial property. The purpose of this consultation will be to evaluate your key focus, needs, or desires in landscaping. We will offer suggestions or ideas based on your input. Budget considerations play a large role in determining the scope of work & the complexity of a landscape design, so we encourage you to have a range in mind before the initial meeting. Also, if you have strong preferences in regards to plant selection or hardscape materials, please gather that information to discuss during this initial consultation.

At the conclusion of the initial landscape consultation, we will perform a site analysis in order to determine the project requirements. We will take land measurements; assess environmental elements such a sun requirements, land grading, or soil condition; audit your existing irrigation system for range of coverage (if necessary); map out an effective irrigation plan (if necessary); or evaluate other elements which might be present due to site construction or renovation.

A landscape design will be drafted, integrating site-specific requirements along with careful plant selection to create purposeful form and function in the environment. Client preferences, such as color, texture or seasonality of plants, are taken into consideration. Our landscape designs range in price depending on complexity. We apply the landscape design charge toward total project cost on the final invoice.

We will contact you to schedule a review consultation. The landscape plan will be presented, along with a proposal for project installation. Depending on the scale of the project, we realize that you may wish to complete the installation in phases, and are therefore happy to detail our proposal with a cost-breakdown for each phase of installation so that you can evaluate what your budget will allow at a given time. The proposal will specify a project deposit as well as payment schedule. Should the landscape design require refining, we will make the necessary adjustments to the design as well as proposal, and re-submit for your approval.

Once we receive your signed contract & deposit, we will schedule your landscape installation and we will call you with your tentative start & finish dates. Generally, we operate between one and three weeks from contract acceptance to project start. Plants & materials will be ordered for your project.

Maintenance:
We offer many options for caring for your new landscape on an on-going basis, offering customized landscape services to fit your individual needs. Your landscape's requirements change with the seasons, and our flexible maintenance service packages include any of the following:
shrub pruning
bed mulching
irrigation system maintenance, with annual winterization & start-up
mowing & edging
seasonal color
fertilization of plants, shrubs, flowers, grass, trees & groundcover
weed control
aeration, overseeding & fertilization

Red River Lawns & landscapes
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

It's a new year for Red River Lawns & Landscapes.

2009-01-27T12:03:00.000-06:00

Red River Lawns & Landscapes in Clarksville, TN is looking forward to 2009. 2008 was a great year for our company. We had the opportunity to work with many great people in Clarksville and our surrounding communities this year. We look forward to meeting new people and developing new business relationships in Clarksville in 2009. Our goal as stated on our website, www.RedRiverLawns.com to become the preferred lawn and landscape maintenance company for Clarksville. We believe in quality work at affordable prices. If you are looking for company to provide lawn maintenance and/or landscaping please take a moment to visit our site at www.RedRiverLawns.com. You can reach us by phone at (931) 551-6527 or by email at customerservice@RedRiverLawns.com.

Fertilizers - What your lawn needs.

2008-10-09T13:41:00.000-05:00

Just like humans need food, water and shelter to survive, lawns depend on certain elements to live, sixteen to be exact. Most of these elements are already found naturally in the environment, but several others need to be added to your lawn. Adding fertilizer with these three elements, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, does the job.
Before you run out to the store to purchase a complete fertilizer, or, one that contains all three, it is important to understand why your lawn’s livelihood depends on it.
Nitrogen - This is possibly the most important element your lawn needs. It makes the grass grow and gives it its green color. It will also allow for more density, thick shoots, and sturdy growth, thus creating an environment that will naturally fight off pests and bugs.
Potassium - Since you can’t toss bananas in your yard, your best bet for this mineral is to use fertilizer! Potassium enhances your lawn’s ability to resist disease, drought, wear and cold weather.
Phosphorus - This is used to encourage strong grass root growth.
Most fertilizers you will find in your local home and garden stores will contain all three of these elements. However, there are different amounts of each. This is reflected in a three-digit number, such as 30-10-10, which tells the percentage of each in this order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These blends will serve different purposes. For instance, more potassium in blends are good for winterization. The factors you need to consider are grass type, climate, time of season and soil type. Once you know what your needs are, you will be able to determine the right combination of these elements. An additional way to scan your needs is determine the current levels of these nutrients in your soil. This can be done through a simple pH test.
In addition to variation in percentages of the key elements, there are also different types of fertilizers to consider.
There are four major options that will greet you in the fertilizer aisle: Granular (slow and fast-release), Liquid, Synthetic and Organic.
Granular fertilizers are perhaps the most popular, probably due to their ease in use and duration. Since these are dry, they are much easier to spread. Granular fertilizers can come in a slow time-release formula, which provides fertilization over two to six months. This is an efficient choice for homeowners, as it will not need another application for months to come. Granular is also available in fast-release, and although applied in the same manner, the nutrients are released quicker and work better in cold weather. This method also costs less. However, grass burn can occur and there will be a greater need for watering.
Liquid fertilizers are just as the name says- in liquid form. These are applied by attaching a hose and nozzle to a spray bottle. The contents of the bottle are usually in concentrated form, thus the need to mix with the water. If you can use a hose, this is an easy method, more so than spreading granular around the yard. Also, since this a liquid, nutrients are available immediately to the roots of your vegetation. Herbicides can also be added or applied during this treatment. But, since the results are immediate, applications will have to be repeated more often than granular, and since liquid is more expensive to begin with, it can be more costly.
Synthetic fertilizers are usually manufactured chemically, hence being called synthetic. These engineered fertilizers offer immediate release of nutrients, and make lawns green. They simply penetrate the soil quicker. However, they are not natural, and many argue that lawns should be treated naturally. Applications of synthetic fertilizer needs to be redone more often, as results don’t last as long. They can also burn your lawn if not applied in a proper manner.
Finally, organic fertilizers are made from once living organisms and their bi-products. These are applied to the lawn by spreaders, rakes and even by hand. Since this a totally natural fertilizer, the organics tend to break down slow when releasing nitrogen. They will improve the texture and density of your lawn, especially when added to soil or lakebed sand. There are some drawbacks however, including a foul smell in the case of manures. Also, these soils tend to have more nitrogen than other elements.
In summary, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to consider many things: The current nutrition of your lawn, how much money you want to spend, how much labor you want to invest in application- initial and repeats, as well as personal preference. But with the spurt in technology, choices keep growing as more combinations are being introduced.

Visit RedRiverLawns.Com to learn more Red River Lawns & Landscapes located in Clarksville, TN 37040

Why fall leaf clean up is so important for your yard.

2008-09-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

Although the leaves on the trees in fall look beautiful, it is a different story when they are covering your lawn and sidewalk. Unfortunately this leads to one of the last major chores of the gardening year: Raking leaves. Figuring out what to do with fallen leaves when you have raked them is also a problem. Leaves will decompose on your yard after time. However, a wet layer of leaves deprives your yard of oxygen. This layer of leaves will kill any grass beneath it. This is why it is important to remove the leaves on you lawn in the fall. It doesn't make much sense to maintain a beautiful yard all year only to let it go during the winter months.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes offers leaf removal as part of our property maintenance programs. We also offer leaf removal as an individual service if you do not have a maintenance program in place with our company.

Red River Lawns & Landscapes leaf removal service covers the months of October, November, and December. Our company will visit your property twice each month to remover leaves and debris from your yard. The leaves will be hauled away unless the homeowner request otherwise. We will also work with the home owners for any special request outside of the three month schedule. If you are looking for a one time removal for the season we can handle that as well. Give us a call today or visit us online at RedRiverLawns.Com for more information.

Richard Byrd
(931) 551-6527
http://www.redriverlawns.com/

Red River Lawn Maintenance Packages

2008-08-22T10:59:00.010-05:00

A lawn service package is beneficial to you, your family, or your business. Wouldn't it be great to be spending time with your kids instead of mowing your grass? How about spending time at the lake or at the golf course rather than seeding your yard? With Red River Lawns & Landscapes lawn service packages you can spend your valuable time doing what you love rather than working in the yard.

Red River Lawn & Landscapes offers the following mowing services for your property:

The Red River Package:

Mowing the lawn at a predetermined height.
Maintain lawn edges on a weekly basis or as needed to maintain appearences.
Edging walk ways and driveways on a weekly basis or as needed.
Clipping will be blown off of driveways, sidewalks, and decks.
Spring or Fall Clean-Up. (Choose one)
Lawn maintenance is required to receive additional programs or services.

The Red River Package Plus:

Mowing the lawn at a predetermined height
Maintain lawn edges on a weekly basis or as needed to maintain appearences.
Edging walk ways and driveways on a weekly basis or as needed.
Clipping will be blown or swept off of driveways, sidewalks, and decks.
Spring and Fall Clean-Up
Fall Lawn Aeration
Lawn maintenance is required to receive additional programs or services.

Mowing season begins the last week of March and continues through November. The price for this package is divided into 9 equal installments per season. Monthly installment prices may vary depending on the start date. New customers for 2010 will be required to pay one month in advance.

As you can see Red River Lawns & Landscapes takes care of all of your lawn maintenance needs. We are also available for any emergencies. Contact us today to discuss our services and for a free analysis of your property.

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawns & Landscapes
(931) 551-6527
http://www.redriverlawns.com/
customerservice@redriverlawns.com

The time is now for Fall Aeration!

2008-08-19T10:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome. Fall is almost here and for many of us one question come to mind, should I aerate my lawn?
What is aeration?
Aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores out of the lawn. Although hand aerators are available, most aeration is done mechanically with a machine having hollow tines or spoons mounted on a disk or drum. Known as a core aerator, it extracts 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on your lawn. Aeration holes are typically 1-6 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart. Other types of aerators push solid spikes or tines into the soil without removing a plug (spiking). These are not as effective because they can contribute to compaction. Core aeration is a recommended lawn care practice on compacted, heavily used turf and to control thatch buildup
What will aeration do for my lawn?
As lawns age or sustain heavy use from play, sports activities, pets, vehicle traffic and parking, soil compaction can result. Soil compacting forces are most severe in poorly drained or wet sites. Compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air. Roots require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Compaction reduces total pore space and the amount of air within the soil. It has a negative impact on nutrient uptake and water infiltration, in addition to being a physical barrier to root growth. This results in poor top growth and lawn deterioration. Core aeration can benefit your lawn by:
-Increasing the activity of soil microorganisms that decompose thatch.
-Increasing water, nutrient and oxygen movement into the soil.
-Improving rooting.
-Enhancing infiltration of rainfall or irrigation.
-Helping prevent fertilizer and pesticide run-off from overly compacted areas.
When should I aerate?
In Tennessee, the best time to aerate cool season lawns of tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass is in late August to mid September. This is when these lawns are coming out of summer dormancy and beginning a period of vigorous growth. Lawns will recover quickly from aeration at this time. Competition from weeds is also minimal during this time.
What else do I need to know?
-Aeration helps to control thatch.
-It is extremely difficult to core aerate heavy clay soils or soils that have stones, rocks or tree roots below the soil surface.
-Be sure to mark sprinkler heads, shallow lines from sprinkler, underground utilities, cable, and septic lines before aerating so they will not be damaged.
-Soil cores are best left on the lawn surface; they typically work back into the grass in 2-4 weeks.
-Lawns may be fertilized and seeded immediately following aeration with or without further soil top dressing.
-If your soil is heavily compacted, you can apply stable, mature compost 1/4 inch deep. Rake the compost over the lawn, filling the aeration holes.
-Lawns can be aerated once a year, especially under heavy use conditions.
What can I do?
Contact Red River Lawns & Landscapes today to schedule fall aeration for you lawn.

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawns & Landscapes

Introduction

2008-08-19T09:40:00.000-05:00

Red River Lawn and Landscapes would like to take a moment to thank you for visiting our blog. Here you will find information about the care and maintenance of your lawn and landscaping though out the seasons. If you are in the market for a lawn care company give Red River Lawns & Landscapes a call today to see what we can do for you.

Richard Byrd
Red River Lawn & Landscapes
(931) 551-6527