Right now its spring, and as a landscaper I am smack dab in the middle of spring clean ups. We clean out any emerging weeds from the beds and get rid of nuisance leaves that were left hung up in corners and under shrubs from the winter winds. To keep it simple after winter, yards are left looking ratty and its time to get ready for the warm seasons.
A cleanup would not be complete without a good thatching, a shed of the lawns winter coat and lifting the matted down grass for an even cut. This used to be done with an iron rake even a spring rake assisted with a leaf blower. These days we use power rakers, and my back thanks the innovation immensely.
Operating this little devil has pretty much been for the past few years my department. Despite the job being made easier, it still takes a certain finesse to thatch a lawn properly. Patience is important, you must constantly be adjusting the height. Some lawns have such a poor grade, it's being adjusted every few feet. That patience also goes with understanding the springs, what they can handle.
Last year we had all new bolts and springs and only had two wear and break. I regret not replacing all of them for the new season because it seems like every other job a few more go and need to be replaced, and the bolts are starting to sheer. We have plenty of replacements, so as we work we have to service. This is why it's my department, having to prop this machine up and throwing new springs on is something I have gotten very quick with.
I would like to mention, aside from having a spring raker, we also have a flail raker which will be used more in the coming week because the ground isn't as soft and this needs less of the constant attention. But for now. . .
(Was not intended for this but this lawn is an example of and untreated lawn, she has a mixture of creeping bentgrass, and the nuisance zoisia grass, which both require quite some maintenance. After years of not letting us treat, she finally agreed to let us do our thing. I guess she had a look around the block to see how green the JJScapes lawn is.)
Among the other things that may need to be done to an individual lawn the spring thatch in my opinion is important. Keeping thatch over winter I feel insulates the lawn and helps its dormancy. Removing it during the spring allows the grass to breath and make way for new green growth.
This is a hectic time of year made rough because of snow throwing us off 3 weeks at the start of the season. I have had no time to fish and no energy to go on the internet. With time off this Sunday, I just wanted to show I am still around and why I have been incognito. There will be only a couple more weeks of cleanups until cuts start. We are catching up quick so I will be back to being an active Steemian soon.
Thank you for reading!
Part two of Trout Stuffed peppers is coming soon!
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