Lawn & Landscaping: questions, answered with sources
Each answer cites the public sources it was checked against, with the date it checked them. Jobs that need a licensed pro in Virginia say so, and explain the job instead of teaching it.
Aeration & Overseeding
5 answers
How do I aerate and overseed my lawn?
For a cool-season lawn in Virginia, do it in early fall. Water the lawn a couple of days ahead so the soil is moist, make several passes with a core aerator, let the plugs dry and break them up, then spread about 2 to 3 pounds of tall fescue seed per 1,000 square feet and keep the seedbed lightly moist until the new grass is up.
How much does lawn aeration cost in Virginia?
There is no official Virginia price list, so the real answer is a quote. Aeration is priced mostly by lawn size, the number of passes and whether seed, fertilizer and lime are included. Materials are small lines: in its March 2022 booklet, Henrico's Extension office priced one feeding at $3.19 to $10.75 per 1,000 square feet, and an overseeding uses 2 to 3 pounds of seed per 1,000.
Should I rent a core aerator or hire a lawn service?
Rent if the lawn is modest and fairly flat, you can move and steer a machine of about 300 pounds, and you have a free fall weekend to make several passes and seed. Hire if the lawn is large or sloped, you have no truck or helper, or you want seeding, fertilizer and weed control done together by a licensed company.
Why didn't my grass seed come up after overseeding?
Usually one of five things: the seed never reached the soil, the seedbed dried out or stayed soggy, a crabgrass or weed preventer applied in the last few months stopped it, it was sown in the wrong season, or it has not had time yet. Tall fescue needs 4 to 7 days to germinate and Kentucky bluegrass 10 to 14.
When is the best time to overseed a lawn in Virginia?
For tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season lawns, which cover most of Virginia, overseed in late summer to mid-fall; Henrico County's Extension office uses September 1 to October 15. Spring is a second choice. Warm-season lawns such as bermudagrass and zoysia are seeded in late spring to midsummer instead, and are not overseeded with fescue.
Edging & Trimming
5 answers
How do I edge a lawn along a sidewalk?
Clear stones and debris off the edge, put on eye and ear protection, long trousers and sturdy shoes, and set the edger's blade depth before you start. Then walk the blade along the seam where grass meets concrete, letting the slab guide you, lift out the loose strip of sod and runners, and sweep the clippings back onto the lawn rather than into the street.
How much does lawn edging cost in Virginia?
There is no standard Virginia rate for lawn edging; local crews price it job by job. The price depends mostly on how many feet of sidewalk, driveway and bed edge you have, how overgrown the first cut is, how fast your grass creeps, how often it is done, and whether it is bundled into weekly mowing. Ask for edging as its own line on a written quote.
Is it worth adding edging to a weekly lawn service?
Usually, if you have long sidewalk, driveway or curb edges, or a creeping grass such as bermudagrass or Kentucky bluegrass that runs onto the concrete between visits. With a bunch-type tall fescue lawn and short edges, a string-trimmer pass at each mowing may be enough. Either way, get the weekly price with and without edging, in writing, and check what edging means to that crew.
Why does my lawn edge keep growing into the sidewalk cracks?
Usually because the grass at the edge spreads sideways and the cracks hold soil. Bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass send creeping stems over and under the concrete, and any crack or joint where soil settles gives them, and weeds, a place to root. Cut the runners back, clean the soil out, seal or fill the cracks, and edge on a regular schedule.
How often should I edge my lawn?
Trim along the edges every time you mow, and recut the hard edge with a blade edger whenever grass starts lapping over the concrete. In the growing season that mowing rhythm is roughly weekly for most Virginia lawns. Creeping grasses such as bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass need the blade edger most often; bunch-type tall fescue needs it least, and dormant grass hardly at all.
Fertilization & Weed Control
5 answers
How do I get rid of weeds in my lawn without killing the grass?
Name the weed and your grass first, then pick the gentlest tool that works: pull scattered weeds after a rain, and spot-spray the rest with a selective herbicide labeled for both, while the weeds are actively growing. Treat perennial broadleaf weeds in fall. Then thicken the lawn by mowing tall, because dense grass is the strongest weed control there is.
How much does lawn fertilization cost in Virginia?
There is no official price list. A professional quote follows your lawn's square footage, how many visits the program includes and whether weed control is bundled in. Doing it yourself mostly costs fertilizer: Henrico County Extension's March 2022 example worked out to about $3.19 per feeding per 1,000 square feet with a conventional product.
Does a lawn care company need a licence to spray fertilizer or weed killer in Virginia?
Yes, both. A company paid to apply weed killer or any other pesticide needs a Virginia pesticide business licence from VDACS and a certified commercial applicator on staff. A company paid to apply fertilizer needs a state contractor-applicator permit and must employ or retain a Certified Fertilizer Applicator. VDACS publishes lists you can check before you hire.
Why is my lawn full of crabgrass?
Crabgrass takes over where the lawn is thin, mowed short or stressed, because its seeds need open, sunlit soil to sprout in spring. It is an annual: it sprouts once soil stays near 55°F, spreads all summer, drops seed and dies at the first frost. Mowing taller, seeding thin spots in fall and a well-timed spring preventer stop it.
When should I fertilize my lawn in Virginia?
It depends on your grass. Tall fescue and other cool-season lawns, the majority in Virginia, are best fed from mid-August through early November, often as September, October and November feedings. Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are fed between April 1 and August 15, after spring green-up. Go light in spring on fescue and never fertilize frozen ground.
Garden & Bed Planting
5 answers
When is the best time to plant perennials in Virginia?
Early spring and fall are the best times to plant perennials in Virginia. Spring planting goes in once your area is past its average last frost; fall planting goes in from late summer into late fall, while the soil is still warm. Avoid midsummer heat, and expect to water new plants through their first season.
How much does it cost to have shrubs planted in Virginia?
There is no reliable statewide price for shrub planting, because the bill is mostly the plants plus labor, and both swing with plant size, root ball type, how many shrubs you need, and how much soil work the site takes. Get two or three written quotes that list each plant's species, size and spacing, and what prep, mulch, cleanup and aftercare are included.
Is it worth paying a landscaper to plant shrubs and perennials?
It is worth paying a landscaper when the job is big, heavy or tricky: many plants, large balled-and-burlapped shrubs, old shrubs to remove, poor soil or drainage, or a design you cannot picture yourself. A few container perennials or small shrubs in an easy bed are a reasonable do-it-yourself job, as long as you plant them correctly and keep them watered.
Why are my new plants wilting after planting?
New plants usually wilt because their root ball has dried out, even when the soil around it feels damp, since their roots have not yet grown into the bed. The next most common causes are the opposite, soggy soil that suffocates roots, plus heat and sun shock, planting too deep, circling roots, leftover burlap or twine, and too much fertilizer.
How often should I water new plants?
Water new plants thoroughly the day you plant them, then check the soil about an inch down and water whenever it is dry. Without rain that usually means about once a week in average soil, every two to three days in sandy soil, and two to three times a week for container shrubs in summer heat, through the first growing season.
Garden Beds & Planting
5 answers
How do I build a raised garden bed?
Pick a sunny, well-drained spot, contact Virginia 811 before you dig, and build a frame about 4 feet wide and 6 to 12 inches tall from rot-resistant or arsenic-free treated wood, block or metal. Loosen the ground underneath, fill the frame with good garden soil or amended native soil, test the soil, and space plants so their leaves touch at maturity.
How much does it cost to have garden beds installed in Virginia?
We found no published Virginia rate for garden bed installation, so each job is quoted on its own. In 2022, Virginia Cooperative Extension priced the materials alone for one 4-by-8-foot, 12-inch raised bed at about $95 to $472, depending on the frame. Labor, site preparation, soil delivery, plants, mulch and hauling make up the rest, so ask for each as its own line.
Should I hire a landscaper to design my garden beds or do it myself?
Design them yourself if the beds are small, the ground is fairly level and you enjoy choosing plants; your local Extension office and Extension Master Gardeners can help. Hire when the project involves slopes, grading, drainage, walls, irrigation or a whole-yard plan. Licensed landscape architects prepare full plans, and Virginia contractors who install landscaping are licensed through DPOR.
Why are the leaves on my plants turning yellow?
Yellow leaves often mean the roots cannot take up what the plant needs. The common causes in Virginia beds are soggy or compacted soil, a soil pH wrong for the plant, too little nitrogen, iron locked up by alkaline soil, and fertilizer or herbicide injury. Which leaves turn yellow, old or new, narrows it down, and a Virginia Tech soil test confirms it.
How do I keep weeds out of my garden beds?
Stop weeds before they start: keep 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch on the soil, plant closely enough that the leaves shade the ground, and pull or hoe weeds while they are small, a day or two after rain. Guard the edges against creeping grasses, and use an herbicide only as its label allows, because drift and residues damage garden plants.
Hedge & Shrub Trimming
5 answers
How do I trim overgrown hedges and shrubs?
Bring an overgrown shrub back in stages rather than in one hard cut. Clear dead and crossing wood first, then take out about a third of the oldest stems at the base each year, and shape hedges so the bottom stays wider than the top. Time the cuts to the plant's bloom habit, and leave anything near power lines or above ladder height to a pro.
How much does hedge trimming cost in Virginia?
There is no published statewide rate for hedge trimming. The price depends on how many feet of hedge you have, how tall it is, how overgrown it has become, how often it is trimmed, and whether hauling away the clippings is included. Measure the hedges, then ask two or three businesses for written quotes that list the visits, the cleanup and the disposal.
Is it worth hiring someone to trim my shrubs?
It is worth hiring out when the hedges are tall, overgrown, near power lines, or need trimming more often than you have time for, or when boxwood is showing signs of disease. A few low shrubs you can reach from the ground are a reasonable do-it-yourself job with hand pruners, loppers and a little knowledge of when each plant should be cut.
Why are my boxwoods turning brown?
Boxwoods usually brown from one of four things: winter drying when the ground is frozen, roots that stay too wet or too dry, boxwood leafminer, or boxwood blight. Blight shows as brown leaf spots with dark borders, fast leaf drop and black streaks on stems. If you see those, double-bag a sample for your local Extension office before pruning or composting anything.
When is the best time to prune shrubs in Virginia?
It depends on when the shrub flowers. Prune spring bloomers such as forsythia and azalea just after they finish flowering. Prune summer bloomers such as crape myrtle and butterfly bush in late winter or early spring, before new growth. Shrubs without showy flowers, like boxwood and yew, can be pruned most of the year. Avoid heavy pruning in late summer and early fall.
Hydroseeding
5 answers
How do I hydroseed a lawn myself?
Rent or buy a small hydroseeder and plan the job for late summer to mid-fall if you are growing fescue. Test the soil, work in lime and starter fertilizer, and till 4 to 6 inches deep. Fill the tank about three-quarters with water, add mulch first, then seed, fertilizer and tackifier, spray an even green coat, and water lightly and often until the grass is up.
How much does hydroseeding cost in Virginia?
Hydroseeding is priced mostly by the square foot, plus soil preparation. A federal benchmark, an EPA fact sheet from December 2021 using 2020 RSMeans data, put hydroseeding bluegrass at about $50 to $100 per 1,000 square feet, far below sod at $25 to $100 per square yard installed. Grading, topsoil, lime, slopes and small-job minimums move a Virginia quote most.
When is hydroseeding worth paying for instead of seed or sod?
Hydroseeding earns its price on large bare areas, slopes and irregular ground that you can seed in the right season, where sod would cost too much and hand seeding with straw would wash off or come up patchy. For a small patch or a thin lawn, dry seed after core aeration is enough. When you need instant cover or are out of season, sod is the better buy.
Why is my hydroseed not growing?
Often it just needs more time: tall fescue takes 4 to 7 days in warm, moist soil, but bluegrass takes 10 to 14 and some grasses up to four weeks. If it is past that, the usual causes are the seedbed drying out, a washout before the mulch dried, the wrong season or soil temperature, a crabgrass preventer, acid or poor soil, or seedlings rotting in soggy ground.
How do I care for a newly hydroseeded lawn?
Keep the seedbed moist with light, frequent watering for the first three to four weeks, then water less often and more deeply. Keep everyone off it, mow for the first time at about 3 inches with a sharp blade, and hold off on weed killers until you have mowed at least twice. For fescue, feed in fall and skip fertilizer from late May through July.
Irrigation & Sprinklers
4 answers
How long should I run my sprinklers to water the lawn?
Aim for about 1 inch of water a week in warm weather, counting rain, applied in one or two deep early-morning waterings. How many minutes that takes depends on your sprinklers, so set out a few empty cans, time how long they take to collect half an inch, and stop sooner if water puddles or runs off.
Do I need a sprinkler system for my lawn in Virginia?
Usually not. Established Virginia lawns can go dormant in a dry summer and recover when rain returns. A system is worth it for a new lawn, for turf you want green all season, or if you will not water by hand. If you install one, hire a licensed contractor and ask for a rain sensor and smart controller.
Why are there dry spots in my lawn even with sprinklers?
Dry spots usually mean a head is not reaching them: it is turned, tilted, broken, clogged or blocked by a plant. Watch each zone run and check head-to-head coverage. If coverage looks right, water may be running off compacted soil, so use shorter cycles and aerate.
How do I check my sprinkler coverage so the lawn waters evenly?
Run a catch-can test. Set at least five wide-mouthed containers across a zone, run it for a timed period, and measure the water in each. Similar depths mean even coverage. Low cans show where a head is turned, tilted, blocked or too far from the next one, so adjust and retest.
Landscape Design & Install
5 answers
How do I plan a landscape design for my yard?
Start with a list of what you want the yard to do, then draw a simple map of the property and note sun, shade, drainage, soil, slopes, utilities and the plants worth keeping. Test the soil a few months ahead, choose plants that suit each spot at their mature size, and plant in phases, ideally in spring or fall.
How much does landscaping cost in Virginia?
There is no single price: a landscaping job in Virginia costs whatever its plan, plant sizes and site work add up to. Plant count and size, soil preparation, grading or walls, irrigation, design fees and access drive the total. Get a written plan, three written bids on the same plan, and a licensed contractor for any job over $1,000.
How do I choose a landscape designer?
Decide first whether you need a plan only, a licensed landscape architect, or a design-build company that also installs. Then look at each candidate's finished local projects, ask exactly what the plan will include, check any licence on DPOR's License Lookup, call references, and get the fee, deliverables and installation terms in writing before you pay.
Why are my new shrubs dying after planting?
Most new shrubs die from water problems: the small root ball dries out before roots reach the surrounding soil, or the hole holds water and the roots drown. Next come planting too deep, mulch piled on the stems, circling roots, twine or wire left on, a plant unsuited to the spot, too much fertilizer, and mower or trimmer damage.
How do I care for new landscaping in its first year?
Water is the job in year one: check the soil before watering, soak root balls deeply, and keep at it through the first growing season, since shrubs and trees can take up to three years to establish. Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches deep and off the stems, weed early, skip routine fertilizer, inspect plants weekly, and prune only damaged growth.
Lawn Mowing
5 answers
What height should I mow fescue in Virginia?
Keep tall fescue at about 3 to 4 inches for most of the season, and no lower than 2.5 to 3 inches going into summer heat. Cut off no more than one-third of the blade at a time, so a lawn kept at 3 inches gets mowed when it reaches about 4.5 inches, with a sharp blade and dry grass.
How much does lawn mowing cost in Virginia?
It depends on the lawn more than the state. A mowing price is set by how long the crew spends on your yard: its size, slopes and obstacles, how often the grass needs cutting, whether trimming, edging and blowing are included, and whether clippings are bagged. Get two or three written quotes that list exactly what each visit includes.
What should I look for when hiring a lawn mowing service?
Look for a crew that mows to the right height for your grass, keeps its blades sharp, cleans clippings off the street, carries liability insurance and puts the visit, schedule and price in writing. If it will also spray weed killer or other pesticides, Virginia requires a pesticide business license and a certified applicator, so ask for both.
Why is my lawn turning brown after I mow it?
Most often the mower is the cause: a dull blade shreds the leaf tips so they dry tan, or the deck is set so low that it removes more than a third of the blade and leaves pale stubble. Heat and drought, clumps of wet clippings and summer diseases such as brown patch are the other usual causes, and each has its own fix.
How often should I mow my lawn in Virginia?
Mow whenever the grass has grown about half again its cutting height, so you never take off more than a third of the blade. For most Virginia lawns that means every five to six days in the spring and fall growth flush, about weekly through much of the season, and every 10 days or more when heat, drought or cold slow the grass down.
Lawn Renovation
5 answers
How do I fix a lawn that is mostly weeds and bare spots?
Renovate it rather than patch it. Find out why the grass failed and test the soil, then in late summer to mid-fall kill the existing weeds at least a week before seeding, loosen the surface, add lime and starter fertilizer as the soil test says, seed the whole area at the full rate, and keep the seedbed lightly moist until the new grass is up.
How much does it cost to redo a lawn in Virginia?
It depends mostly on the method and the soil work. Seeding is far cheaper than sod: EPA fact sheets from December 2021, using 2020 RSMeans data, put hydroseeding bluegrass at about $50 to $100 per 1,000 square feet and installed sod at $25 to $100 per square yard. Weed removal, tilling, grading, topsoil and lime move a Virginia quote most.
Should I renovate my lawn myself or hire a lawn company?
Do it yourself if the yard is a manageable size, the ground is fairly level, and you can water every day for a few weeks in fall. Hire a company when the job needs grading or drainage, a large area tilled or hydroseeded, or professional herbicides, and check that it holds the Virginia pesticide licence for any spraying.
Why does my lawn have bare patches?
Bare patches usually come from something about the spot: shade, compacted or poorly drained soil, heavy traffic, scalping, acid soil, or drought. Grubs and brown patch disease kill grass in irregular patches too. Most Virginia lawns are tall fescue, which does not spread to fill gaps, so a patch stays bare until you fix the cause and reseed.
How do I keep a renovated lawn thick?
Water the new grass lightly and often for the first few weeks, then deeply and less often. Mow tall with a sharp blade, never taking more than a third of the blade, and leave the clippings. For tall fescue, fertilize mainly in September, October and November, hold weed killers until after the second mowing unless the label says otherwise, and core aerate and overseed thin spots in early fall.
Leaf & Yard Cleanup
5 answers
What is the easiest way to get rid of fall leaves?
For most Virginia lawns the least work is to mow the leaves into the grass with a rotary or mulching mower every week or so while they fall, instead of raking everything at the end. Rake or blow only what the mower cannot chop, then compost it, use it under shrubs, or set it out the way your town or county's leaf collection asks.
How much does leaf removal cost in Virginia?
There is no statewide price. A private crew prices leaf removal by the time and hauling involved: the size of the yard, how deep the leaves are, how many visits you want, beds and slopes, and whether leaves are mulched in, left at the curb or hauled away. Local fees count too, and some cities and counties collect leaves for a set charge.
Is it worth paying for a fall leaf cleanup?
It is worth paying when the leaf load, the size or slope of the lot, or your own time and fitness turn it into several weekends of work, or when leaves must be hauled because your locality does not collect them. For a modest lawn, mowing the leaves in every week is usually cheaper, quicker and good for the grass.
Why is my grass dying under fallen leaves?
A mat of whole leaves left on the lawn shades the grass and holds moisture against it, which slows growth and raises the chance of disease. Shaded cool-season lawns suffer most, and tall fescue cannot spread to fill the dead patches. Clear or mow the leaves in every week, and reseed bare spots of a cool-season lawn in late summer to mid-fall.
Should I mulch leaves into the lawn instead of raking them?
Usually, yes. Research reviewed by Virginia Cooperative Extension found that chopping deciduous leaves into the lawn during regular mowing does not harm the turf, and it saves raking, bagging and hauling. Rake instead where leaves are deeper than your mower can chop, for pine needles, and for leaves on beds, walks and driveways.
Mulch & Bed Maintenance
5 answers
How do I mulch flower beds the right way?
Weed the bed first, then spread a fresh, sweet-smelling organic mulch 2 to 3 inches deep across the whole bed. Keep it a few inches back from stems and trunks and at least 6 inches back from the house. Mulch new plantings right after planting and established beds in early spring, and never heap it into a cone around a tree.
How much does mulch installation cost in Virginia?
No Virginia agency publishes a price for having mulch installed, so each company quotes its own. The total comes down to how many cubic yards your beds need, the type of mulch, and the labor for weeding, edging and hauling off old mulch. The material itself can be free: some Virginia localities give residents wood mulch at no charge.
Is it worth hiring someone to mulch my beds?
Mulching is simple work most homeowners can do, so hiring is worth it mainly when the job is big, the beds need weeding, edging or old mulch removed, or hauling several cubic yards is hard on you. Hire a crew that keeps mulch 2 to 3 inches deep and off trunks, and put the depth and every extra in a written quote.
Why is there mold or fungus growing in my mulch?
Wood mulch is food for fungi and slime molds, and after rain they show themselves as mushrooms, yellow slime, white threads or tiny cups. They break the mulch down and do not infect your plants. Most can be left or raked away. The one worth acting on is artillery fungus, which shoots sticky black specks onto siding and cars.
How often should I replace mulch?
Rarely all at once. Top up organic mulch as it breaks down, only enough to bring it back to about 2 to 3 inches. Pine needles and bark usually last 2 to 4 years before needing more, wood chips are mostly gone within 2 years, and leaves and compost need adding every year. Remove old mulch only when it has built up too deep.
Sod & Seeding
5 answers
Should I seed or sod my lawn in Virginia?
Seed if you can wait a season, want the lowest cost and can plant at the right time: late summer to mid-fall for tall fescue and other cool-season grasses. Choose sod for an instant lawn, a slope that would wash out, an off-season start or a grass such as hybrid bermudagrass that cannot be grown from seed.
How much does it cost to seed a lawn in Virginia?
Doing it yourself, the main costs are seed (6 to 8 pounds of tall fescue per 1,000 square feet), a $10 soil test, lime and starter fertilizer, mulch and equipment rental. A hired job adds labor and soil preparation; EPA's 2020 figures put hydroseeding bluegrass at about $50 to $100 per 1,000 square feet.
Should I hire a pro to seed my lawn or do it myself?
Seed it yourself if you are filling thin areas or bare patches, can rent an aerator or power seeder, and can water lightly every day for a few weeks. Hire a pro when the whole lawn has to be killed and replanted, the yard needs grading or tilling, the area is large or steep, or you cannot handle the watering.
Why is my grass seed not germinating?
Most often the seed has not had long enough, the surface dried out, the seed never reached loose soil, a weed preventer is still active, or the season is wrong for the grass. Tall fescue usually sprouts in 4 to 7 days and Kentucky bluegrass in 10 to 14, so check timing, moisture, soil contact and recent herbicides first.
How often should I water new grass seed?
Lightly and often until the seed sprouts: keep the top of the soil moist without puddles, which in warm or windy weather can mean watering more than once a day. Once seedlings are up, water less often but more deeply, and after the first three to four weeks move to deep watering about once or twice a week.
Sod Installation
5 answers
How do I lay sod?
Test the soil a month ahead, then till in the lime and fertilizer it calls for, rake the bed smooth and firm, and have the sod cut for the day you lay it. Start along a straight edge, stagger the seams like brickwork, push pieces tight without stretching them, roll the whole area, and water it thoroughly right away.
How much does sod installation cost in Virginia?
The sod itself is the predictable part: when we checked two Virginia sod farms on October 27, 2026, tall fescue sod was listed at $6.25 and $9.50 a square yard, about $700 to $1,050 for 1,000 square feet before delivery. Installation adds labor, soil preparation, grading and old-turf removal, which vary so much by site that only a written quote settles the total.
Should I lay sod myself or hire a landscaper?
Lay it yourself if the area is small to medium, the ground is already close to level, you can haul and lay it all within a day, and you can water it daily. Hire a landscaper when the yard needs regrading or old-turf removal, the area is large or steep, or you cannot handle 20 to 40 pounds per square yard of heavy lifting.
Why is my new sod turning brown?
New sod usually browns because it is drying out before its roots reach the soil: too little water, gaps at the seams, air pockets, or sod that sat too long on the pallet. Other causes are heavy shade, a summer fungus called brown patch on tall fescue, overwatering, and warm-season grass going dormant after frost. Tug a corner and check the soil to tell which.
How often should I water new sod?
Soak new sod right after it is laid, then keep the soil under it moist until it roots: every day in hot weather above 80°F, less often when it is cool. After about a week, tug a corner. Once the sod resists, switch over the next few weeks to deep, infrequent watering that wets the soil 3 to 4 inches down, in the early morning.
Tree & Shrub Health
5 answers
How do I treat a sick tree?
Find the cause before treating anything. Check the species, photograph the symptoms, then look at water, soil and mulch, the most common culprits. Skip fertilizer, wound paint and sprays until a forester, arborist or the Virginia Tech plant clinic confirms the problem. Leave ladder work, chainsaws and anything near power lines to an arborist.
How much does an arborist cost in Virginia?
Virginia has no published statewide rate for arborist work, and prices depend on the tree's size, access, condition, nearby power lines and cleanup. Describe the job once, get at least three written bids on the same specifications, verify insurance, and keep any deposit to 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less.
When should I call a certified arborist?
Call a certified arborist when work needs a ladder, climbing or a chainsaw, when branches are within 10 feet of a power line, after storm damage, and when the cause of yellowing, wilting or dieback is still unclear after checking water and mulch. Ask for proof of certification and insurance, and get the scope in writing.
Why are the leaves on my tree turning brown in summer?
Often the tree is short of water: Virginia Department of Forestry lists wilting, leaf scorch and browning as signs of drought. Check the soil about 6 inches down and water deeply if it is dry. If the browning starts at the leaf edges year after year, or a branch wilts, it may be a disease or a borer and needs a diagnosis.
How do I protect ash trees from emerald ash borer in Virginia?
Treat a healthy ash before the beetle weakens it. Virginia Department of Forestry says landscape and high-value ash should get a systemic insecticide, preventative treatment works best, and it may fail once more than 30 percent of the canopy is lost. Most treatments are repeated every one to two years and are done by a certified applicator.
Tree Service
5 answers
What happens when a tree service removes a tree?
A tree service looks at the tree first, then gives you a written estimate. It checks for power lines, buried utilities and any local approval, takes the tree down in one piece or in sections, chips the branches, and cuts or hauls the wood. Stump grinding is often a separate line item. Ask in writing who cleans up and what happens to the wood.
How much does tree removal cost in Virginia?
No Virginia agency publishes a current price for tree removal, so the honest answer is a written quote. The size of the tree, what it could fall on, power lines, access for equipment, stump grinding and hauling the wood set the price. Get at least three written bids for the same work, and check whether your homeowners policy covers a fallen tree.
Do tree removal companies need a license in Virginia?
Virginia has no tree-care or arborist specialty in its contractor regulations. Stump and root removal below grade, clearing and grading fall within the Board for Contractors' landscape service specialty, so on jobs over $1,000 ask whether the company holds a contractor licence. Arborist certification is voluntary. For any tree company, check its insurance, its DPOR record if it has one, and its references.
How can I tell if a tree is dead or dangerous?
Look from the ground for dead or hanging branches, cracks in the trunk or big limbs, cavities and decay, mushrooms at the base, a new lean with lifted soil, and branches near wires or the house. A dead tree has no new growth or leaves in season. A green tree can still be unsafe, so have an ISA-certified arborist look at anything worrying.
How often should trees near my house be trimmed?
For established trees near a house, plan on a professional pruning every three to six years, the Virginia Department of Forestry's guideline. Young broad-leaved trees do better with light pruning every year or two, and conifers usually need it only when there is a problem. Dead or broken branches can come off any year, and every tree near the house deserves a look after a major storm.
Weed & Fertilization
5 answers
How do I get rid of clover in my lawn?
Pull small patches after a rain, mow cool-season grass at three to four inches so it stays dense, and spot-treat what remains with a broadleaf lawn herbicide whose label lists clover. Spray when clover is actively growing, in calm, dry weather, and follow the label exactly.
How much does a lawn treatment program cost in Virginia?
Virginia sets no price for a lawn treatment program, so quotes follow lawn size, number of visits, products and whether weed control is bundled in. As one yardstick, Henrico County Extension's March 2022 example put one fall feeding at about $3.19 per 1,000 square feet in fertilizer. Ask for written quotes that list each visit.
Are lawn care treatment programs worth it?
Often yes if you want weeds controlled without buying and applying pesticide yourself, and often no for a healthy lawn that mainly needs fall feeding. Compare any program with Extension's plan of three fall feedings, a spring preventer where crabgrass is a problem, and spot weed sprays, and check the company's pesticide business licence.
Why do weeds keep coming back in my lawn?
Usually because the lawn is thin enough to give the seed already in your soil room to sprout, or because each treatment missed that weed's season. Fall feeding, mowing fescue at 3 to 4 inches and a crabgrass preventer around mid-March address the first; identifying the weed and timing the herbicide address the second.
What is a good yearly lawn care schedule for Virginia?
For a cool-season lawn such as tall fescue, build the year around fall: aerate and overseed in late summer to early fall, then feed in September, October and November. Add a crabgrass preventer around mid-March, spot-treat weeds in spring and again in October and November, mow at 3 to 4 inches, and test the soil every 3 to 4 years.