Organic Lawn Care: What Is it and How Does it Help Your Lawn?

Although we only make up to 2 percent of the United States, they are America’s most irrigation crop and are responsible for wide areas of water pollution.

Or rather, they own. If you are a domestic owner, you do not realize how much loss is on the landscape around the government to take care of your law. The answer is too much.

Fortunately, there is an easy solution. Organic lawn care

The care of your lawn is not complicated or complicated. It is not expensive. Organic lawns provide many advantages to your family, and surroundings, and also with you.

Ready to learn more about natural lawn care? Stay with us because we are so important in it and how to do it.

What Is Organic Lawn Care

In a short, artificial insects in organic lawn care is using a lawn care and chemicals.

Instead of using artificial fertilizers, insects, and herbs, natural lawns use organic alternatives, such as mixing and bugs casting.

You need to provide the basics of lawn care and what weed need, without any chemicals without launch. You can establish an organic lawn care plan that enhances strong, cautious, and healthy lawn with the right treatment.

Let’s get how to do this and get the benefits of getting natural lawn care.

How It Helps You and Your Lawn

If you had to wrap the benefits of caring for organic lawn in a sentence, it’s healthy for you, your family, your garden, and the environment. Why to understand organic lawn care is very important, let’s first check the risks using it, chemical lawn care products.

The Impact of Chemical Lawn Care Products

Many of the traditional fertilizers, insects, and herbs that we use on our lawns are very poisonous, surrounding both environmental systems. For a start, more than 13 disabled disabilities in the US commonly used insects in the United States have been linked to disabilities, and 21 reproductive troubles.

More 21 has connected to the neurotoxicity, and with 26 liver and kidney loss. When it comes to children, research shows that the risk of childhood leukemia can increase 700 percent and increases the opportunity for asthma and development delay.

If this is not very terrible, the study also shows that at the age of 6-11, children focuses on the highest blood of the lawn chemicals. More research found the exploitation of pesticide in houses where it is tracked and is stretched within. After the application, this level will be more than ten times more than ever.

If these results are not enough, you are not enough to make a lawn without chemicals, what they can do in the environment.

Because only one percent of the fertilizer applied by your grass is absorbed, a good part of it is washed in rivers, groundwater, lakes, and other water bodies. Here it can spread the destruction with natural cycles, which strangers open the life of water and damage species.

The pesticides and herbs, in turn, due to their loss, often kill the spectrum of plant, insects, and soil life, that it was not purpose.

Why Organic Lawn Care Is a Better Option

Given the scientific research, which is coming around chemical-based lawn products, it is clear that we need a safe way to take care of our lawn.

The care of organic lawn is safe as it gets. Not only this keeps your yard free from potentially dangerous compounds, but it also encourages you to promote natural life in your garden. It means more beneficial microbes in soil and more beneficial insects.

What’s more, it does not affect the surrounding ancestors.

How to Carry Out Natural Lawn Care

Now that you know why organic lawn care is becoming so important, here are some of the essential organic lawn care tips you can implement.

If you are about to start on an organic lawn care plan, the first thing you will want to do is have your soil tested. This way, you can gauge the pH and spot any deficiencies. If the pH is out of balance, you can amend it using things like ash for acid soil and sphagnum for overly alkaline soil.

After this, you should consider aerating your lawn if it is compacted. For this, you might want to get a landscaping service in, as it can be a tricky job.

For fertilizing, one of the best options is to topdress your lawn with compost lightly. Compost is the ultimate fertilizer, and, providing it is of good quality, it can provide your property with almost everything it needs, including macro and micronutrients and beneficial soil organisms.

From here, you will then need to keep up with the regular jobs of lawn maintenance, but without using chemicals. For combating weeds, many people stick to manual weeding as the most thorough option. You can also choose to cut more regularly to discourage weed growth and seeding.

Another trick to discouraging weeds is to water less frequently but more. It’s one of the typical lawn care myths that grass needs daily watering. its encourages weed germination, uses more water over time, and creates a shallower root system in your lawn, making it less resilient.

If you want to apply a natural weed killer, you can experiment with store-bought organic products or DIY options such as vinegar.

Pest control is probably the most challenging part of organic gardening, as there usually isn’t a spray-and-fix solution. However, as the overall health of your garden improves, you may find that any imbalances in the insect population start to rectify themselves as more predatory and beneficial insects move in.

Eager to Ditch the Chemicals? We Can Help

Organic lawn care is an attractive alternative considering the hidden drawbacks of using chemicals on one’s lawn. Not only are you maintaining a healthier yard and looking after the environment, but natural lawn care will benefit your lawn much more over time than applying chemical fertilizer.

By fertilizing with compost, you will build fantastic, carbon-rich soil for your lawn and support the naturally occurring (and essential) soil organisms.

Are you excited to start going organic on your lawn?

If so, we can help. Call us out, and we will create a comprehensive organic lawn care plan for your yard.

Weed Management 101: The Importance of Weed Control for Your Lawn

There are around 250,000 plant species in the world, and around 3% of them are considered pesky weeds. That may not sound like a lot, but that actually adds up to around 7,500 weed species!

When you want to keep your lawn and garden looking beautiful, weed management is a must. Otherwise, achieving your landscaping dreams will be near to impossible.

So for some great advice, read on. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of weed control and what you can do to help keep your greenery healthy.

Why Is Weed Management Important?

Of course, having weeds on your lawn isn’t a pretty sight. Weeds tend to be plants that are very prolific, so once they take root, they’ll quickly make their way across anything and everything.

When you look at your garden and it’s just full of weeds stretching across all your pretty plants, then it can be pretty unpleasant. So weed management is important for maintaining the aesthetics of your lawn.

But why else is it vital to lawn and garden care? Read on to find out.

It’ll Keep Your Plants Healthy

You’ve worked so hard to grow those beautiful flowers and to keep your grass so green. But that can all be ruined in one fell swoop if you don’t practice good weed management.

Weeds can affect plant growth because they not only compete for space in a garden, but they also leech up nutrients. In addition, some weeds are actually parasitic and will actually attach themselves to roots of plants to directly leech nutrients.

As a result, your plants won’t flourish. In the worst-case scenarios, they’ll completely take over your property and kill all existing plants and grass.

You’ll Save Time

You might think that letting the weeds grow and eliminating them all at once is a better use of your time. However, that’s flawed logic.

The best way to manage weeds in the lawn is to stay on top of it. The fact of the matter is, they won’t relent. The longer you wait, the more damage they’ll do and they’ll be more difficult to get rid of.

If you invest a little time here and there, you’ll actually spend less time on weed management.

You’ll Save Money Too

If you do weed management right, then you can end up saving money too. This is one of the best benefits of weed control.

When you let weeds grow uncontrolled, again, it can damage your existing plants. Not only will you have to pay to remove the weeds, but you’ll also have to spend money to replace any plants that are beyond saving.

Ways to Keep Your Garden Weed-Free

Thankfully, there are ways to practice good weed management to ensure weeds don’t get unruly in your garden.

Of course, one of the easiest and eco-friendly ways to remove weeds is to do it manually. You can either pull them up with your hands or with the proper garden tools.

The best time to pull them up is as soon as you notice them, as they won’t be as rooted into the ground. Another good time to pull out weeds is right after rain, since it’ll take less effort to loosen weeds from the soil.

Here are some other ways you can keep weeds from invading your property.

Use Pesticides

Traditionally, homeowners would use pesticides on their lawns and gardens to get rid of weeds. But many of these have strong chemicals that are not only harmful to plants, but also to the environment and humans.

For those who want to be eco-friendly, they should avoid using pesticides, even if it’s not currently banned where they reside. In fact, pesticide use on lawns is not banned in most of the country.

However, there are a select few counties in the nation that do ban the use of pesticides; most notably, Montgomery County, MD. Back in 2015, a law was passed that forbid the use of pesticides on lawns, and it was upheld in May of 2020.

So if you live in Montgomery County, or just want to be eco-conscious, you’ll want to use organic products in place of pesticides to do weed control.

Enlist the Services of a Landscaping Company

If you aren’t too sure what organic products you can use or how to use them, you can always enlist the services of a landscaping company. Not only will they know what to do, but they’ll also save you time, as you won’t have to take care of this chore yourself.

For example, we at Bam’s Landscaping already use organic products for our clients. We’ve changed the way we do business to comply with the law and continue servicing our neighborhoods.

A landscaping company can come on a regular basis to maintain your lawn and ensure that no weeds are trying to take over. If needed, they can apply the proper and effective treatment to kill weeds.

Keep up With Weed Management With Bam’s Landscaping

As you can see, weed management is important for not only the beauty of your lawn, but also the health of it.

While there are many ways to perform weed control, it’s best to avoid using pesticides, especially if you live in Montgomery County, MD, as it’s banned there. Plus, it’s always better to use organic products, as it’s a win-win-win situation for your plants, you and your family, and the environment.

So don’t delay on practicing good weed management. You’ll save time, money, and your effort if you’re diligent with it. And the payoff is a beautiful property you can show off!

Would you like a professional’s help with weed control? Then request a free quote from us now. We offer 10% off to the military and 15% off for referring a friend!

Fall Landscaping Services: Here’s Why

Do you plan to turn your yard into a personal oasis? If so, kudos to you because that’s a great way to boost your home’s curb appeal and increase its value.

The best time to start your landscaping project is in the fall. We know it may sound like an odd time, but there are numerous benefits to landscaping in the autumn months. Here are the 5 most significant reasons why fall is a great time to landscape your yard.

1. The Perfect Weather

Although most people think about starting their landscaping project in spring, fall offers much more pleasant weather with cool winds and temperate climate.

Plus, you don’t have to work under the hot sun. So it’s the best time of the year to plant flowers and shrubs in the garden because you can get the work done more easily and quickly.

We strongly recommend starting hardscaping projects that involve a lot of back-breaking work, such as installing patios, retaining walls or driveways, in the offseason. Trust us, too hot or cold weather can make the hard work a whole lot harder.

2. Plants Thrive in these Conditions

Just like you feel comfortable outside during the fall, your plants do too. When the temperature isn’t too hot or cold, plants can relax and grow properly.

So Fall Landscaping Services helps plants replenish after their growing season to keep them healthy throughout the winter. This way, once spring arrives, they’ll have plenty of resources stored up to thrive.

3. Less Baby Sitting

In spring, you have to put in a lot of work to get the results you want.

That is partially thanks to unpredictable conditions that can shock your plants, such as too much rainfall, unexpected snowstorms, or intense sunshine.

In contrast, plants require minimal supervision in the fall. You don’t have to worry about any unpredictable conditions. Plus, plants require the least amount of watering, as the cool weather allows them to soak up the water and nutrients in the soil to stay hydrated.

To sum it up, you won’t have to babysit your plants in the fall as much as you would in any other season.

4. New Plants Have the Highest Chance of Surviving

Nothing’s worse than investing time and money on new plants only to watch them wilt. If you don’t want to experience that, you should add new plants to your yard during fall. Why? Well, because as we explained earlier, fall offers the ideal weather for plants to thrive.

5. Planting in Fall Leads to Explosive Growth in Spring

Another reason fall is a great time to do landscaping is that it gives your plants enough time to prepare for a productive growing season in spring. So when you plant in fall, your plants will have a higher chance of staying healthy year-round. Now that you know the top 5 reasons why fall is a great time to landscape your yard, you can start planning your next landscaping project accordingly. If the project you have in mind seems like too much work, why not unburden yourself by leaving the work to the experts?

At BAM’S Fall Landscaping Services, we take care of everything according to your schedule so you can forget about the work and plan different ways to enjoy your dream yard.

Don’t Work on These 6 Lawn Care Myths

Whether you’re a homeowner or an expert landscaper, you’ve probably heard some lawn care myths — and you might even believe some of them too. To set the record straight, we will debunk the 6 most common myths to ensure you know which lawn care rules are true and which should be ignored. So read on to find out which seemingly logical practices are anything but that.

1. You Need to Water Your Lawn Every Day

Since each lawn is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much water your lawn needs. There are numerous factors that determine how much water your lawn needs, including the age of the lawn, shade and sunlight, soil conditions, and grade of the land.

However, there is a general rule of thumb: 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, which means you definitely don’t have to water daily. Plus, you have to factor in the rain as well. If you over water your lawn, it will cause excessive weed growth and stress out the roots. So to sum up, don’t water your lawn every day.

2. Shorter Means Better

Many people believe the shorter the grass, the better. However, the opposite is true, as very short grass is less resilient than medium or tall grass.

So if you mow your lawn too short, the soil will be exposed to the sun, which will dry it out and leave more space for weeds that compete with grass for moisture and nutrients. As a rule of thumb, don’t remove more than one-third of the height of your lawn’s grass.

3. More Lime Equals Healthier Grass

Although lime is good for your lawn, too much of anything is bad. Since lawns only need lime at certain pH levels, adding too much will burn out your lawn and turn your grass brown instead of the lush green you want. So more lime does not equal healthier grass.

4. Herbicides Are the Only Answer to Weeds

This statement is a myth because weeds only thrive in areas of your lawn with holes large enough for them to get the sunlight they need to grow. So if you water, mow, and fertilize your lawn properly, it should be thick and healthy enough to stop weeds from growing on its own without help from any harsh chemicals.

5. Fertilize Only In Spring

There’s no logic behind this statement. You should avoid fertilizing your lawn is in mid-summer because of the intense heat unless you are dealing with a warm-season grass species (i/e zoysia). It is also near impossible to set one cookie-cutter set plan for an entire region or area in regards to fertilization amounts and timing. Each property must be assessed independently and a unique program created for each.

6. Beer Is an Effective Fertilizer

Sounds ridiculous, right?

Don’t be quick to judge as there is some science behind this statement: beer is an effective fertilizer because it can introduce yeast to the soil, which helps it grow. However, while beer does contain yeast, it also contains sugar, alcohol, and other harmful ingredients that will actually hinder the growth of healthy grass. So save the beer for yourself and keep it away from your lawn.

6 Best Summer Flowers to Plant in Your Kensington Garden

Nothing’s more attractive than a garden filled with gorgeous summer flowers and enticing aromas.

Take out the flowers and you’ll be left with nothing but a colorless field. That’s why expert gardeners consider flowers as the life of a garden. Without them, a garden is like a rainbow without colors.

If you want to ensure the life of your garden can withstand the heat of solstice, here are 6 gorgeous summer flowers to plant in your Kensington garden.

1. Lavender

If you’re looking for a flower that’s also a herb, lavender may just be the one for you. It thrives in well-drained soil and areas with a lot of sunshine, which is why it’s perfect for planting in summer. It has a strong, irresistible scent like a fresh cologne that will attract not only people, but also pollinators necessary for other plants in your garden to thrive.

2. Gloriosa Daisy

Gloriosa daisy, more commonly known as black-eyed susans, blossom from around midsummer up to the first fall frost and comes in a ton of varieties. In other words, you get to choose from a wide variety and the flower lasts year-round — and that’s not all.

Two more reasons you may want to buy gloriosa daisies are:

They attract butterflies.
They are only 2 to 3 feet tall, making them easy to see in almost every part of a garden.

3. Lisianthus

Do you like white roses?

If so, you will love this flower which looks similar to roses but is much taller. Lisianthus is an annual plant that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It requires a lot of care, but it’s totally worth it as it can grow up to 40 inches! So if you’re looking for a tall flower that looks and smells like roses, this is the one for you.

4. Coreopsis

Coreopsis are for those of you who love butterflies and the color yellow, as this yellow flower shines bright like the sun in summer and attracts more butterflies than any other plant. It’s a small flower that typically grows up to about 3 feet tall and covers only 16 inches of the ground, so it can fit in easily with other plants in your garden. What makes this flower a great choice for summer is how gorgeous it looks under sunshine.

5. Dahlias

Once considered a vegetable, Dahlias is one of the most popular summer flowers today.

People love this flower for two main reasons:

It’s a big flower that can grow as tall as the average person and as wide as a dinner plate.
It has the biggest color range, including every color except the blue, which people are trying to create today.

If that’s not enough to convince you, another plus of this flower is that you can also say you have Queen Victoria’s favorite flower in your garden.

6. Foxgloves

Do you want to make a statement with the flowers in your garden? Then consider foxgloves which are bright pink flowers that can light up your garden like none other.

Foxgloves is the perfect flower for improving the appearance of your garden because it is tall, slim, and it shines as bright as a sparkling gem under the summer sunshine.

We’d love to assist in your garden planning, call us to schedule a walk-through with us!

What Is the RainScapes Program in Montgomery County Maryland?

According to reports, Storm Water Runf is one of the biggest water pollution factors in Maryland.

To counter this, the state government has directed funds to repair Maryland’s water bids, including Chasepak Bay. In addition, in Montgomery County, there is also a reboot program in which the rain program is to take rewards for domestic owners, businesses and organizations to reduce the storm water runoff on their features. Rewards are obtained.

If you want to take advantage of the years and take action to protect the waterways of Montgomery, then you need to understand how the rainbow program works. Otherwise, you can spend money in a project on your property that is not eligible.

To climb the rebate project in the rainforest, keep reading to read, as we look at it, and how to qualify.

The Purpose of the RainScapes Program

The purpose of the rain skips program to encourage the steps to encourage the steps to step into steps to storm water runoff on their features. Its end objective is better water quality and healthy water in Montgomery County.

In addition to working to reduce the problem of water pollution from the runoff, the rain caps program also works to enhance awareness around the environmental risks of storm water environment.

How Much Is the Rebate?

For more and more domestic owners in Montgomery, a basic idea is the price of discounts. Everyone may not be able to spend a lot of money to stop their property. This is one of the reasons why the rain caps program is in place, and why the waiver is so generous.

The maximum amount of lifetime waiver is $ 2,500 per property. However, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection has recently increased its $ 7,500 per property.

Who Can Apply for RainScapes Program ?

If you want to take advantage of your property from the rain skips program, the first thing to check is that you are eligible to apply. According to MCDE, anyone in Montgomery County is eligible to apply for the waiver out of the municipalities of Takoma Park, Rockville, and Gaithersburg.

If you live in Rockville or Gaithersburg, note that you can apply for their related rainforest programs, Gaithersburg rain programs, and rockoel rain program programs. Private homeowners are eligible, as well as business, other organizations, and clubs.

What Features Qualify for a RainScapes Rebate?

There are a number of features that landowners can install which can qualify for a rebate from the RainScapes program. All of these are directed at either harvesting, sinking, or slowing stormwater runoff, and include:

Rain barrels
Cisterns
Permeable paving
Paving removal
Rain gardens (sunken garden areas designed to hold and sink water)
Conservation landscaping (with water-holding and sinking areas)
Green roofs

As you can see, not only these features are beneficial to prevent runoff, they can also increase your property as well.

Features like rain barrels and cystons allow you to collect your rainwater. The peripheral smooth and smooth removal allows you to sprinkle unwanted areas.

The cost of rain gardens, green roofs, and protection and green landscape can also include value in your property and can increase its visual appeal.

In addition to these benefits, installing approved rainfall features also allow you to do something positive for the environment. You can get compensation for it, while at the same time reduce the harmful effects of runoff on your property.

Stormwater Runoff is not just harmful to water bottles. It can also spread the destruction on your yard and earth. When it is heavy runoff, it eliminates valuable topsoil.

At the same time, any running on your property means your land is storing less than water. By running your dust, you will be able to keep it moist and fertile. If you have large stores of sun ranf water in your soil, you will not have to give your garden often or water during dry spells.

How to Apply RainScapes Rebate ?

If you are planning on doing upgrades to your property that include possible RainScapes features, the first thing you need to do is apply with the Montgomery Department of Environmental Protection. You can do this by heading over to their website and clicking the “Apply Here” button.

From there you will be guided through the application process. After you have applied, the Department of Environmental Protection will contact you to schedule a mandatory preliminary inspection. This must be completed before you begin any projects.

After this, you will need to submit any required supporting documents.

Once you have an approval letter from the Department of Environmental Protection, you are free to go ahead with your project.

Once you have finished your project, you will need to contact the Department of Environmental Protection and schedule a final inspection. During this, you might receive a list of adjustments to make to your RainScapes feature. If so, you will need to take photos of these an email them to the DEP before your rebate can be issued.

If there are a number of adjustments to make, you might need to schedule a final inspection.

Once everything has been passed, the final task is to send copies of all of your receipts for the project to the DEP. These need to be itemized and have sales tax deducted from them. Along with this, you will also need to send in an electronically-signed property owner agreement.

Once this has been received your rebate will be issued.

Take note that all features must be installed six months after the date on your approval letter.

Also, be aware that you do not need approval for rain barrel installations. You can receive a water barrel rebate without having pre-approval. However, all other installations need to be approved before you start.

Need Help With Your RainScapes Feature? Call Us

As you can see, being approved for a RainScapes rebate requires a little work on the behalf of property owners. However, this is well worth it when you consider the benefits of making RainScape upgrades and qualifying for the rebate.

Want to know how you can make your RainScape approved upgrades happen seamlessly? Call us to install them.

Why us?

We have some of the best customer reviews and ratings in Montgomery. Our customers are our number one priority, and we are always on time with our work, never setting a completion date we can’t make.

What’s more, we carry a $2 million property insurance policy, screen and train all of our workers meticulously, and carry workers’ compensation.

Sound like your kind of landscaping service? If so, apply for a free quote for your RainScapes feature today.

Lawn Care 101: How to Get Soil Tested in Maryland and Why It Matters

Did you know that lawn grass is one of the most grown “crops” in America?

Even though you can’t eat it, lawn still needs a lot of care to stay looking pristine. However, sometimes, no matter what you do, your lawn just doesn’t want to grow. If your lawn is unresponsive to care, then you should look at getting a soil test done.

If this is your first time, you need to know how to get soil tested before you start. As well as what type of test to choose. Otherwise, you might just waste your money, and not get the results in your lawn that you were looking for.

Keep reading for the low-down on soil testing.

Why Get a Lawn Soil Test Done?

If you aren’t sure of the benefits of testing your soil yet, let’s take a look at some of the advantages of soil tests.

Basically, a lawn soil test gives you an insight into the condition of your soil. From this, you can then craft a tailored care program and clear up any issues that your lawn might have.

To Check Your Soil’s PH Level

If you are wondering how to test soil pH, a lawn soil test will do this. This is very important to know because most lawn grass will prefer soil that is between pH 6.0 and 7.5.

Anything over or below this and you might run into issues such as yellowing, diseases, and prevalence of lawn moss and weeds. Soil that is either too acidic or too alkaline can effectively lockout and render certain nutrients unavailable to your lawn.

For instance, if your lawn’s soil is at pH 4, this means that no matter how much you feed it, the grass still won’t be able to take up all the nutrients in the fertilizer. If soiling testing reveals that your soil pH is out of balance, then you can remedy it by using different pH altering products such as lime or sulfur. However, you will need to be very careful with the application, as you don’t want to swing the pH too far the other way.

To Check Your Soil’s Organic Trace Mineral Content

Besides indicating the ph of your soil, soil testing can also tell you what levels of nutrients are present. This can be very important for effective feeding schedules. Overfeeding can be just as bad as underfeeding and result in lawn burn. At the same time, if your lawn is doing poorly, a lawn soil test might show up an essential mineral that’s lacking. Once you find that out, you can start applying fertilizer with higher concentrations of this mineral to balance out your soil.

How to Get Soil Tested

Ready to start reaping the benefits of soil testing? Let’s now take a look at how to get soil tested. There are two main ways to get soil testing done. You can either choose to do a DIY test, or you can leverage a professional soil testing service.

DIY Soil Testing

If you wanna get a very rough idea of what’s going on in the soil under your lawn, you can try a storebought soil test. All you gotta do is pick up a soil testing meter, and stick it into your lawn. Once you have done that the display will indicate the pH level of the soil as well as an indication of overall nutrient levels.

While DIY soil testers are easy to use, they do not give very accurate results. They also don’t give you any details about what minerals are high or low in your soil. All they give you is a general indication of whether your soil is poor or rich.

Professional Testing

If you would like to get an accurate soil analysis done, then you will need to send your soil in to be professionally lab tested. There are a number of ways to do this. Firstly, you can research soil testing services, extension services, or labs in your area of Maryland, contact them, and enquire if they will test your soil.

Or, you can choose to contact a good lawn care service company (such as us) who can have your soil tested. Getting your soil tested professionally will yield the most reliable and in-depth results.

DIY vs Professional Soil Testing

When comparing DIY and professional soil testing, it’s a bit like DIY versus professional lawn care.

Doing a DIY lawn soil test is not a bad idea if you just want to get a broad idea into what your soil profile looks like. Because store-bought soil testing kits can be re-used, you can stick them into various areas of your property to satisfy your curiosity.

However, you should not rely on DIY soil testing if you want to use the results to treat your lawn. Because store-bought soil tests do not give detailed info on nutrient levels, you won’t be able to tailor a feeding program from them.

Soil Test Costs

If you buy a soil meter for DIY soil testing, this will only run you between $10 and $20. A professional soil test from a lab can cost anywhere between a few hundred to over a thousand dollars.

Although laboratory soil tests are a lot pricier, they will be able to give you more accurate results and useful results. Besides testing for organic trace mineral levels and pH, they can also tell you if there are any contaminants or heavy metals present in your soil.

Do You Need to Find a Soil Testing Service?

If your lawn is struggling, one of the ways to figure out why is to get soil testing done. Now that you know how to get soil tested, do you need to find a professional service? If so, we would be happy to facilitate your soil testing.

Besides this, we can also create a tailored feeding and care program to get your lawn back into peak condition. If you are tired of struggling with your law, get in touch with us today for a free quote.

Fully licensed and insured, we specialize in providing professional lawn care. All of our employees are trained and go through extensive background checks. We focus on superior service and customer satisfaction is our top priority—one of the reasons why we have some of the best ratings and customer reviews in the Montgomery County area.

What Is the New Montgomery County Maryland Pesticide Law?

In October 2015, the Montgomery County Council passed Bill 52-14. This bill has been approved by the majority of the majority of the states used on private lawyers and scenes across the country.

During the following six years, the ban was temporarily held after legal disputes. After that, on May 2, 2019, Maryland’s special appeal officially changed the ban.

On the landscape of the beam, we are dedicated to the new Montgomery County Maryland’s insecticide law to effectively navigate. In addition to using organic products, we have adjusted our operations to ensure compliance with this new regulation.

Today, we mainly look behind this law, as well as steps taken in response.

What is the New Montgomery County Maryland Pesticide Law?

The Montgomery County Maryland pesticide law is an official regulation that restricts the use of certain synthetic pesticides on private lawns. In addition, the law also extends to certain local landscapes, including:

Playgrounds
Childcare facilities
Mulched recreation areas

The basis of the law is that in lieu of such pesticides, homeowners and lawn care management companies should use organic or minimum-risk herbicides, fungicides, or insecticides to prevent weeds and pests.

What is the Purpose of This Law?

The purpose and goal of this law are to inform the public about the potential hazards that certain pesticides could pose to both people and the environment.

In addition to educating about proper pesticide applications, the law also seeks to minimize the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes.

By embracing organic lawn care, lawmakers explain that homeowners can contribute to a host of beneficial changes, including:

Offsetting climate change
Improving air quality
Improving stormwater capturing and infiltrating
Treating pollutants in runoff
Producing more oxygen
Controlling erosion
Protecting local wildlife and habitats

An organic lawn is one that is controlled by monitoring the natural biological land cycles. This approach is preferred over using synthetic chemicals to promote growth and eliminate pests and weeds.

What is Banned Under This Law?

There are several different kinds of commonly used pesticides now banned under this new law. These include any products with the following identifiers on their label.

Weed and Feed Products

Weed and feed products are those that contain both herbicide and fertilizer. Regardless of the product type, none of these are allowed under the new law.

Products with an EPA Reg. No. on Label

Most of the time, a pesticide that includes an EPA Regulation Number (EPA Reg. No.) on the label will be included on the banned list. This is because these products contain chemicals that are not safe or suitable for use on your lawn.

However, there are certain products that contain this label but are still considered exempt. You can contact the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) if you’re unsure about yours.

What is Allowed Under This Law?

While certain products are banned under the new law, there are some that are still allowed. Here are the ones to look for.

OMRI Certified Products

The acronym OMRI stands for the Organic Materials Review Institute. Most products that have achieved OMRI certification will include this logo on their products.

The OMRI helps regulate which input products can be used in organic production and processing. If your solution has this logo, it is exempt from the current ban.

Products for Organic Gardening

Did you know that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designates some products specifically for use in organic crop production? These are allowed under the new law, but identifying them can be tricky.

These exempt products do contain an EPA registration number on their label, which can create confusion. To help sort it out, look for verbiage that designates your product for use in organic gardening.

Some EPA-Exempt Products

As mentioned, if a pesticide contains an EPA Reg. No. on its label, it’s likely prohibited under this law. At the same time, the absence of such a label usually means that the EPA designates the product as a low-risk and therefore doesn’t prohibit its use.

In addition to the absence of an EPA Reg. No., also look for an EPA-exempt or 25(b) statement on the product’s label. Usually, these will be easy to find on the outside of the packaging.

How is BAMS Landscaping Responding?

At BAMS Landscaping, we provide a wide range of services for our customers, including:

Basic grounds maintenance
Customized turf programs
Lawn and garden services

Our turf programs include fertilization, weed control, topdressing, and a range of related services. Rather than relying on generic, cookie-cutter approaches, we take the time to develop a tailored program designed around your unique soil needs and specific lawn environment.

For years, we’ve been proud to follow the approaches set forth by Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

This is a set of principles that provides an environmentally sensitive approach to lawn care and pest management. Through IPM, we are able to minimize our use of unnecessary chemical products. Instead, we follow proven tactics that leave your yard looking lush, naturally.

Due to our early adoption of IPM best practices, we were already well-positioned to embrace the new Montgomery County Pesticide Law. We didn’t have to overhaul our business model or rearrange our service offerings to meet these regulations. Instead, we were able to make a few small adjustments, always keeping our customers front of mind.

Moving forward, in compliance with the law, we are banning the use of all herbicides, pesticides, and other products that are not allowed under the new regulation. Instead, we are dedicated to using organic solutions that will allow us to continue serving our local area.

Trust Us for Your Organic Lawn Care Needs

Our team at BAMS Landscaping has always prioritized environmentally-friendly approaches to lawn care.

While the new Montgomery County Maryland Pesticide Law might add further restrictions, we’re prepared to navigate these changes with ease. If you’re looking for premium lawn and landscaping services you can trust, we’d love to connect.

Request a free quote today and let’s take this next step together.

Why Regular Lawn Mowing is the Key to a Healthy Lawn

Ask any homeowner and they’ll tell you the difference a lush green lawn can make to a property’s curb appeal. Who doesn’t want to be the envy of the neighborhood?

Like anything important in life, maintaining a good looking lawn takes a lot of mowing and care. That’s because mowing your lawn regularly is the only way to keep it looking at its best. But what if you’re not interested in a prized lawn but something decent enough? Since people seem to be mowing regularly for aesthetics only, does that mean

You can cut back on the maintenance?

Not so fast. Apart from aesthetics, there are many other benefits of mowing your lawn regularly. Let’s explore the most important ones below.

1. Grass Grows Stronger

The grass in your yard isn’t much different from your hair. It needs regular trimming to let go of weak shoots so stronger ones may rise and thrive. For most grass, three inches is the ideal height to get the best quality. If you can do that, your yard will brim with strong and lively grass for that lush green look.

2. Growth Becomes Even

Here’s a fun fact. Not every seed of grass grows at the same rate. Some grow fast whereas others lag behind them. This is the reason why you’ll see patchy and uneven areas in neglected yards.

By cutting the crass at a uniform height, you can stop the tallest shoots from growing so their shorter counterparts can catch up. Another major benefit is the even distribution and absorption of resources from the sun and water. As a result, your lawn will have an overall improved growth and get even stronger.

3. Mulch Breaks Down

Every time you mow your lawn, you get mulch in the form of short grass clippings dropping on the floor. Instead of picking up and disposing of the mulch, you should let it sit in the soil and turn into a natural fertilizer that is super helpful for the growth of your lawn.

Just like any other fertilizer, mulch can greatly uplift the health of your lawn. That’s why mulching is considered an essential part of growing a gorgeous lawn.

4. Recovery Gets Faster

The longer grass goes without proper trimming, the weaker it gets. So if you haven’t mowed your lawn in a while, odds are your yard will have a hard time recovering from any damage. By cutting off the weak ends, only the fittest will survive. As a result, the next time your yard comes under an attack of pesticides, harsh weather, or any other harmful elements, it will bounce back to health with the right treatment in no time.

5. Pests Are Reduced Greatly

Do you know what bugs, rodents, and any other pests love above all else? An overgrown yard.

The reason is simple. The longer you delay a trimming, the more debris accumulates in your yard. When that happens, pesticides invade your yard to have a feast of a lifetime. The opposite holds just as true. The more regularly you mow your lawn, the fewer uninvited visitors you’ll have to suffer.

To sum it up, regular lawn mowing is not just important but necessary. Without it, you’ll never have the lawn of your dreams. But what if you’re not ready to make such a huge commitment? What if you don’t want to spend your mornings cutting lots and lots of grass?

Fear not. We’re here to help. At BAM’s landscaping, we love growing and maintaining lawns that are absolute stunners. It’s all a part of our plan to make your neighbors jealous and eventually have us do their yard too.

So hurry up and request a free landscape estimate from us now. That’s the only way you can be the first to have a stunning lawn in your block. With our 100% no-risk guarantee, you’ll be glad that you did.

Ask These 4 Questions When Choosing a Lawn Mowing Service in Kensington

Let’s face it. Everyone wants a stunning lawn that becomes the envy of the neighborhood. But hiring a company that can turn your lawn into a stunner is far from easy.

If you’re considering hiring a professional lawn mowing service in Kensington MD, you need to ask the right questions to make sure you’ll hire the right company. These questions are the key to telling a brilliant lawn mowing company from a mediocre one. With no delay, let’s explore the four most essential questions.

1. What Is Your Process?

You need to know whether your lawn mowing company is run by professionals who know how to plan or amateurs who dive headfirst and hope for the best.

A reliable company should be able to list every step of their process without hesitation. That’s the first thing you need to look for.

Furthermore, ask how flexible their process is. Some companies, typically national franchises, use a rigid process for everyone. But as your yard and your goals are unique, you need a tailored plan that fits your needs. In short, make sure they have a process and they’re willing to switch things up to get the best results for you.

2. Do You Provide Other Services?

This is something many homeowners fail to consider. Even if you’re just looking for someone who can mow your lawn, your requirements may change with time.

For instance, you might find that your soil needs treatment, hedges need trimming, or weeds need patching. At that time, what would you rather do? Find a new service provider or call your trusted landscaper to take care of those as well? Exactly!

Hiring a company that offers a variety of services is the key to smooth and pain-free lawn growth.

3. How Qualified Are Your Employees?

You don’t want someone who’s just good with a mower. You need a professional who knows how to give your lawn the shine it needs in the safest way possible.

That’s why you should always ask for the person who will mow your lawn and how qualified they are. See if they’re registered with relevant authorities. You should never work with unlicensed mowers.

4. What Steps Have You Taken to Protect My Property?

Accidents happen. Things get broken. People get hurt. It’s an unfortunate part of any job. But what matters is the level of protection your lawn mowing company offers you.

A professional service will always have property insurance to cover any damages and workers compensation to keep you safe from any liabilities.

Peace of mind is perhaps the biggest benefit of working with true professionals.

If you’re looking for a professional lawn mowing service in Kensington, your search ends now. At BAM’s Landscaping, we offer tailored programs for the specific needs of our customers. Anything your lawn needs, we have it.

All our workers are highly trained and certified in professional landscaping and horticulture. We’ve also secured a property insurance policy of $2 million along with a workers compensation so you’ll never have to worry about damages or accidents.

To get a FREE No-Obligations Quote, fill out this quick and easy form. Our team of experts would be delighted to evaluate your property and create the best solution for you.