The Experts in Residential Property Care
We go to great lengths so that your house is maintained the way you want it to be. At Metropolitan Total Property, Inc, we always make sure to deliver outstanding residential property care solutions.
Aerating
The process of mechanically removing cores of soil and grass is called aerating. It relieves compacted soil by improving the exchange of water and critical nutrients between the atmosphere and the grass roots.
Soil Compaction
This is a frequent cause of lawn deterioration caused by lawn traffic like walking, pets, and mowing. Compaction is greatest in the top 2 to 3″ of soil, which can have an adverse effect on the health of the lawn. Compact soil prevents the grass from establishing a healthy root system.
Advantages of Aerating
Adequate amounts of vital lawn nutrients including water, oxygen, nitrates, phosphorus, and potassium are unable to reach the roots. Aeration relieves soil compaction by removing evenly spaced plugs of soil up to 3″ in depth depending on the condition of the lawn.
In drier climates like Colorado and especially in areas with bad soil, as is found in much of south Denver, aeration increases drought resistance while decreasing the amount of water required to keep the lawn healthy.
For optimal effectiveness, we recommend aeration be done both spring and fall. Since the cost for aeration is often recovered in just a month or two from the amount of water saved, many clients are now opting for a mid-summer aeration as well.
Power Raking is only offered in the Spring
This process removes the layer of thatch that prevents water from getting to your lawn’s roots where it is needed. Thatch builds up in your lawn and eventually becomes so thick that it prevents much of your water and fertilizer from getting through to the soil.
The thatch causes your water to run off and evaporate, costing you money by wasting water all summer long. The earlier in the spring you power rake, the more effective it will be, so be sure to call early!
How We Do It
When we power rake, we use specific power rake equipment designed to remove the thatch at the base of your lawn while causing the least amount of stress possible. We do not use attachments that can rip and tear at the lawn.
Process
We have a three-step process to provide a quality, thorough job that will be most beneficial for your lawn. First, we move the power rake around your lawn to loosen the dead thatch. Second, we hand rake the lawn, and third, we collect and bag the thatch from the lawn to leave it looking clean and rejuvenated.
Snowpack can cause lawns to be matted down, and grey snow mold can form on the lawn. It is also beneficial to power rake if your lawn is suffering from necrotic ring fungus.
Tree and Bush Solutions
We can provide you with some basic tips on how to care for your trees and shrubs. That way, we can build a beautiful retreat together—as close as your own backyard.
Tree Care Solutions
Tree care does not have to be a highly technical or complicated subject, since most trees fend for themselves pretty well. By following some tree basics, it is easy to promote healthy growth in trees.
Basics of Tree Caring
Thoroughly water a tree’s entire root zone during periods of drought with the equivalent of one-inch of water, once every week or two, depending on soil type. Apply slowly to prevent runoff. Use caution around trees with de-icers and herbicides. You can also plant improved varieties of trees. However, selected varieties have more resistance to common disease problems.
Tree Fertilization
Recent studies have shown that surface applications of fertilizer, at the right time of year, can be as effective as deep feeding methods. These surface applications should be timed for late fall or early spring, when tree tops are still dormant yet roots are active.
Roots remain active until the soil drops below 40 degrees F, and this period includes several weeks after leaf drop in fall, and a few weeks before spring bud break. Therefore, these applications would be considered dormant feedings. Most trees like a 2-1-1 fertilizer analysis, such as a 20-10-10 or 10-5-5.
Procedure
Since it is difficult for phosphorus to move through the soil, we will provide it during the planting. An organic source of phosphorus used is bone meal. It promotes rooting, as well as blossoms, in trees that flower.
Tree and bush feeding is a service many of you have had us do for years. With proven results, our fall feeding provides your plants with the extra nutrients and gives them the help they need to stay healthy all year long. Healthy, properly fed trees and shrubs are more disease and drought tolerant, and they stay healthier.
Tree and Shrub Pruning
The main reasons for pruning ornamental and shade trees include safety, health, and aesthetics. In addition, pruning can be used to stimulate fruit production. Pruning for safety involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or property damage.
Pruning for health involves removing diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to increase airflow and reduce some pest problems, as well as removing crossing and rubbing branches. On the other hand, pruning for aesthetics involves enhancing the natural form and character of trees or stimulating flower production.
Basic Pruning
This process consists of removing dead, dying, diseased, interfering, and weak branches. We also do selective thinning to lessen wind resistance. A deadwood of up to approximately ½” in diameter may remain within the main leaf area.
Mid-Grade Pruning
Mid-grade pruning will include the removal of dead, dying, diseased, interfering, and weak branches. Please note that a deadwood of up to 1″ in diameter may remain within the main leaf area.
Heavy Pruning
The heavy pruning involves removing dead, dying, diseased, or obviously weak branches with 2″ in diameter or greater.
Tree Flowering Solutions
Most flowering trees set their blossoms the year before they bloom. Therefore, they will not bloom if these flower buds are trimmed off the tree. The best rule is to always trim flowering trees within three weeks of when they finish blooming. That should prevent you from inadvertently removing buds containing next year’s flower show.
Contact Us
Connect with one of our representatives for more information about our residential property care services.