R.E.I.T.
FAQ's
Q. What is lawn aeration?
When and how is lawn aeration done?
A. The
basic idea behind lawn aeration is that, like you, your lawn and the soil
under it need to breathe. Providing much-needed lawn aeration for your
grass entails dealing with thatch.
The build-up of lawn thatch makes it difficult for your lawn to breathe. Lawn aeration performed in spring or fall helps control lawn thatch. The process of lawn aeration (sometimes misspelled lawn "airation") can be as simple as poking holes in the soil throughout the lawn by walking over the lawn with spiked shoes, a practice preached by the king of the landscaping FAQ, Jerry Baker. You should also faithfully remove as much lawn thatch as you can in fall by raking deeply, rather than just skimming the autumn leaves off the top of the lawn.
Lawn aeration also reduces soil compaction, allowing water and fertilizer to permeate into the root zone. Grassy areas submitted to constant foot traffic require lawn aeration more frequently.
Lawn aeration may be undertaken in the spring, as soon as the soil has thawed. But for Northern lawns, the fall season is better suited to lawn aeration. If the soil is severely compacted, simple lawn aeration methods such as that mentioned above may not be sufficient. In such cases, go to a rental center and rent a piece of equipment especially for lawn aeration, called the "lawn aerator." This lawn aeration equipment will pull "cores," or plugs of soil out of the ground, letting air in. These plugs should be 2"-3" in depth. Such a plug should be pulled out of the lawn at about every 3". The plug-removal process is facilitated by watering the lawn the day before, but don't water to the point of muddying the soil.
Q. What types of lawn grass
are there to
choose from?
A. Your
choice depends in part on where you live. I'll give two examples to illustrate
types of lawn grass, and where they're best grown:
In the southern U.S. "warm-season" grasses are generally grown. These types of lawn grasses grow actively from mid-April to mid-October. As their name implies, they like the warm weather. Bermuda grass is an example of a warm-season type of grass.
In the central and northern U.S. you are more likely to see people growing "cool-season" grasses. These types of grasses grow the most in the moderately cool temperatures of spring and fall -- the heat of summer slows them down. Kentucky bluegrass is an example of a cool-season type of grass.
Don't forget that, in addition to
lawn grasses, there are also "ornamental" grasses.
Ornamental grasses can also be classified according to whether they are
warm-season or cool-season grasses.
Q. How soon can you start?
A. Most always within 4 weeks. When
we get backlogged, we hire additional workers to pick up the slack so
we never get too overbooked. We schedule jobs on a first come-first serve
basis. To put your job on our calendar we’ll need a signed agreement
and a check for 10% of the job amount.
Q. Do
you sub the work out or use your
own people?
A. About
90% of the work performed is done by using our own in-house people. We
have crews that pour concrete, crews that install drainage & irrigation,
planting crews, electricians, etc. On occasion we’ll use one of
our preferred partners who we have worked with for year and know and trust.
Q. What is your warranty?
A. Workmanship
is warranted for one year from the time of completion. Materials, including
trees & shrubs, are warranted for one year from the nursery where
we buy them. Should any trees or shrubs die within one year, R.E.I.T.
is available to replace them for you at a small charge.
Q. How
long have you been in business?
A. R.E.I.T.
has been around for over 3 years now and has no intention of closing,
moving, or selling.
Q. Are
you willing to work in phases?
A. Yes.
Every aspect of our estimate is priced ala carte. Our only restriction
is that we have a $5,000 job minimum. From there, we can perform work
in $1,000 increments.
Q. Can I make changes after
the job is underway?
A. Yes,
no problem. Of course there would be an increase in your contract price
if any the work had already been completed or if the ‘ingredients’
that were originally bid were increased. We will never make a change or
incur any additional costs without talking to you first. Please know that
all change orders at to be paid in advance, regardless of prior payments.
Q. Can you show me some references?
A. In
an effort to reduce the number of calls our past customers receive, references
are available only upon request and only after signing the agreement.
Should you receive some negative feedback we would be happy to cancel
the agreement upon your request.
Q. Can
I pick my plants and how does
that work?
Yes. Plants are usually one of the last items to
be installed so you probably have some time to do some homework. We offer
3 ways to pick your plants:
Give us a complete list of each plant name and quantity
of each. We’ll buy the plant and place it with you at your house.
Allow us to do pick all of your plants. We have
a pretty good record of pleasing owners if you’ll let us know the
type of look that you’re looking for.
Tell us what some of your favorite plants are as well as what plants you
dislike. We’ll try to work your favorites into our plan.
Call us Today to Schedule a Consultation
at (610) 458-3562
