OUR MISSION
To achieve customer
satisfaction by
providing quality services at
affordable prices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ask the Expert -- Clean Cut owner Josh Milne answers your email
questions about lawn and landscaping care.
Q :: What is the proper way to water my yard?
Josh :: Much of the water applied to lawns and gardens is never absorbed
by plants. The greatest waste of water results from applying it too rapidly or
too often. Water applied too rapidly is lost as runoff, which may carry
polluting fertilizers and pesticides to streams and lakes. Some water
evaporates when applied to bare, unmulched soil, or is lost into the air
when applied as a spray, especially on hot afternoons.
Apply water infrequently yet thoroughly. In the absence of rain, most trees,
shrubs, and ground covers benefit from a thorough monthly watering during
the growing season. Saturate to a depth of 8" to 10". This watering
schedule applied to lawns will create a deep, well-rooted lawn that efficiently
uses water stored in the soil. Watering early in the morning prevents
mildew diseases and minimizes evaporation.
Q :: Explain why organic treatment is better than chemical fertilizer
Josh :: Organic gardening uses soil enhancements that really work,
avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers which poison the environment.
Inorganic fertilizers have a salt base, which causes imbalance in the pH of
most soils. These fertilizers are causing a toxic buildup of nitrates and
drinking water, wreaking havoc in streams, lakes, and even the oceans.
Farmers are now aware of the problem and are looking to alternative
methods and products, and we home gardeners should be doing the same.
Chemical fertilizers also destroy the beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
A good application of organic mulch and a little compost worked into the
top few inches of the soil should take care of the nutrients your plants
require and therefore reduce the need for fertilizers. In fact, many native
plants dislike chemical fertilizers and grow better without fertilizers of any
kind. If you decide your plants need fertilizing, one application of an
organic fertilizer to the soil before the growing season begins should be
sufficient.
Q :: Is the organic solution right for managing my lawn pest problem?
Josh :: Very often, yes. The most important step in pest management is to
maintain healthy soil. Good, healthy soil produces healthy plants which are
better able to withstand plant diseases and insect damage. Practicing
"green landscaping", including efficient watering, planting, soil building, and
reduction of rainfall runoff, will significantly reduce your pest problems.
Q :: Are all of the bugs in my yard harmful?
Josh :: No. Beneficial insects such as ground beetles, ladybugs, fireflies,
green lacewings, praying mantis, spiders, and wasps keep harmful insects
from devouring your plants. They also pollinate your plants and decompose
organic matter. Chemicals harm these beneficial insects more than the
unwanted pests.
Q :: Will mulching make a big difference in the health of my plants?
Josh :: Mulch is a material spread on top of the ground to benefit soil and
plant health, and make landscape maintenance easier. It is one of the
easiest, least expensive, and most effective things you can do to improve
your yard and the environment.
Q :: What plants, flowers, etc.. will grow best in my Houston yard?
Josh :: Native plants are almost always the best choice for trouble-free
gardening. Once established, native plant species require only minimal
attention from the home gardener. This translates into a reduction of
extensive soil amendments, less watering, less need for the use of
chemicals, and less pampering.
A new consciousness has emerged among gardeners, both professional
and amateur. People are overcoming the desire to dominate and harness
nature in their gardens. Instead, a sensitivity to regional conditions has
developed, increasing the use of native plants and naturalistic styles such
as rock, prairie, desert, and meadow gardens. Incorporate a variety of
plants. Diverse plantings provide food and cover for a variety of living
things.
