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Professional Lawn Care Company serving Suffolk County, NY, for over 30 years.
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Quick Lawn Care Guides
Short, practical tips for Long Island lawns, from the team at Emerald Magic Lawn Care. Our soil is sandy, our summers are humid and our seasons change fast, so a little local know-how goes a long way. Use these guides between visits, and call us any time you spot something new.
Lawn Care Guides
Watering Guide
Water early in the morning. It helps keep moisture in the ground and lets the grass blades dry during the day.
Water deeply and less often, rather than a little every evening. Long Island’s sandy soil drains fast, so deep watering encourages deeper roots.
Avoid evening watering when you can. Grass that stays wet overnight is more inviting to turf disease.
After seeding, keep the soil damp but not too wet until the new grass is established.
Seeding Guide
The best time to seed on Long Island is late summer or early fall, when cooler temperatures and regular rainfall help new grass grow strong without stress.
New grass usually appears in about 7 to 14 days.
Seed needs good contact with the soil. That is why we break up compaction, remove thatch and use methods like slice seeding and core aeration.
Shady yard? Ask about shade-tolerant seed. Sunny, dry yard? Ask about drought-tolerant varieties.
Grub Guide
Grubs feed on grass roots, and damage often shows in late summer.
Look for brown patches that peel back easily, or birds and animals digging in the lawn.
Grub protection is included in our Emerald Plus and Emerald Premier plans.
Poison Ivy Safety Guide
Learn the look: alternate leaves with three leaflets, growing as a shrub, a ground vine or a hairy climbing vine.
Wash with cold water right after contact to help keep urushiol from setting in.
Clean clothes and tools that touched the plant.
Never burn poison ivy, and keep it out of your compost. For safe, effective control, see Poison Ivy & Invasive Vine Control.
Mowing Guide
Mow high. Taller cool-season grass shades the soil, holds moisture and leaves less room for crabgrass.
Keep mower blades sharp. Clean cuts heal faster than torn leaf tips.
Leave short clippings on the lawn. They break down quickly and return a little goodness to the soil.
Avoid mowing new seed until it is established, and follow the care tips we give you.
Weeds and Crabgrass Guide
A thick lawn is the best weed defense. Weeds move into thin and bare spots first.
Crabgrass loves heat and thin turf, so it often shows up in midsummer along walkways and driveway edges.
Routine lawn care reduces weeds over time, and if a problem appears between visits, let us know.
Tick and Mosquito Guide
Keep grass mowed and clear leaf litter and debris where ticks hide.
Tip out standing water from planters, toys, birdbaths and tarps after a rain.
Check family and pets for ticks after time in the yard, woods or tall grass.
For targeted treatment, see Tick & Mosquito Control.
Seasonal Checklist
Spring
Note thin or damaged areas, start tick awareness, and get your lawn plan in place.
Summer
Water deeply and early, mow high, and watch for disease, mosquitoes and grub damage.
Late summer and fall
Seed and aerate, repair worn areas, and spot poison ivy as its leaves change color.
Winter
Plan next season and talk with us about bundling services.