10 Lawn Care Tips for a Beautiful Summer Yard
Having a lush, green lawn that is the envy of your neighbours is a goal for many people. With the number of lawn care tips available, it can seem daunting to determine which ones will work for you. Here are 10 tips that are universal, and that will work for just about any lawn.
Adjust Your Lawnmower
The condition of your lawn is largely influenced by the tools that you use to maintain it. To allow grass to establish a better root system, let it grow a little longer. When you are cutting the grass, raise the deck on your lawn mower. It is also important to use a sharp blade. If you are cutting grass with a dull blade, it can chew up ground or turn the grass brown.
Raise Low Areas
Low areas of your lawn are prone to puddles which can cause these areas to get too damp, especially if you have a sprinkler system or during times of frequent rain. Too much water can result in the grass starting to rot, turning it a yellow colour. Raising these areas using compost and soil will keep your lawn looking lush and green.
Reduce Chemical Usage
While some chemicals are fine and can definitely be beneficial, only use them when absolutely necessary. For example, if there is just a small brown area, give it time to breathe and recover instead of immediately dousing it in lawn chemicals. If after a couple of weeks, it has not changed, then using the proper chemical at the amount described in the product’s instructions is fine. Refrain from heavily relying on chemicals and overusing them.
Do Not Water Daily
A common misconception is that your lawn needs to be watered on a daily basis, but it is actually better to water every 2-3 days. When you water, do this in the early morning hours. This helps to reduce the risk of rot and evaporation loss.
Aerate Annually
Once a year, you should aerate your lawn. This will make it easier for your lawn to absorb nutrients, air and water so that it has what it needs to thrive. A coring aerator is ideal. When you aerate, this puts several small holes into your lawn. These holes allow the air, water and nutrients to get deeper into the ground than they normally can. This allows for more effective root growth. One thing to remember is your sprinklers when tackling this task. Avoid areas near sprinkler heads so that you do not damage them.
Feeding Your Lawn
Prior to the growing season, which is established by your respective Plant Zone, use a well-balanced fertilizer to give your lawn what it needs. A 10-10-10 fertilizer that is organic is often a good choice. Follow the instructions on the bag or container to ensure that your lawn reaps the most benefit from the product. You can typically use a hand spreader for this task to distribute the fertilizer evenly.
Remove Dead Grass
If you allow dead grass to accumulate on your lawn, it may cause the remainder of your lawn to become unhealthy. It is important to dethatch the dead areas so that the sunlight and air are able to reach down further into the soil to promote new and healthy growth. You want to determine the stage of your grass before you do this so that you are better able to protect the roots. It is ideal to do this once you get toward the end of the summer season.
Test Your Soil
The pH of your soil plays an important role in the overall health of your lawn. You can get a testing kit for this purpose. Just follow the instructions exactly. A professional landscaping service can also help you with this. Once you know what your soil pH is, you will be able to use the right nutrients and products to promote optimal health and growth of your lawn.
Pull the Weeds
This can be a tedious task, but it is necessary if you want to create a lush lawn. It is common to see a wealth of clover, wild onions, crabgrass and dandelions sprinkled throughout your lawn. Now, if weeds make up a large percentage of your lawn, you may have to start digging it up to get rid of them the right way. Go down about six inches and then start the tilling process.
There are also products that may help to inhibit weed growth that you can use if you only have small areas that require treatment. With these products, use them exactly as the directions state and it is best to use them during times of heavy dew, such as the early morning hours.
Seed vs. Sod
When you are getting started with a new lawn, this is the choice that you have to make. Both of these have their advantages and for the most part, it ultimately comes down to how patient you are and how much money you want to invest in your new lawn. Sod tends to be more expensive, but it is a lot faster in delivering you a beautiful lawn. Seeds are far more cost-effective, but it takes time to make them grow. Just remember that no matter which you choose that you properly perform all necessary maintenance tasks.
These lawn care tips are relatively simple and will help you to achieve your dream lawn. Stay diligent and make sure to stay on top of what needs to be done. This helps to ensure that once you achieve your goal lawn, you can maintain it too. A landscaping service can also help if you need more advice or you want to redesign your space.
Peel Exterior Maintenance Inc has been part of the landscaping business for years. Two Canada-based locations can serve a wide variety of different customers and offer a range of potential services. For more information, call Peel Exterior Maintenance Inc at 1-888-265-7214 or contact us here.