Lawns can make a property more attractive and provide a great place to play, relax or exercise. It’s important to mow properly, water adequately, fertilize and control weeds and pests.
Perform a soil test to learn the proportion of sand, silt and clay in your lawn’s soil. Follow lab recommendations to correct pH balance, encourage soil fertility and promote grass growth. Visit https://www.primecutlawnky.com/ to learn more.
Lawn care is a year-round process that involves many maintenance considerations. It’s not just mowing and watering – aeration, seeding/overseeding, and pest control are also essential for a lush, healthy lawn. A lawn that is well-maintained can add curb appeal and improve property values. However, many homeowners struggle to keep up with the maintenance required for a beautiful lawn. In order to achieve a gorgeous yard, you need to know what your lawn’s needs are and work with a professional to meet those needs.
Most lawns should be mowed at least once a week, but the frequency of mowing will depend on your location and season. A mowing height between 2 to 3 inches is recommended, as this promotes drought resistance and crowds out weeds. It is important to sharpen your mower blade regularly to ensure a clean cut that reduces fungus development.
A good lawn starts with the soil, and a healthy soil will support a healthy grass. Regular aeration is an essential component of lawn care, as it helps to loosen the soil and encourages deep roots. Aeration can be done in combination with other lawn treatments such as fertilization and weed control, to optimize the results.
Fungicides can be used to treat turf diseases that may occur. However, a properly fertilized, watered, and mowed lawn is unlikely to experience serious disease problems, as most diseases are self-limiting. If a lawn does develop a disease, it is usually because of stress from weather or over-fertilization.
It is also important to have the right grass type for your climate and region. A local lawn care company can help you determine the best grass type for your lawn and provide recommendations for proper watering, mowing, and pest control.
A healthy, dense lawn discourages harmful insects, including snails and slugs, which are attracted to sun-loving turfgrasses. Many lawn care companies apply insecticides to their clients’ yards during periods of high risk for insect damage, but it is important to choose a company that uses targeted pest control techniques rather than applying large quantities of insecticide.
Watering
It might seem obvious, but watering your lawn is crucial to keeping it green and healthy. Ideally, you should water your lawn once a week and make sure the soil is saturated at least to about 6 inches down. This promotes deep roots and makes the grass more drought-tolerant. It also helps prevent thatch, a web of dry brown runners that appears just above the soil. Watering deeply is also the best way to prevent chinch bugs, an unsightly pest that typically infests stressed-out lawns.
Aerating is another important lawn care practice, removing small cores of dirt from the ground to help the roots grow deeper. This is also a great time to add compost, which improves the soil structure and helps plants absorb nutrients more easily.
If your lawn is suffering from weeds or insect damage, it may be time for an application of a broadleaf weed killer or fungicide. It’s essential to use these products at the right time for maximum effectiveness. If you apply a granular product, like Roundup, it should be applied in the early morning after the dew has dried, but before it starts to heat up. Liquid treatments, on the other hand, are most effective when applied when the leaves of the targeted weeds are still wet and warm.
Raking leaves is another essential chore for your yard, as a thick mat of moldy leaves blocks sunlight and makes it hard for the grass to photosynthesize. It’s a good idea to take advantage of the wind while you’re at it and rake as much as possible at once, to avoid having to do it again later.
A lawn needs adequate nutrients to thrive, but mowing and bagging clippings over time uses up the soil’s supply. Soil tests can show you what kind of nutrients your lawn needs, and when to add them. For example, adding lime will restore the soil pH balance to help grasses draw on available nutrients more effectively.
If you don’t have the time to perform some of these tasks on your own, consider hiring a professional lawn care pro. A professional can handle mowing, watering, aeration and weed killing to keep your yard looking its best. Get started by connecting with a local pro through Lawn Love today!
Fertilizing
Lawns require regular fertilizing to promote healthy growth and help prevent weeds. The best way to know what nutrients your lawn needs is to conduct a soil test. This will tell you the proportion of sand, silt and clay in your soil, as well as its nutrient levels. Many at-home soil testing kits are available, but sending a sample to a laboratory will give you more precise results.
After conducting your soil test, you can determine how much fertilizer to apply to your lawn and when. The type of grass you have will also affect your lawn’s nutrient requirements. Some types of grass, such as bluegrass, require more nitrogen than other types, such as fescue.
In general, it’s best to apply slow-acting commercial granular fertilizer once or twice per year. This kind of fertilizer spreads slowly, allowing the grass to absorb the nutrients over several months. It’s important to follow the instructions on the fertilizer label, including watering immediately after application. Watering helps wash the granules into the soil and ensures that they reach the roots.
A good time to apply fertilizer is in the spring. This will give the grass a strong start to the growing season and help it retain its color and prevent scorching. However, it’s best to apply a fall fertilizer as well to help strengthen the grass’s root system and make it more resistant to drought and fungus.
Before applying the fertilizer, aerate your lawn to improve its health and appearance. This process involves using a machine that removes small cores of dirt from the lawn to loosen it and allow for better moisture and nutrient circulation. It also reduces thatch, which can block water and nutrients from reaching the ground.
In addition to fertilizing and aerating, your lawn may need additional maintenance, such as seeding or overseeding, weed control, tree and shrub care, leaf removal and winterizing. A professional lawn care company can help you choose the right services and schedule for your lawn’s unique needs. They can also offer advice on other landscaping options, such as adding a patio or deck to enhance your home’s curb appeal.
Weeding
Weeds are a fact of life but there are many ways to control them. For annual weeds such as crabgrass, dandelions, and clover, a spot application of a granular herbicide in early spring works well. For perennial weeds, digging out the plants and destroying their roots is usually necessary.
If weeds become too problematic, some companies offer a full lawn care program that includes both fertilization and weed killer treatments. A good lawn care company will use non-toxic treatments and limit the number of chemical applications as much as possible to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.
Watering is key to any successful lawn care strategy, but the timing of it is critical. The best time to water is in the morning so that the sun’s heat will dry the grass and reduce disease risk. Avoid evening and nighttime watering, as these can encourage fungus and other plant diseases.
A regular mowing schedule is also important for keeping your lawn looking its best. Start with a monthly schedule and adjust it to your lawn’s growth rate, mowing at the right height for its species of turfgrass. Mowing too short can damage the grass and lead to thinning turf.
Fertilizing is another important part of a lawn care program, but it’s important to get the timing right. A soil test will give you insights into your specific soil’s pH and nutrient makeup so that you can target the fertilization process to its needs.
The right weed killer is essential for keeping your lawn free of invasive and unwanted plants. A good lawn care company will only use products that are safe for children and pets and won’t harm the environment.
Insects are another fact of life in a yard, but high populations can be a problem for a lawn. A healthy lawn that uses the BMPs described above will be able to tolerate a small number of insect pests. However, if the grass is under pressure from high numbers of insects, it may need to be treated with insecticides to maintain its appearance and health.
