You can maintain a good looking lawn by following these basic tips:
Weed
Dandelions, clover, and crabgrass are some of the most common weeds, and there are plenty of others that can take hold and spread relentlessly. Use a granular weed-and-feed product to keep them in check. You can also use a spray organic liquid broadleaf weed killer to spot-treat. To treat actively growing weeds, apply granular products on a dewy morning. Spot-treat weeds with an organic spray herbicide on a warm, sunny day.
Feed
As your grass grows through the summer, it uses up nutrients in the soil. As you mow and bag up clippings, over time soil nutrients get used up. For a healthy, happy lawn, you need to add fertilizer. Letting lawn clippings decompose back into the soil can help a little, but you should still replenish nutrients periodically. A simple soil test every year will show you how much of what nutrients you may need to add. You can purchase these at any hardware or garden center. Otherwise, use a broad spectrum lawn fertilizer. It’s best to feed in the spring and fall.
Breathe
Over time, lawn soil gets compacted by environmental pressures and being walked on, and thatch builds up. This dead grass, thatch, chokes out healthy grass leaving a lawn looking brown and unhealthy. Aerating your lawn helps loosen the soil again, and allows water to reach grass roots more easily. It’s best to aerate when the soil is moist, and grass is actively growing. Give your lawn a good watering before aerating, or wait for a decent rain. Ideally you should aerate your lawn in spring or fall.
Water
No matter what type of grass you have, your lawn will likely need some watering during extended dry spells. Watering early in the morning is the best time. Nighttime watering can encourage disease because of prolonged wetness. Watering during the hottest times of the day leads to evaporation of the water before the grass can absorb it fully. The best approach is to water once or twice a week in the morning, long enough to wet the soil several inches down.
Mow
While mowing is a pretty fundamental part of having a lawn, there is still a trick to it. Mowing “right” can significantly affect the health and appearance of your lawn. When you mow, you shouldn’t cut off more than a third of the height of your grass. For example, if your mower is set at two inches, don’t let the grass get taller than three inches before mowing. If you wait too long between mowing, letting your grass get too tall between cutting, it stresses the lawn. This will make your lawn look less attractive. Also, keeping your lawn well mowed will discourage fleas and ticks who prefer hiding out in longer grasses.
Good lawncare is a simple way to keep your yard looking its best. If you don’t have time for all this lawncare – we do!
At AC Yard Services, we provide:
- Lawn Mowing
- Lawn Aeration
- Reseeding
- Dethatching
- Fertilizing & General Lawncare
