As the arrival of summer heralds great rejoicing by outdoor enthusiasts across the country, warm-weather lawn care is usually a bit of a daunting task. This is especially true if you’re a first-time homeowner or novice landscaper. Fortunately, maintaining a wholesome lawn isn’t challenging – heed this easy list of do’s and don’ts to maintain your lawn looking fresh and green.
Do’s and Don’ts of Lawn Care
1. DO mow often, but DON’T mow too short. Maintaining a wholesome lawn requires mowing your lawn frequently (around once a week) to help keep the ends healthy as well as stimulate growth. Allow it to grow naturally and don’t cut it shorter than around half the stem length. Cutting grass too short shocks the plant and prevents it from growing properly. Remember that this length varies with respect to the type of grass you are growing, so you must always take into account the species of grass before determining how short to cut.
2. DO fertilize but DON’T necessarily use chemicals. Fertilizing is essential, since it helps feed your grass the nutrients it requires. You should begin fertilizing around the time you start mowing your lawn. Try to avoid fertilizing during the hottest days, because this can burn the grass. Remember that fertilizer doesn’t need to be store bought, synthetic brew. Organic, all-natural fertilizers work perfectly, along with, mulched grass clippings and shredded leaves. Grass clippings work nicely to naturally replenish the soil, and are easy to disperse evenly on the lawn during and after mowing. Other organic fertilizers include manure, bone meal, and compost.
3. DO adhere to a regular watering schedule but DON’T over water. Your lawn needs regular watering. If you reside in a dry area or if it’s an extremely dry season, ensure you are supplementing rainfall with your watering. Consider installing an irrigation system to make certain your plants are receiving adequate access to moisture. Water early in the morning between 6 and 10 am, since this gives your plants adequate time to absorb the moisture before it evaporates under the hot sun. Water deeply, but infrequently-aim for a good soaking every two to three days. Conversely, don’t over water. Watering excessively can leave your lawn soggy and cause fungi to grow.
4. DO take note of the time of day but DON’T ever cut wet grass. Make an effort to mow your lawn in the afternoon. Before noon, your grass should still be damp from morning dew or watering. Cutting wet grass inhibits further growth, as well as makes the lawn more prone to damage and soil compaction. Plus, wet grass will clog your mower blades and make the chore more tedious. Make time for regular lawn maintenance, and adhere to a strict schedule to avoid working your lawn at the wrong times.
5. DO plan in advance but DON’T feel like everything has to be done simultaneously. Whether you’re a first-time landowner or a seasoned expert, planning out your summer landscape and lawn care is vital. Don’t try to tackle your landscaping plan haphazardly. Dedicate spaces to vegetables, lawn, perennials, and annuals, and then adhere to your plan. Simultaneously, you shouldn’t feel like you need to transform your front yard into a verdant oasis in only one season. Landscaping isn’t cheap, and while curb appeal and home value both increase as you enhance the landscape, it is usually cost-prohibitive to do it all at once. Add a new garden bed, seed a section of lawn, or plant new shrubs one at a time, and don’t allow yourself to become overwhelmed by the huge selection of opportunities available to you.
Caring for your lawn shouldn’t be overwhelming, so take it easy and enhance your lawn slowly, with each coming year.