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Lawn care is easy, right? All you have to do is water the grass on a regular basis, and do a bit of weeding every now and then, correct?
Not exactly.
While lawn care is certainly not rocket science, there are few important steps everyone must know, whether you are a newbie or have a few years of gardening tucked under your belt.
And even if you are planning on enlisting the aid of a lawn care company from Manchester, MO, it is a good idea to have an understanding of the basics.
So what are these basic procedures that you need to learn and understand?
Irrigation
First and foremost, you do not need to water your lawn every day.
Overwatering is one of the leading causes of many lawn problems, and is one of the easiest to avoid.
Overwatering can make your lawn more inviting to insects, including the harmful ones. Plus, when you irrigate your lawn on a daily basis, the nutrients in the soil get washed away, depriving the grass of its food.
In watering your lawn, your goal is to allow the grass roots to reach deeper down the soil to become healthier, stronger, and more resilient to drought, diseases and pests.
What is the best way to water your lawn?
For starters, water your lawn early in the morning. This ensures that the excess moisture evaporates as the day goes on by.
Make sure you water deeply.
How deep? According to a lawn care professional from Wildwood, MO, your lawn should receive somewhere between six to eight inches of water per watering session.
The easiest way to determine if your lawn and garden have received the recommended amount of water is to set out similar-sized cans or any types of water container near the sprinkler(s) and evenly across your lawn and garden. You may also want to ensure there are containers in sensitive spots such as near thirsty plants.
With the cans (or containers) in place, you can then run your sprinkler system for a minimum of 20 minutes. Once it’s turned off, inspect each can and measure the water level using a ruler. Take note of areas where there is remarkably more or a lot less water in each can.
If there are great inconsistencies in the water levels, then it would be wise to inspect the nozzles and sprinkler heads for any signs of clogging. Also check your system for rotating heads that have become stuck. Some gentle brushing will help clear clogged parts, but if you suspect a plumbing issue, then get your plumber in to sort out the problem.
Mowing
As a rule of thumb, you should not cut off more than a third of the blades of grass. Doing so will cause stress, which, in turn, can leave the grass vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Schedule each mowing session when it is cool. Also, make sure that the grass is completely dry.
Before starting each mowing session, check the blades of your lawn mower to ensure that they are sharp since dull blades can damage the grass blades, making mowing both harmful and inefficient.
You do not have to bag the grass clippings. In fact, it is highly recommended to just leave the grass clippings on your lawn. The clippings can provide the grass with much needed nutrients as they decompose.
Fertilizing
In the United States, late fall and late summer are considered to be the best times to fertilize a lawn.
The first application of fertilizers is done during late fall. Experts recommend the use of slow-release fertilizers which provide the grass with enough energy to fuel growth and recovery come spring.
The purpose of applying fertilizer during late summer is to supplement the first application. Usually, you will need fewer fertilizers during this period.
Fertilizing between these periods is often unnecessary. If you do choose to fertilize your lawn during spring, apply fertilizers lightly.
Better yet, instead of fertilizing during spring, you should strongly consider applying a layer of compost on the lawn. This will help enrich the soil with nutrients as well as help it retain more moisture.
Other important lawn care tasks
One of the key tasks that need to be performed during spring is dethatching. The buildup of thatch on a lawn can leave it vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Another important task that homeowners should do from time to time is to aerate the soil. Aeration is basically just poking holes into the soil. This facilitates the entry of more water, air, and nutrients which grass and plants in your lawn and garden need to grow and thrive.
Consider hiring an expert
Maintaining a lawn can consume an immense amount of resources, especially your time and effort.
As such, you might want to consider hiring lawn care professionals to do the job for you. Plus, having experts by your side can help eliminate much of the guesswork associated with lawn care.
In turn, this gives you enough opportunity to use those resources for other things that truly matter to you, while making sure your lawn is healthy and beautiful.
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