Having a nice lawn is more important than ever. The real estate market is on fire and houses are selling fast. Your lawn is the first impression for a potential homebuyer.
The landscaping industry is forecasted to grow by nearly 5% by 2025. This figure is impressive considering the global recession caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people are struggling, but the importance of landscaping continues to grow.
Read on to learn how to grow a thick, green yard with these 10 lawn tips.
1. Feed It
Your lawn cannot reach its potential without some help. It is up to you to lay down fertilizer each month to keep the grass lush and thick.
Each month requires a different blend of fertilizer. This blend is dependent on your location’s climate.
For example, in the Northeast, you need to lay down fertilizer with crabgrass preventer in the early spring. Crabgrass does not emerge until the hot and humid summer. However, this fertilizer blend prevents crabgrass from germinating.
There are other important fertilizer blends. Some are designed to eliminate hundreds of weeds. Others are made specifically for the fall and winter seasons.
2. Mow the Right Length
One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is cutting their grass too short. The thought process is that you can reduce your workload by cutting it shorter.
The grass will not need to be mowed for an extra few days. Also, mowing the grass shorter is a great way to hide weeds.
The truth is that when you cut the grass too short, it dries up and burns. Longer blades of grass provide shade for the roots. This limits sun exposure during hot summer months.
The easy fix is to set your lawnmower blade at a medium to high setting. While this means more frequent cuts, your lawn will thank you in the long run.
3. Water in the Morning
A big topic for homeowners is when to water the lawn. The best time to water is in the early morning. This gives the lawn’s roots adequate time to absorb the water.
The sun is at its strongest point between 10 am to 4 pm. You want to avoid watering during this timeframe at all costs.
Watering is less efficient and your lawn will dry up. The end result is a brown and burnt lawn.
While the sun is less powerful after 4 pm, you still want to avoid watering in the late evening.
Night watering leads to a completely different issue. The evening is ripe for moldy conditions and can lead to lawn disease.
4. Determine the Right Amount of Water
The next step is finding out how long to water your grass. Several different factors determine the right watering volume.
You have to take into consideration the size of your lawn. Other factors include the efficiency of your sprinkler system and how much sun the grass gets. Grass that resides in shadier areas naturally needs less water.
Many homeowners make the mistake of watering every single day. The truth is that your lawn may only need one or two waterings per week.
According to the experts, an established lawn only needs 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. Some of this may come from rain. You can meet the remaining amount with your sprinkler system.
Your lawn’s root system is the reason we do not want to overwater. The water should soak down 6 to 8 inches in the soil.
This allows your grass to grow a long and strong root system. Overwatering prevents this process from occurring.
5. Reseed the Lawn
When you notice thin or bare spots, it is time to reseed your lawn. Some refer to this process as overseeding.
The best time to reseed your grass is in late fall or early spring. When you reseed in the late fall, seedlings get coated in dirt and sit dormant until the weather turns warmer. The seeds get pushed deep into the soil laying a strong foundation for growth.
6. Aerating the Grass
A lawn care tips list would not be complete without a section on aeration. Grass requires oxygen, water, and nutrients to survive and thrive. They cannot get these critical elements when the soil gets too compact.
The solution is to aerate your lawn. A local lawn care company is certain to have the right equipment for aeration.
This process involves poking holes in your soil. While it may not look great in the days after, the disturbed soil eventually breaks back down.
The lawn looks great after a strong rain or fresh mowing. Your lawn will be healthier in the long run as well.
7. Apply Lime
Your grass can only reach its peak potential when the soil is healthy. One common issue is when your lawn has an imbalanced supply of pH.
The solution here is to apply lime. It is a supplement made from ground limestone rock. It balances the soil’s pH and offsets any acidity.
8. Skip Bagging
Many people want to bag their clippings. This ties back to a homeowner’s natural desire to reduce workload.
Grass clippings are loaded with valuable nutrients like nitrogen. Removing the bag on your lawnmower allows these nutrients to be redistributed to the soil.
9. Remove Clumps of Grass
We are not advocating leaving your clumps of grass on the lawn. They are unsightly and prevent your healthy grass from receiving sunlight and water.
Instead, you should rake up any clumps of grass. Better yet, raise the blade on your lawnmower so that you do not get the clumps to begin with.
10. Sharpen Your Blade
Many people mistakenly assume their lawnmower blade is fine if the grass is getting cut. More than likely, your blade is tearing off grass instead of cutting it.
This leads to damaged blades that turn yellow. They are more susceptible to disease and require more water and nutrients to survive. Instead, you should sharpen your mower blades up to three times per year.
A Recap of 10 Lawn Tips
These lawn care tips are certain to help your grass look lush and thick. Little steps like watering in the early morning or raising your mower blade go a long way.
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