No matter what time of the year you’re growing grass, brush up on your lawn care routine with these quick and easy tips which will help you create and maintain the perfect lawn and yard year-round. Follow these simple steps and keep a regular maintenance routine to avoid having a dull, well infested lawn.
1 Prevent Weeds, Thatch and Moss Before They Get to the Roots
Lawn weeds can grow as either seed heads or flowers, with a wide variety of types that are common in lawns.
The easiest option is to pull out the whole weed, roots included. This can be done by hand or using a tool, however if there is a large quantity try spraying the weeds directly with a low toxicity herbicide.
The best solution to remove thatch is with a process called scarification, which is the process of raking and removing mulch from the lawn. There are a variety of tools available, including a lawn scarifier, that will assist with this process.
Mosses are non flowering plants that can cause the worst of lawn problems. They thrive in areas that have excess moisture, shade and low quality turf.
In order to remove the moss, the cause for the problem must be identified and reduced. It can then be monitored and maintained with feeding and scarifying.
2 Water the right way
The best time to water your lawn is when it needs it. In the beginning of the season you don’t have to rush. When grass starts growing, it’s the roots that grow first. If the ground is a little dry, they grow deep into the soil. These deep roots help grass survive drought. So holding off on watering at first is actually good for your grass.
However, if you walk across the lawn and the blades of grass do not spring back in your footsteps, it’s time to water.
The best time to water your lawn is the early morning because the sun will help dry the grass. Nighttime watering can result in prolonged moisture on the blades, which can open the door for some diseases. It’s better to water less often but for prolonged periods. Just wetting down the grass isn’t watering the grass. You need to soak the lawn so the soil moisture goes down several inches.
3 Mow High and Frequently
Mowing your lawn too short may seem like a time saver, but this can damage your grass as well as allow weeds to set root. Keeping your lawn a bit taller results in healthier grass. The general rule of thumb is: Never cut off more than a third of the grass blade.
4 Feed Your Lawn
What do lawns like to consume? Nitrogen is the most important nutrient. Look for a mix of fast- and slow-release fertilizers that will green up your lawn quickly, and feed it over time. In the north, feed in fall and spring. In the south, feed in spring and summer. Don’t feed dormant grass (drought can cause grass to go dormant in summer) because it can’t take in nutrients.