A lush, green lawn is something many homeowners want to create, and they consider it a key aspect of curb appeal. Mowing the grass regularly is essential, but there are several other important steps for maintaining a healthy green carpet year-round.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re living in the North with cool-season grass or in the South with warm-season varieties; all lawns will benefit from several tried-and-true lawn care rules. Professional landscapers usually categorize these turf care practices into five basic rules for any region.
1. Don’t Mow Too Short
Some homeowners believe that the shortest “haircut” they can give their lawns is always a good thing. However, the experts say otherwise. To maintain a healthy lawn, follow the 1/3 rule. That means never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade during a single mowing session. Cutting off too much can stress the lawn and make it vulnerable to weeds and diseases.
2. Make Clean, Sharp Cuts
The blades of your lawnmower won’t stay honed forever and should be sharpened once or twice a season. If you notice frayed grass tips, ragged cutting or have to make several passes to get a clean cut, your blades need sharpening. Without blades working 100%, you open your lawn up to disease. Some homeowners have a professional sharpen their mower blades because they lack the proper tools or knowledge.
3. Water: How Much/When Matters
It’s no secret that a beautiful lawn thrives on the ideal amount of water, but it’s more than just that. The universal rule is that your lawn requires 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly. Once or twice a week is best for watering lawns. If you have an automatic irrigation system or can set up a sprinkler in the yard, early morning watering is ideal. That window is between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. and would ensure adequate blade-drying to avoid fungal issues.
4. Do Yearly Core Aeration
Aeration is a task that should be performed annually for a healthy, growing lawn. What this does is create small holes for air, water and nutrients to penetrate deeply into the root system. Aeration is also key to the development of new grass seed.
5. Don’t Forget to Feed Your Lawn
Spring and fall are the proper seasons for fertilization, which provides the nutrients necessary for grass growth and recovery. Match your grass type for fertilization application, and never over-apply nitrogen, or you’ll burn your lawn.
A healthy, green lawn is an enviable asset for any homeowner, and the expert tips above can help you maintain its vibrancy year-round. If you live in Huntingdon Valley, PA or a surrounding area and need comprehensive lawn program services, make your first call to Willow Tree & Landscaping.