A beautiful lawn is the homeowner’s pride and envy of the neighborhood. And it all comes down to following regular maintenance practices.
However, in an attempt to make the lawn enviable, some homeowners often overdo things. And some might not know the proper care to give their yard according to its situation.
Not to worry; here are common lawn care mistakes and corrections to make if you’ve falling culprit.
Cutting the grass too short
Seeing your lawn overgrown, you may be tempted to cut it very low to avoid mowing again pretty soon. But cutting your lawn too short is a mistake to avoid. Why?
Plants need leaves to produce their own food. When you cut the grass too short, the length may become insufficient to sustain the plant nutrition-wise, and it may struggle to thrive. You may find some parts wilting, and the general appearance of the lawn wouldn’t be as elegant as you had expected after some time.
Always apply the one-third rule: avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass length in one mow. Set the mower height to 2.5 inches. Even when you’ve been away or busy and the lawn looks overgrown, do the mowing multiple times, cutting one-third each time.
Also, remember that different grasses have recommended average length. So it’s worth looking up yours online to know the right way to go.
Watering wrongly
Indeed, many homeowners report that they’re unsure how often they ought to water their lawn. Overwatering is just another lawn care mistake people make every so often. It discourages the grass from developing deep roots so it can reach into soil water rather than depending on supplemental watering.
Grasses only require about one inch of rainwater weekly. You can practice this by putting a rain gauge on your lawn and measuring the amount of water it accumulates when it rains.
It’s generally better to water your lawn less frequently but deep into the soil, about 1 inch per week. And don’t water between 10 am and 6 pm as wind and sun can dry it up. Instead, water before 10 am (recommended) or around 7 pm.
Mowing will blunt blades
When you mow with dull blades, the grass blades get torn. The torn edges will appear as colored tips, making the grass look brown and less clean.
Furthermore, torn blades are more prone to infestation. So it’s advisable to get your lawn mower sharpened before going about that chore.
Planting without a soil test
While you may think your yard looks healthy enough to support a beautiful lawn, it may not be so. Grass does best in soil with a pH of between 6 and 6.5.
If you can’t run the test yourself, consider calling a lawn care company near you to do it for you. If the soil isn’t optimal, they’ll suggest what you can do to put it in more favorable conditions.
Over-fertilizing
Over-fertilizing with high nitrogen levels will cause excess leaf growth and poor root development. Furthermore, high nitrogen levels in quick-release fertilizers may “burn” the lawn as it gets quickly washed away.
Typically, how much fertilizer to use will be shown in the packaging, but it also varies from region to region. Consider consulting a lawn care professional for guidelines. You can search online for lawn care near me to get an expert in your area knowledgeable about your regional recommendations. They may also provide a professional touch to transform your poor-looking lawn into the envy of the neighborhood once more.
Typically, slow-release fertilizers are recommended as they do not need frequent replenishment.
Applying too much herbicide
You probably want to kill off the entire weed at once, but applying too much herbicide is another lawn care mistake you want to avoid.
Depending on your location, there may be restrictions regarding herbicide use regarding environmental pollution. However, even when the limitations in your region are not that stringent, weed killers should be used sparingly.
Apply herbicide only where you need it and not to the entire lawn. Another good alternative to herbicides is pulling the weeds by hand or hoe.
Planting the wrong kind of seed
One common mistake homeowners make is not carefully reading the labels on the lawn seeds they buy from the store.
You see, most grass seeds contain weeds. It isn’t a mistake on the vendor’s part but a conscious act. That’s why you’ll see a percentage of weed seed and other crops when you check the label.
However, there are premium lawn seeds labeled zero percent weed seeds and zero percent other crop. If you don’t want to see any weed just after sprouting, this is the product to go for.
Wrapping up
Correct maintenance can mean the difference between a drab-looking lawn and a picturesque one.
Since your landscaping effectively enhances your curb appeal and home value, it’s great to ensure proper care for your lawn.
