When it comes to lawn care, a lot of people don’t think twice about it. After all, who difficult can it be? There are a few tasks that you have to complete regularly, and that’s it. Well, this is not entirely true. Depending on the area you live in, this chore can be quite tricky. If it seems that you can never get it just right, then you are probably doing something wrong.
You would be surprised to learn how many people make the same mistakes that prevent them from having the perfect lawn. Well, in this article, we will introduce you to these and provide you with some tips and tricks that you can apply.
1. Mower blades are dull
You probably know that sharp blades are essential, but at the same time, you might not fully understand why and how significant they are. So, you just go on with your chore, trying to squeeze in another mowing session before actually sharpening them. Yes, everyone does this from time, so what’s the problem?
Yes, you can mow the lawn even if the blades aren’t sharp enough, but you should know how damaging to the grass this can be. Instead of cutting cleanly, the mower will be tearing the grass, leaving it prone to pests and disease. If you do this quite often, it is probably why the grass has those light-colored tips, which is what actually makes it look unhealthy.
In order to prevent this from happening and to ensure the quality of your lawn, you should sharpen the mower’s blades regularly. Depending on the size of your backyard, you might have to do this before every mowing season.
2. Cutting it too low
According to likemowing.com.au, this is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make. It might seem a good idea at the moment to opt for the mower’s lowest setting because then you won’t have to do this chore as often, but the truth is that it is one of the worst things you can do.
Generally speaking, you should always cut it between 2.5 and 3.75 inches. If you were to cut it down to 1 inch, you would probably destroy it over time. What are we talking about? Well, when you mow it too low, the grass cannot absorb enough sunlight, which enables it to grow. Moreover, it also won’t be able to expand its roots, and when these aren’t deep and strong enough, it cannot get all the water and nutrient from the soil, which also makes it less resistant to drought.
3. You are overwatering it
This point probably seems odd to you. After all, your lawn needs water, especially during long hot summer days. Yes, this is utterly true, but at the same time, too much water can be the issue. A lot of people believe they should water the garden every day, but what this will actually do is make the grass dependent on frequent watering session. This is another reason why it won’t grow its roots deep, and therefore, it will become more vulnerable. Due to this reason, it is always a better option to decrease the frequency of this chore, but to make sure to water it deeply.
4. Watering at the wrong time
While on the subject of watering, did you know that there is actually a time of the day when you should be doing this chore? To prevent the water from evaporating, you should do this early in the morning, before the sun is high. In addition, you also shouldn’t be doing this in the evening because the grass cannot absorb cool water, which can make it prone to mildew and fungus.
5. Using the wrong kind of fertilizer
When it comes to fertilizers, there are three main types – fast-release, slow-release, and compost. Naturally, each of these has its pros and cons, so it is of utmost importance to explore them carefully before choosing one. The first one can make your grass green faster, but at the same time, it can also burn it due to the chemical concentration, while the second one requires more time, but it won’t dissolve in the rain.
What’s more, in some states, it is prohibited to use fertilizers with phosphorus due to the risk of pollution, so this is another thing that you have to check.
One more thing, if you apply too much of it, you can actually destroy your lawn. Yes, it will promote the growth of the leaves, but at the same time, it will limit the growth of the roots, and we have already explained how damaging weak roots can be.
Finally, you should always fertilize the grass when it is growing the most. This means that you shouldn’t do it during the summer when it is already stressed out enough, but instead opt for the spring or fall.
6. Throwing away grass clipping
Yes, that’s right. This is a mistake. Up to recently, a lot of people thought of grass clippings to be debris that they should just throw away, but this is not entirely accurate. The reality is that these can greatly improve the health and quality of the lawn. They return the organic material and nitrogen to the soil, and they decompose fairly quickly so they won’t cause any mess. You should think of it as free fertilizer.
7. Removing the weed the wrong way
There is nothing more annoying than noticing patches of weed in your beautiful backyard. Most people get the urge to eliminate it immediately, but in reality, you should work on preventing it, and you can use one of the two methods for this.
The first one is probably obvious by now. All you have to do is ensure that the grass is high enough and that it has enough water, fertilizer, organic material, and so on. The second option is to deal with this issue as soon as you notice it before it grows too much. You should use so-called pre-emergence herbicides that will stop young plants from growing. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you shouldn’t apply this product if you are reseeding that grass, because it will kill it too.
If you already have this problem in your garden, then you should investigate the type of weed and act accordingly. For example, tall fescue has to be hand-pulled, while dandelions can be removed by spraying, just make sure not to spray a wide area and endanger other plants.
