Homeowners who value a good first impression should make turf care one of their top maintenance priorities. When neighbors and passers-by see your apartment for the first time, your lawn is one of the first things they need to notice. While a lively, well-kept lawn exudes a certain dedication, a dilapidated lawn gives the impression of negligence and disorganization. Fortunately, keeping your lawn in shape year round doesn't have to be difficult, costly, or time-consuming.
By using the following tips you can ensure the health of your lawn for years to come.
Avoid mowing too short
It's not hard to understand why so many homeowners choose to cut their lawn as short as possible. Because the shorter you cut the grass, the less often you have to mow. While this is technically correct, mowing can significantly affect the general health of your lawn. The shorter the grass, the shorter the roots – and the shorter the roots, the less moisture the grass can hold back. This means that shorter grass requires more maintenance than slightly longer grass. It is therefore recommended that you leave your mower in one of the longest settings. Although this means a little more mowing, it can do a lot to provide your grass with the right food.
Your ideal lawn length largely depends on the type of grass you have. So if you don't know the recommended length of your grass or other important maintenance information, start your preferred search engine or contact an expert in your local home and garden store.
Fertilize as needed
While regular lawn fertilization is a breeze for gardening enthusiasts, this step is completely overlooked by many homeowners. When it comes to feeding your lawn evenly, there is no substitute for fertilization. To get the best results, you need to fertilize one to four times a year.
The frequency and timing of fertilization depend on the type of grass you are working with. However, fertilization should generally be done before the season or seasons when your grass grows the most. For example, cool season grasses (large fescue, perennial rye, Kentucky blue grass) grow the most in winter, which means that they should be fertilized in the fall. Conversely, grasses from the warm season (St. Augustine, millipedes, Bermuda grass) should be fertilized in early summer. Because fertilization requires a little more strength and fat than most lawn care jobs, using lawn fertilization services can be a wise choice for homeowners who have little time or are unfamiliar with gardening.
Stay up to date
Nobody likes to have weeds on their lawn. Weeds not only affect the overall appearance of your lawn, but can also deprive your grass of important nutrients if you let the grass grow long enough. With this in mind, it is essential for any lawn care enthusiast to be vigilant about weeds. Weeds should not only be treated as soon as they are noticed, but should also be raised at the roots to prevent re-growth. In addition, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of weeds common in your area and their respective germ plans. Well-timed weed treatments can make a big contribution to maintaining the health and beauty of your lawn. The more proactive you are in this endeavor, the less likely you will ever see weeds on your grass.
The condition of your lawn can tell a lot about your attitude towards home ownership. For example, if your lawn is regularly mowed, watered, and generally maintained, you can assume that a similar approach has been taken to maintain the rest of the property. On the other hand, if your lawn is sporadically mowed, rarely fed, and generally neglected, people are likely to assume that such negligent care will be applied to other parts of your home. Of course, this does not mean that proper lawn care has devoured your finances or free time. The tips discussed earlier can help keep your lawn in top condition all year round without straining your schedule or bank account.
