Common Lawn Care Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Do you look longingly at your neighbor’s lush green lawn and wonder why his is so perfect? Do you go by the books and try to get your lawn to look the same to no avail? Well, you may be taking the wrong approach. You’re not alone, though. Many homeowners make mistakes on a daily basis in regards to weed control, grass growth and maintenance. Here are some common lawn care mistakes you may be making, and tips on how to fix them. Soon, YOUR yard will be the envy of the neighborhood.
1) Eradicate weeds BEFORE they pop up
If you wait until you see weeds, it’s often too late. The time to act is well before they rear their ugly heads. Taking preventative measures will save you time, work and money. Just remember: dealing with weeds is not a one-time thing. It takes continual care and effort to keep them at bay as part of your ongoing lawn maintenance. Use pre-emergent on areas that are prone to weeds and do it at the same time every spring. These herbicides don’t kill the weed and its seeds. They only serve to keep them from growing, so if you skip this step one year, you will notice them start to sprout.
Also, don’t mow your lawn too short; keep it at about 2½ to 3 inches high. Many homeowners take a bit more than usual off the top to avoid having to mow the following week. However, it’s important to abide by the one-third rule: take off no more than one-third of the grass blade to maintain the critical balance of your grass’ above and below ground growth. This is because the root systems of your plants and grass are equal to the mass of the blades.
2) Don’t water every day
You may think more is better in the case of watering your lawn, but this isn’t necessarily true. Unless there are times of extreme heat with no rain relief for days and weeks on end, you really only need to give your lawn a good soaking every other day. Sprinkling your lawn several times a day for a few minutes is never as good as a deep soak that gets into the roots. You’ll not only save your lawn, you’ll save water and time too.
3) Don’t take a cookie-cutter approach to fertilizing
Yes, regular fertilization is important when maintaining a lush lawn, but don’t assume your lawn will need the same strategy as your neighbor’s. The approach you take in terms of type of fertilizer used as well as frequency will depend on the type of grass you have, the season and your soil consistency. In early summer, be sure to apply a fertilizer with slow-release nitrogen so your grass is fed gradually throughout the season and not all at once.
Everyone needs a little help now and then. Call the experts at Twelve Oaks Landscape today at (256) 208-5634 and set up a customized schedule of lawn care.
