Though
cultivating a perfect yard isn’t easy, but growing a lush, green yard is well
within the capabilities of any homeowner, as long as you avoid some common
mistakes. It isn’t because of neglect that so many yards fail, but because of
some bad practices and misconceptions.
Achieving a
healthy yard requires more than a dousing of water and a weekly mow, it takes
skill, knowledge and experience which lawn care professionals have. Being aware
of these common yard care mistakes can help you have the greenest, healthiest
yard in your neighborhood:
Lawn
Mowing With Dull Blades- Regardless of the type of mower you use, it’s important to use sharp
blades as dull blades rip through the grass leaving jagged ends that easily
turn brown and make the grass more prone to disease. Lawn mowing Simpsonville professionals advises to sharpen mower blades every spring and
again about halfway through the mowing season. You’ll need to sharpen the
blades more often if you hit rocks or scalp the ground on a daily basis.
Mowing Too
Short- Mowing the
grass too short is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make in caring for
their yard. Never remove more than one-third of the height of the yard in any
one mowing, and most grasses do best when they are trimmed to two-and-a-half to
three inches. This length encourages a better ability to absorb water and
nutrients.
Improper
Fertilizing-
Although most homeowners know the significance of fertilizing a lawn, only few
do it correctly. Applying too much fertilizer or the wrong fertilizer can do
more harm than good, similarly correct fertilizer if applied too sparingly or
at the wrong time of year can be as ineffective. Climate and grass type are
things that need to be considered before applying fertilizer. Most yards need
4-6 applications of fertilizer per year, but it’s better that you verify with
your local yard care professional to be certain you are applying the right
product for your grass type. It is as important to water right away or within
24 hours after applying the fertilizer to your lawn, if delayed, the
undissolved pellets will start burning the grass.
Improper
Watering- It goes
without saying that watering is vital to growing and maintaining a healthy yard.
Over watering can be just as destructive as watering too little. The grass will
fail to develop deep roots if you water too frequently as there’d be no need
for it to reach deep down into the soil to find moisture. Though each yard has
its own unique requirements, but a good rule of thumb is to assume your lawn
needs about an inch of water a week. Signs that can help you determine if your
lawn needs watering includes the grass appearing to have a blue-gray tint, the
tips starting to curl, etc.
Not
Removing Leaves-
It’s important to remove leaves from the yard shortly after they’ve fallen from
the trees. If you do not rake up the leaves, the leaves will stick together and
create an impenetrable mat, which can not only kill the grass but also breed
fungal diseases.
Not
Aerating- The
process of aeration involves poking holes into the soil so that the yard can
more easily absorb water, fertilizer and amendments like peat moss. But sadly,
most homeowners never aerate their yard. Aeration is integral to maintaining
healthy yards. You can use a manual aerator if you’ve got a small yard,
otherwise rent a power aerator.
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