6 Lawn Care Basics

Getting a beautiful lawn can be as easy as laying down fresh sod, but keeping a beautiful lawn requires a bit of work. Here are six tips for lawn maintenance to keep your lawn looking phenomenal.

1. Keep your lawn free of debris, leaves and other hindrances that will keep the grass healthy. Going over your lawn like this will also provide an opportunity to find any fungus growth, moss, or disease.

2. Regular watering, on a schedule (2-3 times a week is ideal), is a vital step on your lawn maintenance checklist. Watering deeply, on a regular schedule, will encourage your lawn to grow deep roots. Most grasses need about an inch of water for every foot of soil. Giving your lawn a good soaking of an inch at a time, every three days, is better than watering your lawn briefly every day.

3. Mowing your lawn is an important lawn maintenance task, and proper mowing can go a long way to developing and creating a healthy lawn. By following proper mowing techniques, you’ll have less weeding, less watering and less fertilizing to do.

4. Keeping your lawn mower blades sharp will add to the appearance of your lawn. Sharp blades create clean cuts, making it easier for the new growth to come in.

5. Leave your grass a little long – usually about three inches for most species. If you’re mowing your lawn too short, you expose your lawn to weeds and bugs, and make it look burned. Grass that is too short struggles to get enough food to the remaining stem. Adjust your mower blades to that no more than 1/3rd of the grass is cut.

6. In dry weather only, leave the grass clippings on your lawn to encourage healthy lawn growth. Mow often enough so that the grass cuttings are spread out and not clumpy. Buy a mower that will mulch your grass as well, and you can then leave the clippings on the lawn, lowering your dependence on chemical fertilizers. Leaving the clippings on the grass makes lawn maintenance easier because it redistributes the nutrients into the soil and saves you work. However, in wet weather clippings and mulch can be damaging to your lawn causing rot to set in.

Bonus tip: Pay attention to your fertilizer rates and schedule, as well as the weather. Granular fertilizers need to be watered in, so spread them if light showers are in the forecast or look like they’re on the way. If you're facing heavy spring rain, avoid spreading fertilizer entirely - it will just run off and cost you more money and work in the long run. However, if you use premium fertilizer products that are polymer coated this does not apply, since they will only release at the rate that the plant can absorb the nutrients. In the long run, premium fertilizers are much better for your lawn. In the summer, consider buying a summer blend which will release Nitrogen based on the temperature.

By following these simple tips, you’ll keep your lawn maintenance tasks easy and quick, and make your lawn look fantastic!