Yards are sources of pride for every homeowner. They provide a space for lush green grass with beautiful, vibrant flowers and tall, full trees. However, getting such a stunning lawn is easier said than done. High temperatures, diseases, overwatering, and pests can make it feel impossible. That’s where this blog comes in to save the day. Read on to learn how to grow and maintain the best lawn on the block.
Know When and How To Mow
Understanding the right time to mow and the perfect grass height is a yard tip pros know that makes a big difference. Before you start up the lawn mower, check the blade height. Ensure it’s at the highest setting for your property’s grass type. Warm-season grasses grow best when they’re cut shorter. On the other hand, cut cool-season grasses between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 inches. We’ll provide more information on the differences between these grasses below, so you can properly identify them in your yard.
You’re encouraging a deep root system when you allow the grass to grow at the optimum height. A developed root system discourages weeds from growing. Next, ensure you’re mowing frequently and not eliminating more than one-third of the blade height. Also, never cut the grass when it’s wet, or you’ll end up with grass clumps. Lastly, avoid mowing your yard in the same pattern, or you’ll have lawn ruts from cutting along the same track.
Warm-Season Grasses
What are warm-season grasses? They’re grasses originally from tropical regions and grow best in the hot sun and temperatures of the southern United States. Most of these grass types grow abundantly in the summertime. Grasses in this category include the following:
- St. Augustine
- Bahia
- Centipede
- Bermuda
- Zoysia
Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses grow well in the regions of the United States that experience temperature fluctuations. The grass can endure harsh winters and hot summers. If you have a cool-season lawn, it grows best in 60- to 75-degree weather. Types of cool-season grasses include the following:
- Tall fescue
- Fine fescue
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Perennial ryegrass
You’ll often find a mixture of these grasses on lawns.
Don’t Forget Grass Aeration
Aeration is an important process that well-maintained yards require to thrive. You or a professional will drill small holes into the soil to allow water, essential nutrients, and air to reach the root system. This helps the roots strengthen and grow deeper to produce a healthier lawn.
Do you live in a region with clay-heavy soils? Aeration is an excellent solution for this kind of soil because it becomes compacted and can suffocate roots. Experts recommend aerating your lawn in the fall to help it recover from the stressful summer. Doing so in the fall also prepares your yard for the summer growing season.
Water Your Lawn Correctly
Many homeowners believe that watering their lawns every day is a good idea. However, experts will tell you that watering less frequently but deeply is the best way to handle the process. Grass appreciates a good, long soak, which encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil to strengthen the lawn and give it a fighting chance against a drought. And if you notice your grass blades graying and not bouncing back as quickly when walked on, it’s time to water your property.
Ensure you use a sprinkler to water the lawn instead of a hose. The hose doesn’t provide even distribution. In fact, investing in a sprinkler system is one of the best things homeowners can do to make their lawns look top notch. Set up a schedule where the sprinklers begin in the morning before sunrise to keep the hot sun from burning your grass.
Let the sprinklers run until you can push a quarter-inch dowel or plant stake about 12 inches into the soil. Avoid over-saturating the lawn, as you don’t want it too soft. In the spring and fall, your yard will require less watering. Whereas, during the summer, you could water three times a week. Just pay attention to the weather because you don’t want to water right before, during, or after a long rain.
Use Proper Lawn Care Tools
The proper lawn care tools will keep your lawn looking sharp and beautiful all season. The first thing you should have is a reliable and quality lawn mower. Many experts will recommend a mulching mower to cut the leaves and grass. Recycled grass is an excellent natural fertilizer that adds nutrients to the soil. A mulching mower easily fertilizes the lawn without extra work on your end.
A lawn trimmer is another essential tool all homeowners should have. It will help maintain hard-to-reach places like tree trunks and flower beds. It also serves as an edger for trimming the grass around flower beds, driveways, and walkways. This tool is essential to creating the best-looking lawn in the neighborhood.
Provide Year-Round Maintenance
No matter your region, the changing seasons provide changing sunlight, soil nutrients, and precipitation levels. Year-round maintenance that adapts to these changes is fundamental for every homeowner to create a beautiful-looking yard. And yes, taking care of the grass is important, but don’t neglect the landscaping’s trees, flowers, shrubs, and other features.
Get Insect, Grub, and Pest Prevention
Grubs, insects, and other pests can quickly destroy your lawn. The earlier you catch them, the better. Plus, homeowners want to enjoy their properties, and insects and pests make it challenging to do so outside. Nobody wants to twist their ankle in a mole hole or have bugs pester them. What a nuisance! Insect, grub, and pest prevention make these issues disappear.
Certain fertilizers contain ingredients to provide grub control. You can also hire professional lawn insect control services. TurfPride is the premier lawn care team In Atlanta, Georgia. Utilize our reputable and expert services to ensure a fabulous lawn all year.
Prevent Lawn Diseases
A diseased lawn isn’t going to look good. Diseases can quickly spread to take over a yard. These are some common lawn diseases homeowners should watch for:
- Powdery mildew
- Brown patch
- Summer patch
- Fairy ring
Basically, if you notice any sort of discoloration or unusual growth, your lawn might be diseased. Professional lawn care services can help keep diseases at bay. Prevention is necessary, and an expert lawn care business will understand exactly what your lawn needs and when it needs it. Contact TurfPride to enroll in our services or if you notice any lawn diseases popping up.
Now every homeowner knows how to grow and maintain the best lawn on the block, but now you do! You can host more parties, barbeques, and other events because you’re no longer embarrassed about how your yard looks. Here’s to a new lawn!
