Lawn Tips - Your Online Source for Tips On Lawn Care
A Short List of Lawn Tips for Homeowners
There are as many lawn tips as there are landscapers, but we've “weeded” them out and have gathered some of the most useful tips for you here.
Our first lawn tip is about fertilizing. Fertilization is an important part of caring for your grass, and it does much more for your lawn than just making the grass green. Fertilizer makes new grass seed germinate more quickly, and it will help thicken existing grass and make it healthier. Most grass types benefit from four fertilizer applications per year. Start in the spring, about thirty days before your area's growing season, and continue the applications until fall. The spring fertilizing helps the grass have a healthy start. Don't use too much fertilizer though – follow the company's recommendations. If you over-fertilize, you can weaken the grass, and cause fungus growth.
Our next lawn tip for you pertains to weed control. Taking control of weeds in an existing or new lawn is vitally important to the overall health and appearance of your lawn. A beautiful lawn stays level and smooth, with no weeds popping up here and there. No doubt you've mowed your grass before and then come out the next morning to find dandelions sticking their heads out above your grass, making your yard look like it needs mowed again. A lawn without weeds can hold onto its good looks for much longer than a weedy lawn.
Mowing doesn't seem like a topic that really needs to be in a list of lawn tips. But it is an often underestimated chore, and the one most often performed incorrectly. A lot of people “scalp” their grass by setting the blade height as low as they can, to avoid mowing as frequently. This actually will lead to your grass dying out and your root systems drying up.
Watering is sometimes overdone by homeowners, especially those who have just seeded. One of the most useful lawn tips is to NOT overdo it when it comes to watering. Hand watering can be difficult and time-consuming, but installing an automatic waterer isn't within the budget of most homeowners. So you'll probably be stuck with running as many sprinklers as you can and moving them here and there on your lawn. Don't get busy with something else and forget to move the sprinklers. Be sure to water your gardens and shrubbery separately. Water may puddle a bit under shrubs, but don't let it sit on the lawn area, or it may cause the development of fungus or the rotting of the grass' roots.
We hope this list of lawn tips helps you this spring and summer, to make your yard less work and more enjoyable.