A beautiful lawn is a sight to behold. Thankfully, it’s not as far out of reach as some people assume. Follow these tips to get your yard ready for the summer:
1 – Watering Is Key
No matter how much time or money you put into your lawn, if you don’t water it, everything will have been a waste. Ask any landscaper who has had to deal with frustrated phone calls from clients who don’t understand why their lawn is dead. “How often are you watering it?” is one of the first questions a professional landscaper will ask, even though he might already know the answer.
Many homeowners assume watering two or three times per week is enough. In the majority of cases, it is not. Instead, you need to water your lawn every day, preferably in the early morning. A lawn that is thirsty begins to wilt. It also gets weaker, which allows crabgrass and other weeds to appear. Eventually, the lawn will die. So, if you want to get your yard ready for the summer, make sure you water it every single day.
2 – Fertilize At Least Twice
Spring is the perfect time to fertilize. It will serve as a wake up to your lawn, and will encourage it to grow and put down roots. This will discourage insect infestation as well as weeds. With fertilizer, quality costs more. The higher quality lawn fertilizers have less filler material and more nutrients. You can get away with a mid-range fertilizer, but don’t buy off-brands if you want a beautiful lawn. Don’t over-fertilizer your lawn, or else you risk burning it. Also, fertilize when the lawn is dry, but when done you will need to water it.
3 – Seed In The Fall
More grass seed gets sold in the spring, despite the fact that most lawn care professionals will tell you the best time to seed is in the fall. This is because the major growth season is over, and lawns are preparing to go dormant for the colder months. The fall brings cooler nights and generally more rainfall, and this helps grass seed take root. It will also take root deeper. Finally, your lawn will have a jump start against weeds in the spring.
4 – Mow The Right Way
To get your yard ready for the summer, make sure you aren’t abusing it with your mower. First, always cut with sharp blades. If you haven’t had your mower blades sharpened in more than a year, and you’ve been using the machine regularly, rest assured the blades are too dull. Also, don’t cut your lawn too short. It might look nice, but it’s a sure way to weaken the grass and allow burn spots to appear.
Many people find success with the 1/3rd rule. Never cut more than 1/3rd of the total grass blade. This will keep most lawns at their healthiest height. If your lawn is overgrown, raise your mower when you cut it, and then cut it again in a few days to get it under control.
Enjoy Your Yard This Summer!
After you’ve put all this work into your lawn, make sure you enjoy it this summer. Walking barefoot on a beautiful lawn is a great feeling, especially when you’re the one who made it look so good.
You can read more about lawn care and lawn care services at Outdoor Artisans in Virginia. Outdoor Artisans is an experienced Richmond lawn care company serving individuals and corporate accounts.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Sean Ritchie.