A healthy lawn enhances the beauty and value of your home. Proper care includes mowing, watering, fertilization, and weed control.
Regular mowing, dethatching, core aeration, and leaf removal prevent disease and make the grass less attractive to insects and fungi. Integrated Pest Management keeps pests under control without chemical treatments. Find Out More by reading the article below.
Mowing is a key part of lawn care. Keeping grass at its proper height helps reduce thatch buildup and allows the lawn to absorb more water, nutrients and air. Frequent mowing also makes the turf more resistant to pests and drought.
The best practice is to keep the mower blade set at three inches or higher. This ensures the health of the grass and avoids scalping which has a negative impact on the soil. It also prevents the lawn from allowing pollutants to pass through its root system and into storm drains.
In addition to mowing, the lawn must be fertilized and weed controlled in order to stay healthy. It is important to choose the right fertilizer for your lawn and follow the label directions. The type of fertilizer you choose depends on the soil condition of your property and the types of grass you have growing. If the lawn is nutrient deficient, it may benefit from the use of a soil test and/or a slow release organic fertilizer.
Weeds are a common problem and must be kept under control to minimize their effect on the overall appearance of the lawn. In addition to their unsightly appearance, weeds compete with the grass for moisture and nutrients. They can also cause damage to the lawns roots, making them more susceptible to diseases and insect infestation. Weeds can be killed with the appropriate herbicide or weed killer.
Moss is another common issue that must be addressed. It usually grows in damp, shady areas and can be eliminated by using a spring-tine rake or a moss killer. It is also important to aerate the soil and to overseed the lawn in order to fill in thin areas.
Lawn maintenance involves maintaining the health of the grass, soil and turf by means of various cultural practices. The most important tasks include mowing, fertilizing, aerating and weed control. Lawn care and landscaping differ in that landscaping focuses more on the overall aesthetic of the outdoor space while lawn maintenance addresses the health of the grass, soil and turf.
Fertilization
Grass requires a constant supply of nutrients to stay healthy and look great. This is especially true in lawns that endure frequent foot traffic and the occasional use of yard equipment. Lawn fertilizers supply these essential nutrients, making them readily available for grass growth and preventing their depletion by other landscape plants and by soil erosion.
Whether you opt for organic or inorganic fertilizers, they all work to improve the quality of your soil. Inorganics deliver nutrients quickly, while organic ones slowly release them over longer periods of time. The best way to determine how frequently and at what times of the year you should apply lawn fertilizer is to perform a soil test. This process involves collecting several samples from different areas of the lawn and submitting them to your state’s extension office for testing.
The optimum lawn care fertilization schedule depends on the results of your soil test and your lawn’s type of grass. For example, cool-season grasses generally require more nitrogen than warm-season ones. Additionally, the soil type and environmental conditions also play a role.
To get the most from lawn fertilization, follow proper application techniques and water thoroughly after each application to ensure that the nutrients reach the root zone. Proper irrigation methods help avoid over-watering, which contributes to weeds, disease and soil compaction problems.
In early spring, apply a lawn fertilizer with a high nitrogen content to promote rapid leaf and stem growth. Nitrogen also encourages the development of chlorophyll, which is important for converting sunlight into energy. A 20-5-10 fertilizer is typically the most recommended mix for this purpose.
By mid-spring, your lawn may be ready for a second round of fertilizer with a balanced N-P-K ratio that supports continued growth and promotes good color during the summer. This approach will prepare your lawn for a healthy fall.
When your lawn is consistently nourished, it tends to crowd out weeds and better withstand environmental stresses such as drought and extreme heat. It also grows denser, which helps to suppress weed growth and reduce the need for herbicides.
Weed Control
Weed control is one of the most important steps in a healthy lawn care routine. Weeds compete with grass plants for the sun, water, and nutrients that they need to thrive. If weeds grow too much, they choke out grass and cause it to weaken and become more prone to disease, insect infestation, drought, and other problems.
To keep weeds at bay, use herbicides that are safe for your lawn and environment. These products kill existing weeds without damaging the grass. However, if you choose to use a weed killer, be sure to read the label carefully and follow all instructions for application.
There are a few different types of weed controls, and each works differently on various kinds of weeds. Pre-emergent weed controls prevent weeds from germinating in the first place by attacking them before they grow above ground. These are typically applied in fall or early spring. Annual broadleaf weeds, such as chickweed and heuchera, often grow best during this time of year and are able to take advantage of the pre-emergent treatment. Perennial broadleaf weeds such as dandelion can also be controlled with a pre-emergent.
Post-emergent weed controls work to kill weeds that have already sprouted, such as crabgrass or dandelions. These are typically applied later in the growing season.
Many post-emergent weed controls are also combined with fertilizer, which provides a deep greening to your lawn while controlling weeds. This type of product is called a Weed and Feed and can be very helpful for keeping your lawn looking great while cutting down on mowing time!
There are also some all-in-one herbicides that can be used for both pre-emergent and post-emergent weeds. These can be very helpful for busy homeowners who want to save time and effort. Jonathan Green Weed & Feed, for example, both fertilizes the lawn while killing over 250 broadleaf weeds!
Weeds can also be a sign of underlying lawn issues like soil compaction. By combining improved maintenance practices with targeted treatments and improving the soil health, you can significantly reduce weeds and promote a thick, healthy lawn.
Aeration
Aeration is the process of mechanically removing small plugs of soil from your lawn to reduce compaction and promote root growth. Also called core aeration, spike aeration, or aerifying, this treatment is one of the most important lawn services you can invest in to ensure your grass thrives all year round.
Over time, soil becomes compacted, especially if you have heavy foot traffic in your yard or live on clay soil. When compacted, the particles squeeze together tightly, cutting off pore space and making it hard for oxygen, water, and nutrients to get through.
Luckily, aerating is a simple process that helps break up soil compaction. By putting holes into the ground, the loosening of dirt allows vital water and air to reach your roots and help prevent thatch buildup.
Aerated soil is healthier soil, and a healthy lawn is better equipped to fight off weeds. It’s like a spa day for your grass, making it denser, greener, and naturally more weed-resistant.
You can aerate your yard yourself with the right equipment, but hiring a professional ensures it’s done correctly. Aerating is an excellent preparation for overseeding, as the holes created by the aerator make ideal new homes for grass seed.
The best times of the year to aerate are the fall and spring, when temperatures are cool enough for roots to grow quickly and seeds to take hold before winter arrives. The spring is also the perfect time to plant a fresh layer of grass, as it will have ample time to mature before the cold weather sets in.
Lawn aeration is the most important thing you can do to improve your yard, so don’t forget about this essential service! If you want to maximize the value of other lawn care services such as fertilization and weed control, aeration is a must. Without it, these treatments will simply sit on top of the compacted soil and won’t be able to penetrate deep enough to deliver the nutrition that your grass needs. For optimal results, mow your lawn to the recommended height for your grass type before aerating and be sure to give it plenty of water the day or two prior to aeration.