With summer right around the corner, I'm sure most folks with yards have already started their routine lawn care regimens.
Have you ever struggled to keep your lawn green and weed-free? It can be incredibly frustrating to battle with weeds and pests. Even when you think you're watering enough and cutting the grass to perfection, the darn thing still gets patchy spots or turns an ugly brown.
To start, you should never do these 10 things to your lawn. Some of them may seem counterintuitive, but trust me, if you avoid these practices, your lawn should be in tip-top shape this summer.
First things first, though, do some research as to what kinds of grass you have on your lawn so you can knowingly and properly care for it! Every kind of grass needs slightly different care.
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1. Use Dull Blades
When you use dull blades, you make your lawn more susceptible to pests and rotting. The dull blade smashes your green grass, fraying it and causing it to turn brown.
When you use a sharp blade, it's like a good, clean, healthy shave, according to Yard Care.
2. Water It Every Day
When you water the grass for a short period of time every single day, the water doesn't penetrate the soil deep enough, which creates a shallow root system. This makes the grass weak and prone to problems.
When you water the grass less frequently and check that the soil is wet six inches deep, your lawn will grown deep, strong roots and make for a heartier yard. Popular Mechanics says that you should only be watering every three to seven days, depending on the heat and dryness.
3. Use Poisonous Chemicals To Kill Weeds And Pests
It's always better to avoid poisons. If you are having a problem with weeds or pests, try to get rid of them in a natural way like with a mix of vinegar, dish detergent, and vegetable oil, as suggested by HGTV. Other chemical methods can kill valuable earthworms and restrict the movement of water through the soil.
4. Remove All Of The Grass Clippings
The best fertilizer is a natural one, so instead of removing all of your grass clippings from your lawn, leave some of them, as they will fertilize your yard. Just don't plan to have an indoor/outdoor party the day you mow, or else the clippings will get all over the place!
5. Use The Same Blade Height Every Time
For your first and last mow of the summer, you should use a shorter height than the rest of the season.
For cooler-climate grasses, this should change from about one and a half inches for your first mow, to two or more inches for the bulk of the summer, according to Today's Homeowner.
6. Mow While It's Wet
For many reasons, you should always mow your lawn when it is dry. For one, you could slip and fall, seriously hurting yourself.
Secondly, according to Nixa Lawn, the wet clippings can clump up and make your lawn look patchy. Also, the wet grass will bend over, making it impossible to get a straight trim.
7. Cut It Too Short
If you lower your blades too short, you end up "scalping" your lawn. This severely messes up the root growth of the grass, which weakens it and makes it more likely to turn brown and die on you, according to SF Gate.
8. Fertilize Without Doing A Soil Test
Your lawn may not even need to be fertilized, but you will never know for sure unless you conduct a soil test.
Penn State suggests getting a soil kit that you can send in with a sample of your lawn that gives you detailed instructions on how to fertilize. There are also at-home tests available!
9. Forget To Aerate
If you forget to aerate your lawn, then the roots can't breathe. You should be aerating your soil every so often, depending on how much traffic it gets and how compact your grass is.
Briggs and Stratton writes, "Ideally, aerate the lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or fall and those with warm season grass in the late spring."
10. Leave It Unused
If you have a yard, use it! Send the kids and grandkids out there to play in the fresh air, drag the barbecue out of the garage, and have a good old time on it. The grass is there to be tread upon, and the upkeep you work so hard on will make your yard hearty enough for play.
Life's too short to just look at a pretty lawn without feeling the cool grass between your toes!
Will these tips help you with your lawn this summer? Please SHARE with family and friends on Facebook!
