LAWN CARE ADVICE FOR NEW HOMEOWNERS

‘Home Sweet Home’ isn’t just a phrase for the house but includes the aesthetics of the beautiful lawn’s ideal outdoor space. After all, the closeness to nature is always a serene feeling. With winter making its exit, we are ready to welcome spring with all its glory and elegance. This is the perfect time to keep the outdoor space immaculate with minimal lawn care and maintenance steps. The tips and tricks are discussed at length on ‘residential lawn care’ with minimal equipment and effective methods. 

GET RID OF MOSS, WEED, AND THATCH

It is imperative to keep the lawn free from moss, weed, and thatch. Moss are non-flowering plants and often thrive on damp areas with low-light. It increases steadfastly and therefore must be removed at once. Weed, on the other hand, accumulates with the help of the birds and other animals. A weekly spare of herbicide will do the trick to discourage the uncontrolled growth of weed. Thatch includes the dried leaves, roots, and grasses that lead up to the blockage of the drain and can be removed easily by raking with a lawn scarifier.

 

MOWING

Mowing is one of the most crucial lawn care steps that you have to learn from the basics. It might come across as a simple task, but improper mowing might lead to an ill-fated lawn, messing up the look of your outdoor space. Right techniques will groom the turf and remain thick enough to keep the weeds at bay. Here are the tips for mowing the lawn correctly and efficiently – 

  • Make sure the mower blade is sharpened correctly to cut the grass evenly. Unsharpened edge will lead to jagged trimming of the grass and end up wasting your efforts. While mowing, avoid the rocks and cement paths to keep the sharpness of the blade. Additionally, keep an extra mower blade just in case you require it. 
  • Grasses play an essential role in your lawn, and scaling them ultimately will lead to quick weed infestation. Therefore, trim the property instead of scaling it. A properly trimmed lawn looks beautiful, feels great to lie on the grass during sunny days, and makes the outdoor space more susceptible to drought and scorching summer days. 
  • Mower height must not be consistent throughout the year. For summers, the cutting deck must be higher to allow the grass to grow a little longer as longer grass slows down the evaporation process than usual. In contrast, during fall and winter, the grass should be trimmed down shorter to prevent the snow layer from forming on the surface. 
  • If you have an outdoor space with shady places, make sure you keep the grasses a little higher. This will enable efficient photosynthesis, and in the long run, your lawn will look much healthier. 
  • Mowing takes quite a toll on the nature of the grass, making sure to avoid mowing during the heat of the day. You might end up with dry grass if you mow during the heat, as grass tends to lose more water. 
  • It is advisable to avoid wet mowing as the damp grasses tend to clog the deck quicker than dry ones. Also, avoid soggy soil while mowing. Therefore, dry mowing is considered one of the best. You can spray oil or silicone to the mower’s underside during the rainy season for better results. 
  • To trim the lawn’s edge, make sure you have a flat edging so that you won’t have to string trim edges. Crushed limestones, decorating bricks, and gravel could be used to pave the edges of the walk.
  • To avoid compacting soil and unhealthier grass, do not mow in the same direction every time. 
  • Store fuel in a container like our favorite Midwest Can 5610 5 gal. Gasoline Can.
  • You can let the small clipping of the grass after mowing lie on the lawn itself as it will act as natural fertilizers on its own. This process is called mulching. It saves you time and money as you won’t have to collect the clippings and spend less on fertilizers. 
  • Choose a gas-powered mower for a fuss-free option. If the yard is a little bigger than usual, purchase an additional battery as a backup. 

 

HERBICIDE 

Right after mowing, it is pertinent to spray the herbicide to stop weeds and crabgrass growth. It is impertinent to discourage uncontrolled growth and keep the lawn in the best condition. The grass will look well-maintained and even. 

 

MAKE A PATH 

This is more of a decorating suggestion than a caring one. There are several ways you can carve a path in your lawn for beatification and the efficiency of the mowing process. The gravel path is the most basic one, followed by stone edging or stone grayling. Some owners also prefer paver paths with rectangular or square bricks. A combination of some chips and wooden logs can also be used or pebble and paver for longer pathways. 

 

DRAINAGE SYSTEM

You don’t want a waterlogged lawn as it will lead to the unwanted growth of weeds, moss and end up smelling terrible. Therefore, make adequate provisions for the drainage system. Also, make sure that the soil has not lost its ability to absorb water quickly and efficiently as it will cause unhealthy growth of the grass. 

 

AERATE

Aerate means better air and water penetration – the two most essential components for the green grass to carry on photosynthesis. Aeration can be accelerated by creating small holes in the soil using a garden fork. This is a process that can be performed once a year and will yield good results. 

FERTILIZING 

The thumb’s rule is to fertilize four times a year to keep the lawn in a prim and proper condition. While choosing a fertilizer, you can follow the ‘4-1-2’ method, which indicates the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the product. Suppose you are still unable to determine the right fertilizer for your lawn. In that case, it is better to take an expert opinion to serve you the best in the long run—the right fertilizers will provide the vital nutrients and let the green grass multiply faster. 

 

If you have any other exciting tips and tricks for better care of the lawn, share them with us in the comment section below.