It’s hard to believe that Americans spend upwards of 70 hours per year on their lawns. This, along with over 8.5 billion being on lawn care products and equipment, makes lawn care a critical requisite of home ownership. Unfortunately, tending the yard doesn’t always rank high on the list of enjoyable activities.
Lucky for us, there are simple tips to follow to keep our grass looking good.
Tip 1 – Keep Your Mower Setting High and the Blade Sharp
First, take your mower to a professional for blade balancing and sharpening. Because dull mower blades create a rough cut, grass blades lose more moisture. Grass recovers faster after mowing with a sharp blade and won’t have that browned tip burnt look.
Next, the majority of grasses prefer to be mowed high, so set your blade at the three-inch setting. Long grass blades promote deeper root growth. The deeper the root, the better place the lawn is to withstand drought and fight diseases. Furthermore, taller blades of grass hold more moisture and cut down on water evaporation from the soil. Less watering!
Tip 2 – Deep Watering for Deeper Roots
It’s a reason to get up at 5 or 6 a.m. Lawns need to be watered early in the morning to provide them with the opportunity to dry before nightfall – the active time for disease and fungus. By watering early in the morning, a couple of times per week, you’ll have plenty of time to deep soak the grass for deeper roots. Long watering encourages deep root growth, whereas light watering encourages the roots to stay close to the surface of the soil. Shallow root systems make your lawn more susceptible to heat and drought.
The key is to be consistent and to provide one inch of water for actively growing grass.
Tip 3 – Choose the Right Time to Fertilize and Aerate
Fertilizer Is used to produce a healthy, green lawn. If it’s the middle of summer and your lawn is brown and stressed, you won’t reap the benefit of fertilizing it. The key is to feed your lawn before the hot, dry summer and then again once the weather cools down and the soaking rains return.
Also, keep in mind that fall is the perfect time to aerate and seed. After several seasons of aeration and seeding, you’ll gradually improve the soil and grass type. The benefit? Your lawn will be more drought-resistant and lush.
Summer is way too short to spend stressing over crispy grass. By following these three simple tips, you’ll be on the way to maintaining a stunning and healthy lawn all summer long.
Contact us today for a free consultation. 651.755.7901