Every neighborhood has that one yard that looks amazing, and it can seem overwhelming to think about all the time and money it takes to make a lawn look that way.
But having a nice lawn doesn’t require as much work as you might think. It also doesn’t require a degree in lawn maintenance. Following these simple tips, homeowners can have a fantastic-looking lawn without much fuss.
1. Work From the Ground Up
Your soil is the most critical factor in the health of your lawn. Just like you can’t expect your body to be healthy if you don’t provide it with good nutrition, your lawn won’t thrive without good soil.
Your lawn should have healthy root systems, and the soil should be a natural underground habitat for earthworms and beneficial fungi. Many homeowners don’t know much about their soil or the pH, but it’s easy to get a test kit and find out. You can also dig up a small patch of your lawn to see how the roots look.
2. Find the Best Grass for Your Area
While many people know that there are different types of grasses, they don’t know what’s best for their area. Once you have suitable soil for a healthy lawn, it’s equally important to grow the right type of grass.
You can check with your local extension office to find the best grass seed for your area. For more information on lawn care in Melbourne check out Instant lawn.
3. Get the Right Equipment
Maintaining a lawn takes special equipment. Make sure you have the correct type of mowers and trimmers to care for your yard.
When you have the right equipment, taking care of your property is more enjoyable and less of a chore. For example, you should get a riding lawn mower if you have a large lawn. Otherwise, you can wear yourself out trying to take care of it.
Your lawn loves heat and sunlight, but mowing it during the summer can be a miserable experience. Add a riding lawn mower canopy to make lawn mowing more enjoyable. In addition, with less glare from the sun and harmful UV rays, you’ll be more likely to stick to a lawn mowing schedule, which is important for maintaining a healthy lawn.
4. Use Sharp Mower Blades
One of the biggest mistakes in mowing a lawn is using dull blades. Dull blades rip and tear your grass and cause the ends to turn brown. The torn edges also leave your grass susceptible to disease and pests.
Sharpen your mower blades after every 20-25 hours of use for the best results. You can do it yourself with some know-how, and the results are well worth the effort.
5. Mulching Your Lawn
Mulching your lawn is a more sustainable way to keep your lawn looking healthy. When you use a mulching lawn mower, the grass clippings are finely shredded into small particles.
These clippings can be left on the lawn, and the nutrients return to the soil. They provide food for the grass and the organisms in your soil. Plus, you don’t have to haul lawn clippings to the landfill, so it’s a win-win situation.
6. Water Your Lawn the Right Way
Your lawn needs regular watering. To avoid wasting water or damaging your lawn, you should water it at the right time and in the right amount.
Your lawn needs about one to 1.5 inches of water per week. Too little watering can cause your lawn to wither up and dry, but if you water at night, it creates the perfect conditions for diseases. So watering in the morning is the best time.
7. Regular Fertilization
Lawn fertilizers contain three essential elements for your lawn. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are numbers in different ratios (N-P-K). The most important nutrient is nitrogen, which will help with lush, green growth.
To determine the best ratio for your lawn, conduct a soil test to determine what nutrients your soil lacks. Fertilizers are essential, and it’s a good idea to research fertilizer basics before you proceed.
8. Let Your Lawn Breathe
Aeration is the process of puncturing small holes in the ground to let in air. Lawn aeration is necessary for lawns that grow in compact soils, but all lawns will benefit from aeration. You can hire someone to aerate your lawn or rent equipment to do it yourself. It’s best to aerate your lawn at least once per year.
9. Fix Patches in the Fall
Autumn is the best time to fix patches of grass in your lawn. You can add soil and grass seed, and the grass will take root by spring.
If you don’t repair patchy areas in your lawn, weeds can take over parts of your grass and spread to other areas of your yard.
10. Protect Your Lawn From Weeds
Keeping your soil and grass healthy by following these lawn maintenance tips is the best way to protect your lawn from weeds, but they will still pop up from time to time.
Mowing higher is one solution because the taller grass will keep weed seeds from getting the sunlight they need to germinate. If you only have a few weeds, you can pull them out by hand. Eliminate stubborn weeds by applying herbicide in small areas.