A well-maintained lawn is the key to a beautiful landscape and an enviable curb appeal. Unfortunately, many homeowners, especially newbies, mess up lawn care, ruining their lawns and the curb appeal of their homes.
Of course, we encourage individuals to engage the services of lawn care professionals when looking to maintain their lawn and keep it healthy and lush. However, If you are doing lawn care for the first time, here are some key mistakes to watch out for.
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Overcutting your grass
Running a mowing machine over those tall grasses on your lawn may seem like a fun task. However, you need to understand that mowing your lawn is more difficult than it seems. Many homeowners get carried away and end up cutting the grass too short.
Seems like a good thing, right? No!
Overcutting your grass leaves it too exposed to the heat of the sun. While plants rely on sunlight to produce nutrients, overexposure can damage your lawn.
So how do you ensure you don’t cut your grass too short? Simple! Follow the one-third rule.
Never trim off more than one-third of the grass length in any one mow. If you haven’t mowed your lawn for a while, don’t decide to mow it all at once. Instead, mow it multiple times, trimming off one-third at a time.
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Soil compaction
Soil compaction is bad for your lawn. But unfortunately, many people compact their soil without even knowing.
You may inadvertently compact your soil by walking over it regularly or using a large mower on it, which can weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Putting much weight on your lawn soil compacts the particle and restricts root growth. Plus, it prevents the root systems from receiving enough oxygen and water needed to grow.
If your soil is already compacted, we advise you to aerate it. If there are high-traffic areas in your lawn, ensure you aerate it yearly to reduce the effects of compaction and keep it fresh and healthy.
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Failing to seek help
It feels good to DIY your lawn care. However, sometimes it pays to have a professional handle your lawn care, especially when you run into issues. Unlike you, lawn care experts have the knowledge and tools required to maintain your lawn.
Hiring lawn care professionals will save you time and money. It’s also a great investment. So, whenever it seems like your DIY lawn care isn’t yielding results, don’t hesitate to contact a lawn care company near you. You can search for the keyword “reputable lawn care near me.” In the end, you’ll be glad about the choice you made.
Overwatering the grass
Too much of everything isn’t good for your lawn. We’ve talked about cutting your grass too short. The same applies to watering.
Yes, grasses need water to grow. But overwatering your grass is a no-no for your lawn. Sadly, many people, especially beginners, are fond of this mistake. Grasses don’t need 300 liters of water each day to thrive. They only need the equivalent of an inch of rainwater weekly.
That said, how do you ensure you aren’t overwatering your grasses? By installing a small rain gauge on your lawn. It’ll help measure out that inch of water through irrigation or rainfall. Also, every spring, ensure you carry out a sprinkle audit and evaluate the time of day you sprinkle so you don’t overwater the grass.
Applying excessive fertilizer
As we mentioned earlier, too much of everything is not good for your lawn. Too much sunlight, too much water, cutting your grasses too short, and too much fertilizer are not good for your lawn. Unfortunately, many beginners make this mistake. They believe applying excess fertilizer helps the grass grow more, but it doesn’t. Applying too much fertilizer can damage or kill the grasses.
So ensure you apply the right fertilizer on your lawn. To do that, check the fertilizer packaging. Some have inscriptions of the right amount of fertilizer to apply. You can also contact your local extension service to determine how much fertilizer to apply.
Finally, when buying fertilizers, ensure you go for slow-release options that don’t need to be refilled too often.
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Applying excessive herbicide
Again, if you decide to use herbicide to control weeds, ensure you don’t apply it in excessive amounts. While herbicides are good in ridding your lawn of unwanted vegetation, applying too much may hurt your lawn.
Thus, ensure you apply herbicides sparingly. Also, ensure you use herbicides only in required areas. Don’t apply it on the entire lawn. If you don’t trust yourself with herbicides, you can get rid of the weeds on your lawn by removing them by hand or with tools. Remember, your lawn doesn’t have to resemble a golf course. The fewer chemicals you put into your lawn, the better for the environment.
Conclusion
It’s easy to make these lawn care mistakes when you aren’t a lawn care expert or familiar with the lawn care principles. You can quit being cautious of these mistakes and maintain your lawn without breaking a sweat by hiring a lawn care company. They are professionals and will ensure that you have a healthy and lush lawn.
