5 Tips for Your Most Beautiful Lawn Ever
Whether you have acres of land or a tiny parcel, your lawn is an extension of your home. Lawns are much more than grass. They're for backyard cookouts and for enjoying lazy afternoons with a good book. They're for games of soccer or a few rounds of catch, and where little ones might learn to crawl. When your goal is to create a beautiful landscape overall, it's important to find a system that works well and stick to it. However, homeowners everywhere can attest to the fact that there's no one-size-fits-all approach and that it will take time to learn what works best. It
can be time consuming, frustrating and confusing — but it can also be very rewarding. If you're new to lawn maintenance or if you could use a few pointers, you might find the following five tips for lawn care useful.
1. Follow a Lawn Maintenance Schedule
Ensuring your lawn is regularly and properly maintained is the most important thing you can do for it. While all lawns have their differences, covering your bases of mowing and treating as needed will go a long way in making it healthy and beautiful. If you don't have the time to devote to maintaining it or aren't confident in your abilities, contracting with a professional for lawn treatment would be a wonderful investment. This will ensure your lawn is taken care of correctly and thoroughly, and it will mean one less thing on your to-do list. Professional maintenance can also save you money in the long run, especially when you consider the amount of money you might spend on different products or tools to try to mitigate lawn issues yourself or run and maintain your lawn care equipment.
Also, wouldn't it be great to get some of that time back, especially on your days off? Think of what else you can do with all that free time. Who knows? Maybe it's time to dust off the kayaks or mountain bike.
2. Aerate or Dethatch When Needed To Give Your Lawn a Boost
Have you ever heard of aeration or dethatching? These simple yet effective techniques will help your lawn to breathe, essentially improving the soil and strengthening the roots of the grass. They're also good things to do before overseeding your yard, spot treating or fertilizing, as well as after a dry spell. The additional openings in the soil will allow water to penetrate the earth more effectively. There are plenty of ways to go about this, such as strapping on a pair of aerators over your regular sneakers or using a handheld tool. There are also tow-behind attachments available for ride-on lawnmowers and smaller rototillers. Wondering when it's time to treat this way? Telltale signs are super dense soil, dead organic material or moss, sparse areas of grass, and areas where moisture does not absorb. However, keep in mind that there might be times that doing this isn't enough, and starting over with fresh soil makes more sense.
3. Keep Your Lawn Properly Hydrated
Just as with all living things, your lawn needs plenty of water to grow and thrive. While how much water it needs will depend on your climate, season and forecast it's safe to say that no matter where you are, watering your lawn is essential. If you have a smaller lawn, you might find you're able to do the job with your garden hose or a sprinkler or two. For larger lawns or areas without much rain, consider a lawn sprinkler system. This will ensure your lawn is properly and routinely watered. It's important to know the signs of an overwatered lawn, too. Look for things like shallow roots, discolored patches and root rot. A rain gauge is a helpful tool to make sure you're not overwatering, especially after a decent rain shower. If you're using grass seed in areas of your lawn, consider using the type that requires less watering. This is great for drier climates or during dry stretches of weather when you might be limited with your water use.
4. Enhance Your Lawn With Landscaping
One of the most valuable additions to a beautiful lawn is attractive landscaping. Perennial gardens and foundation plantings are wonderful ways to dress up your lawn and complement your home. Planting hardwood, fruit or ornamental trees will give everything a unique look. Additionally, trees and shrubs are great for creating shady areas, which can protect grass from the beating sun on hot days. If you have patches of grass that are struggling, consider removing them and adding plants, shrubs or even a plot for a vegetable garden. This will save you from the frustration of battling with your lawn while making your acreage work harder for you.
5. Use Fertilizer and Pest Control To Keep Your Lawn Strong and Healthy
In a perfect world, your lawn would grow on its own without any issues. Grubs and pests such as ground moles wouldn't infest and destroy it, leaving you with a patchy, yellow or tunnel-filled lawn. Invasive weeds wouldn't choke out your grass. Freshly planted seed or sod would take off without a hitch, thriving in its new environment.
In reality, this isn't always the case. Fortunately, there are many ways to remedy whatever is ailing your lawn. If you have children or pets, consider using organic products. Not only are these more environmentally friendly, the peace of mind you'll gain from using them will be more than worth it. Additionally, if you have pets, you may have noticed urine burns or discolored areas of your lawn. There are water additives and other supplements you can give your pet to reduce the chances of this happening.
Taking care of your lawn is an ongoing process, whether you choose to take it on yourself or hand it over to a professional. And since your lawn is essentially an extension of your home, making sure it's in the best shape possible will make all the difference in your overall property.
