Having a manicured lawn adds a beautiful feature you can enjoy. Not to mention how much curb appeal and property value landscaping adds. For this reason, it’s essential you pay attention to how you’re taking care of your lawn. While some people might think lawn care is fool-proof, they’re wrong. You need to pay attention to what you’re doing if you don’t want to cause more harm than good. Everyone makes mistakes, so make sure you know the typical lawn care mistakes you need to stop doing right now.
Overwatering your lawn
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. If you overwater your lawn, nutrients will be carried away, fungus will thrive, and weeds could get out of control. Excess moisture in your lawn makes it difficult for dead plant material to break down, leaving you with thatch. Thatch is a thick mat of partially decomposed roots and stems. This thick mat prevents nutrients from reaching the roots of your lawn.
Underwatering your lawn
Lawns usually require about an inch or two of water per week. However, each type of grass has its own qualities, so it’s best to determine which type you have to know for sure how much water it needs. If you start noticing the soil is dry and slow growth, you’re probably underwatering your lawn. Another way to determine underwatering is to pay close attention to the spring back. Are footprints more visible on your grass? If so, it’s time to water your lawn!
Cutting the grass too short
Brown and bare spots in your lawn are signs that you’re cutting your grass too short.
When you mow your lawn, you’re removing a portion of the leaf surface responsible for producing food through photosynthesis. If you cut the grass too short, you’ll affect root growth, depleting the grass of nutrients. Make sure the mower’s blades are sharp. This way, you end with a clean-cut instead of torn, dull-looking grass.
Not aerating
If the soil is compacted, nutrients won’t be able to reach your plants as easily. Aeration involves perforating the soil to allow water, air, and nutrients to reach the grassroots. This method helps the roots to grow deep, producing a strong and healthy lawn. It’s best to aerate your lawn during the growing season, using adequate tools.
Not fertilizing
Healthy plants need healthy soil. As time passes, soil naturally starts losing important nutrients plants need to survive. Fertilizing your lawn replenishes the soil with essential nutrients your lawn needs to maintain that lush look. Soil needs phosphorus, potassium, and nitrate to create the perfect conditions for plant growth. Applying fertilizer will undoubtedly boost the quality of the soil to have the ideal lawn.
