Caring For A Lawn Throughout The Year

Without the right info and tools, caring for a lawn can be a tedious and laborious process that could lead to dismal results and disappointment.

Lawn repair and care: Discover the best ways for caring for a lawn

Caring for your lawn all year round should not cause you to pull out your hair in frustration.

Your lawn matters

The sight of a lush green lawn is every homeowner’s dream, especially when it catches the sun in the morning, looking all resplendent with dewdrops hanging on the blades. As with every good thing, having a beautiful lawn takes a considerable amount of effort. However, with good garden care information and the right tools, anyone can keep a lawn that causes them to beam with pride all year long. Here is a comprehensive guide for caring for a lawn and keeping it resplendent all year round.

Early spring

Planning is of the essence when taking care of your lawn as it helps you spread the maintenance needs of your garden without too much work. By realizing the implications of seasonal changes, you can anticipate any possible problem. You can nip the problem in the bud or have a lawn care business do it for you. Early spring means the onset of the grass-growing season, and you can nurse it to perfection. It is also the time to spruce your lawn care tools and equipment. Sharpen the blade on your lawn mower, as a dull blade not only does a shoddy job but also spreads pathogens. Additionally, you should sharpen the blades at least once a month during the active growing season. Ensure that the spark plug on the mower is in good shape and replace it once a year. Also, make a point of changing the air filters to keep it running efficiently. Most importantly, you should get a fresh batch of gas and not use the leftovers in the shed. Old stock, especially if you buy a variety that contains ethanol since the water tends to separate, could ruin the engine. Rake up the leaves and any other debris that could ruin or smother the new growth. If the effort proves too much, you can always hire a lawn repair service to handle it for you.

Spring season

When the spring seasons is in full swing, the grass will be growing in earnest, and you have to cut it down. Pick a sunny day for the first cut, as cutting it when the grass is wet could spread diseases and the wet clippings could clog the mower. Spring is the best time to apply fertilizer, preferably right before the lawn begins the most active growth. However, if you experience long winters, apply fertilizer in the fall because it supplies the grass with sufficient nutrients during the winter dormancy. Be sure to follow the application directions for the best results. You should also aerate your lawn by punching small holes the lawn with an aeration machine. Just be sure to do it when the soil is moist but not soggy with water. It is also the time to check the growth of weeds such as crabgrass with pre-emergent herbicides. Crabgrass germinates when soil temperatures hit 58 degrees. Get a soil thermometer and apply the herbicides when you observe that critical temperature. Alternatively, you can contact organic lawn care services if you prefer environmentally-friendly controls.

Early summer

When the summer rolls around, so does a bevy of annoying insects and pests. You should keep an eye out for beetle larvae and grub worms that could make an easy meal of the roots of your grass. Do not wait for your lawn to develop wilt patches or start browning. If you spot c-shaped grubs on the sod, it is time to take action. You can use organic lawn care such as milky spore or opt to use insecticides. To keep the garden from running wild with new growth, you need to cut it about once a week or retain the services of a lawn care business. For best results, you should not cut the grass lower than a third of the blade when caring for a lawn. Remove any weeds with a garden fork as soon as you spot them. Alternatively, if the situation gets out of hand, resort to post-emergent herbicides or opt for organic lawn care.

Summer season

Lots of sunshine is good for your lawn as it promotes new growth and keeps the grass green and lush with a good supply of water. Rather than mow down the new growth with great zest, you should abide by one rule of thumb. Tall grass translates into deeper roots, fewer weeds and holds more moisture. Therefore, you should never cut more than a third of the grass blade, so set the blade to a height three inches. Secondly, you should not water the lawn frequently. Deep, about one inch, but infrequent watering creates a sense of water scarcity that prompts the grass to grow deeper roots in the hunt for water deep in the ground. Insufficient watering, less than an inch, could cause the lawn to go dormant and it would lose the appealing green lush. However, it would pick up again after the rainy weather commences. Scattering a few pie tins on the lawn allows you to keep track of the water supply. A rain gauge keeps track of the water from the rain. Be sure to give your mower a thorough clean at least once a month to lower the risk of spreading diseases. Leave some clipping on the lawn to act as mulch and manure but never in large clumps. Rake up debris, leaves and twigs to keep the lawn neat and avoid obstructing the new growth while you are caring for a lawn.

Early fall for sod installation

It is best to patch up the thin and bare spots in your lawn after the hot summer weather fades away and the temperatures cool down significantly. In addition, it is the best time to carry out sod installation on your lawn. The first step of lawn repair is to remove all the dead grass and turn the soil with a trowel. Work about an inch of compost into the ground. Get the best variety of grass seed and spread them evenly on the patch that needs replacing, then rake them about half an inch into the soil. Cover the spot with grass clippings to preserve moisture in the ground. Be sure to water it daily until the lawn stands at one inch.

Fall season

Falling leaves could pose a danger to your lawn, so raking dead leaves and other debris is a major preoccupation in the fall when caring for a lawn. You can simplify the task by using a mulching mower to break up the leaves and incorporate them into the soil. If you experience brutal winters, apply fertilizer in fall. With proper sod installation, your lawn will ease through the winter with minimal harm.