Caring for your lawn is a tough job, and it’s definitely not easy to keep up with all of the work that it entails. Many homeowners spend a great deal of money, time and energy maintaining their landscape, only to find that they’re not any closer to the lawn of their dreams. That’s because even though they’re trying and doing everything that’s believed to be right, they may be doing it wrong. Here’s a list of the top lawn care mistakes to avoid making when caring for your landscape:
Mowing Too Short – Believe it or not, shorter is not always better. The most common lawn care mishap that homeowners make is mowing their lawn too short. As a rule of thumb, you should never cut more than one third of the grass blade with each mow. Cutting too short causes grass to become stressed, interrupting natural growth patterns and allowing an opportunity for weeds to grow.
Over-Watering – We all know that water is the most important necessity to promote plant growth, next to sunlight. However, there is such a thing as too much water. Make sure to monitor your sprinkler system to water only when necessary. At Turf Unlimited, our sprinkler systems come equipped with an automatic timer and rain sensors to trigger an automatic shutoff on rainy days.
Forgetting the Soil – Without soil there is nowhere for your lawn to grow! Don’t forget to monitor your soil, regularly checking its pH level and making necessary adjustments to sustain its health.
Planting the Wrong Grass – There are tons of grass types out there, but they may not all be right for you and your lawn. Just like other plants, different types of grass thrive in different climates. Before planting your grass, be sure to consult a lawn care expert on the proper grass species for your area.
Bad Timing – You may be performing lawn care practices with precision, but if you don’t take timing into account, your efforts will be wasted. It’s extremely important to make sure that you time your lawn maintenance tasks in accordance with other planned tasks, as well as the seasons. Timing is everything when it comes to fertilizing, aerating, and applying weed killers and pest repellants, so don’t forget to plan!
As you can see, there are many common lawn care mistakes that are easy to make if you aren’t careful. Even with the best DIY lawn maintenance, some lawns still need help from the professionals. If you’re struggling to green up your lawn this spring, or are interested in subscribing to one of Turf Unlimited‘s maintenance plans, call 888-649-9919 to request a free estimate. As the preferred lawn care professionals in the Northern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire area, our mission is to provide our customers with a healthy, green landscape for years to come!
