Whether you’re just getting started with lawn maintenance or you’ve been trying to care for your yard without success for years, these three simple tips can turn your lawn from drab to fab in less time than you think.
1) Let It Grow
The ideal length for your grass depends on which type it is. Typically, if you’re in the Northern U.S., you’ll have cool-season grasses growing in your yard, such as fine fescues and Kentucky bluegrass. Cool-season grass withstands colder temperatures better than other types making their ideal length for cool-season grasses a bit longer—around 3-4 inches. Warm-season grasses, on the other hand, have an ideal length of about 1-2 inches. This includes Bermuda and centipede grass.
Some people think that by cutting your grass short, you’re able to buy time in between cutting while it grows—this is far from the truth! When you cut below the grasses’ ideal length, you’re scalping it. Scalping not only shocks the grass but also speeds up the growing process because the grass wants to regrow. Your lawn is also more prone to insects, weeds, and flooding if your grass is scalped. Letting it grow too long and then cutting it all off is bad. You shouldn’t cut off more than ? of its length at a time.
2) Don’t Over-Water
When it comes to watering your lawn, you want to water it deeply, but not frequently. You don’t need to run the sprinkler daily—this will allow the grass to become dependent on the water for survival instead of letting it naturally adapt to survive until the next “rainfall.” How can you tell if it needs to be watered? Step on it—if the blades don’t bounce back, they’re wilting and could use a drink. Most lawns need about an inch of water per week, which usually is about 20-60 minutes of rainfall a day, 2-4 days a week.
3) Feed It, But Not Too Much
You really only need to feed the grass with fertilizer four times a year—early spring, late spring, summer, and fall. Though Underfeeding can also be a problem. Just like humans, grass needs the right amount of food to be healthy.
With these three simple lawn care tips, you can increase your curb appeal and grow a luscious lawn in no time! Be mindful of the ordinances in your area, however, that may impact how tall your grass can be and what you can have on display.
I wish you well and invite you to contact me if you have questions.
Please stay healthy and we hope to hear from you soon to discuss your property search and status.
Until Next Time!
Semper-Fi
Eric