Top Lawn Maintenance and Gardening Tips

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Having a healthy and beautiful lawn is what most homeowners want. But the busy everyday schedule means many people do not have the time to maintain their outdoor space. If keeping your lawn in the best shape is a priority, you need to develop a lawn care schedule and stick to it.

To help you stay ahead of your lawn care routine, we’ve rounded up some useful tips for your reference. Here’s how you can make your lawn grass look greener and healthier throughout the year.

Test Your Soil and Improve Where Necessary

Knowing the properties and composition of the soil in your yard helps determine several factors. These include the best type of grass to plant, the right fertilizers to use, and any soil improvements to make. To know the soil you are working on, test its acidity (pH) and nutrients. Here, you should take samples from your yard and have your local agricultural extension officer test its pH and nutrient level. If your soil comes out as too acidic, add iron to lower its acidity. For low pH soils adding lime will raise its acidity. The ideal pH for most grasses ranges from 6.0 to 7.2.

From the soil test, your agricultural service agent will guide you on the type of fertilizers your lawn needs. The fertilizer amount and regularity of application will also be dependent on its nutrient level and the type of grass in your lawn. Having healthy soil with the best nutrients is the first step in having the perfect lawn you’ve always dreamt of.

Choose a Grass Type for Your Region

Your lawn grass is what gives your landscape the perfect green color you want in your yard. However, not all the grass types you see or like will give your lawn the beauty it deserves. Grass types vary, and their tolerance to high or low temperatures determines where they will grow best.

That said, the success and beauty of your lawn will largely depend on the type of grass you will choose to grow in your yard. The ideal way of choosing the right type of grass is by your region.

The basic climatic zones are:

  • Deep South region. This region has hot summers with moderate winters making the warm-season grasses thrive. The primary grass choices in these regions are Bermuda grass and St. Augustine grass.
  • Northern region. The region includes the Northern US and Canada, where summers are moderate with cold winters. Here the cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass grow well.
  • The transition region. This region has hot summers and cold winters, making it challenging for cool-season grass or warm-season grass to thrive. Due to its tolerance to heat and cold, tall fescue grass thrives well in this region.

Mow Correctly

Mowing is one of the primary lawn maintenance to-do things on your lawn care list. If not correctly done, it leads to poor grass quality and may, in turn, ruin them completely. Changing the mowing pattern, using a sharp blade, and cutting at the perfect height results in healthy, weather-resistant, and thick grass. The frequency of mowing is determined by the grass growth rate and may vary with seasons.

During hot seasons, do not cut the grass too short. That way, you’ll protect them from the sun and keep the soil moisturized. At all seasons, always ensure that not more than a third of the grass length is cut. A good mowing machine will help you attain the desired uniform and correct height.

Water Your Lawn Wisely

Proper watering is essential in sustaining a green and beautiful lawn. Moderate watering is the trick here. Too little water will dry off the grass, while too much water makes the lawn swampy and the grassroots oversaturated. All this has to be balanced while conserving water and keeping your bills as low as possible.

While watering your lawn, choose the right time that will be easy for you and convenient for the grass. Ideally, the best time is in the morning before 10 A.M, to keep the grass moist during the hot times of the day. Late in the afternoon could also be a wise choice, especially when the afternoon sun has gone.

Take Action Today

Making your home’s exterior attractive and improving your curb appeal takes time and consistency. Before you can notice any progress or success from your efforts, you need to stick to your lawn care maintenance routine for a couple of months.

If you don’t have the time to care for your lawn, consider hiring a professional lawn care professional or company. Here, you want to outsource the lawn care services to someone who’s an expert in what they do. Check their reputation, quality of services, and most importantly, their social proof, whether testimonials or reviews from trusted sites.

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