Common Lawn Care Mistakes

A beautiful lawn and landscaping does not happen by accident. It is a labor of love, hard work, and planning. Much thought goes into planning and executing a lush verdant yard. Despite our best efforts, we sometimes fall short of success. We have noted some common mistakes many of our clients make. 

Mowing too short: This exposes roots and weakens grass. Ideally (depending on the type of grass), want to mow at 2.5-4 inches. Remember your yard is not a golf course!

Dull mower blades: In addition to correct height, the mower should cut grass rather than tear it. Signs of tearing are ragged edges that are more prone to diseases and bugs. Blades should be sharpened at least once a season (more often if used more frequently)

Watering: Overwatering and underwatering can harm our lawns in different ways. Too much or too frequent water can lead to fungus and shallow roots (not to mention wasted money and water waste). Ideally we want to water early in the morning (around 5AM) and aim for 1-1.5” of water/week. Make sure to account for rainfall! Signs that your grass is underwatered includes wilting blades/leaves, lasting footprints in the grass, abnormal coloration.

Soil Testing: Soil should be tested every 2-3 years to optimize fertilizer usage.

Weeds: These may be a sign of a distressed lawn but also worsen lawn health by competing for limited resources and space. Depending on your preferences consider a pre-emergent treatment, manual removal and other herbicides.

Aeration: Overtime, soil gets compacted which is not ideal for growth. An annual aeration is important to allow oxygen, nutrient and seeds to get into the soil

Thatch: Thatch is a layer of dead plant matter that builds up between the soil and grass. This makes it hard for water and nutrients to get to the soil and your lawn’s roots. Consider detaching on a regular basis. 

Too much fertilizer: Too much of a good thing is bad! This can lead to grass burn, runoff, and damages the soil. Make sure to follow appropriate application recommendations and use slow release formulations.