Having a beautiful, weed-free, lush, green lawn is a wonderful thing. It improves your home’s curb appeal, rivals your neighbor’s sparse lawns and provides a feeling of accomplishment for you as a homeowner.
However, beautiful lawns don’t just happen. If you don’t take steps to prevent issues and handle problems, you may find your lawn is barren and overtaken by weeds. But, don’t despair. There are some simple tips you can use to help ensure your lawn looks amazing, regardless of the weather or time of year. Being informed is the best way to get a great looking lawn.
Prevent Weeds Before They Appear
Weeds are the natural enemy of any beautiful, green lawn. The good news is, you can stop weeds from gaining any hold on your lawn before they have the chance to germinate. This is done with pre-emergent herbicides. With this type of chemical, you can easily control crabgrass, which can overtake any lawn if you aren’t careful, as well as other weeds that are difficult to eliminate. When applied properly, the chemical will stop the seeds from sprouting in your lawn.
For best results, you should use a pre-emergent early in the spring months. If you want to ensure that you can use it safely, it is a good idea to use a backpack sprayer. These allow you to mix a large amount of the weed killer and then walk around your lawn, spraying as-needed. Make sure to find the best backpack sprayer, as this will affect the results you achieve.
In addition to using a sprayer, you also need to read all the directions on the package carefully. This will ensure you don’t cause harm to yourself or your pets when using these chemicals.
Eliminate Any Broadleaf Weeds After They Sprout
A broadleaf weed is the big weeds that can be seen with ease in your lawn. The most common culprits seen include the bright yellow face of the dandelion (with seeds that scatter in the wind), clover with small white flowers and bigger leaf plantain.
These are easy to spot, which also makes them easy to get rid of. The best way to remove these weeds from your lawn is by applying a granular weed control product. If you only notice a few areas where these weeds are located, you may be able to remove them by hand and not have any other issues.
When using granular weed control products, it is best to wait until there is heavy morning dew present. The granules require moisture to stick to the leaves of the weeds. The dew provides you with what you need.
Mow Frequently and at a High Level
While it may seem like a good idea to mow your lawn short, this can cause serious damage to your grass. Even worse, it may allow the weeds to begin taking over. A better option is to mow your grass more frequently and a bit higher than you normally would. This will result in much healthier grass.
A general rule of thumb you can use when cutting your grass is to never mow over a third of the grass blade at any given time.
Keep your Mower Blade Sharp
If the blade on your lawnmower is dull, then it can tear the grass. This will result in your grass having a ragged edge that will make the lawn appear to be brown or grayish. If your blade has begun to show signs of wear, then it is time to replace it or to have it sharpened. It is best to have this done at the beginning of each mowing season.
In most cases, the size of your lawn and how often it has to be mowed is going to dictate how often the blade should be sharpened or replaced. Always look at the grass after you are done mowing. If it appears to be frayed or shredded, then it is time to have the blade sharpened.
Water Your Grass in the Morning
When watering your grass, the best time to do so is in the morning. This is because the sun will help to dry the grass. If you water at night, it can result in prolonged periods of moisture on the blades, which may result in certain diseases.
According to experts, it is best to water less often, for longer periods of time. If you just wet the grass, this isn’t watering it. You have to soak the lawn so that the moisture in the soil goes down several inches.
Make Sure to Feed Your Lawn
Do you know what your lawn likes to “eat?” The most important nutrient to provide is nitrogen. You should look for a mix of slow and quick release fertilization products that will help to “green up” the lawn quickly, and that will feed it over time. In the northern part of the U.S., you should feed your lawn in the spring and fall, for southern states, feed the lawn in the summer and spring.
