Lawns add that “wow” factor to a property that no other element can quite match. However, with owning a lawn comes great responsibility to keep it green, thriving, and weed-free. While several DIY methods can help you ensure that the grass doesn’t perish, what you really need is a detailed run-down of how your lawn works.
In this blog, you will read about ten handy tips for lawn care in Oakville that help you do a little more than just keep the grass on your lawn alive. Let’s get straight into it.
10 Handy Tips for a Lush Lawn
Before you get your hands all muddy, read through these tips thoroughly.
- What type of soil and grass do you have?
Much like how you would begin a new friendship by first getting to know each other’s names, you must also know the type of grass and soil used on your property before starting your care routine.
For example, the soil type tells you which nutrients you need to supplement it with and which ones may already be present. On the other hand, the success of grass growth on your lawn depends on whether or not it is suited for the weather and watering conditions in your area.
- Know about seeding and overseeding
Seeding and overseeding are basic practices in planting lawns. They only apply when you don’t actually have proper grass in the lawn yet or if the grass that was present has become patchy.
- Seeding is the process of preparing the soil of your lawn and scattering the seeds to make grass grow from scratch.
- Overseeding, on the other hand, is done in lawns where grass was already present but has become worse for the wear or lack of care. This involves scattering seeds over the existing grass and bare patches in the lawn.
Knowing this basic terminology can help you care for your lawn better down the line.
- Watering
While it may sound pretty basic, watering is a difficult balance to strike when caring for lawns. This is because most grasses require about 1.5” of water per week, which is able to seep to about a 6” depth so the roots can catch on.
However, watering mostly occurs either in deficit or in excess. Aim to achieve a balance when watering your lawn – ensure that every inch of space is watered enough, but avoid ponding your grass.
A handy rule of thumb involves pushing a screwdriver into the soil to check if it penetrates 6 inches without difficulty. If it does, you’re doing things right.
- Mowing
A basic operation such as mowing can go severely wrong if you don’t know the basics. To begin with, it is important to understand that grass only needs to be mowed to about 1/3rd of the length of its blades. Any more than that, and there may be a risk of putting too much pressure on your turf because the grass is too short.
Mowing involves a great deal of grass-cutting; if your mower isn’t maintained regularly for the sharpness of its blades, it may actually be tearing your grass instead of cutting it. This may harm your lawn rather than help maintain it.
- Fertilizing the lawn
Every living thing on the planet needs nutrients for sustenance – so does your lawn. The type of fertilizer most suited for your lawn is best determined by a lawn care professional.
However, if you must do it yourself, consider going for the granular type with simple instructions. Typically, you would need to scatter a fixed amount of the product for a specified area and then water your lawn so it gets absorbed.
Ensure you follow the instructions on the label down to the last letter because overfertilization can potentially burn your grass.
- Aerating the lawn
You may have noticed that the soil sometimes looks very compact. Closely packed soil inhibits grass growth and may be stopping your lawn from reaching its true glory.
Aeration is a process where you gently loosen the soil to allow air and nutrients to get in and nourish the seeds. Most lawn care professionals advise to aerate your lawn once in spring after the winter has thawed and once in fall after the stress of the summers.
You can easily find an aeration machine at your local hardware store.
- Weed & Feed
Have you heard of the phrase “two birds, one stone?” Well, weed and feed are associated operations in lawn care that do exactly that.
Owning a lawn also inevitably comes with the need to fight weeds so that your grass can get the necessary nutrients.
Weed & feed products comprise two types of compounds – one that acts on the weeds alone and kills them, and one that works on nourishing the soil to help the grass grow.
There are two types of weed and feed: granular and liquid. It is recommended that you contact a local lawn care expert to guide you in choosing the product best suited to your lawn.
You can find weed and feed for lawns easily at a lawn care shop.
- Controlling pests and bugs
Before talking about removing insects from your lawn, you should know that not all insects are harmful. In fact, most of the insects you find in your lawn are helping the grass grow (like earthworms and bees).
On the other hand, pests like moles, gophers, and ants can be extremely harmful to the health of your grass. It is best to get a professional consultation from a lawn care expert to know about the topical compounds to use that can get rid of harmful pests while preserving your grass and the helpful insects.
- Plantation
While your lawn may be all about grass, you shouldn’t ignore what you have planted at the periphery for a touch of added beauty. This includes your potted plants, trees, shrubs, and even the little landscaping details (like ponds).
All of these aspects of your home require equal care and attention so that they may add more beauty to the lush green grass of your lawn. In addition to watering the plants and cleaning the ponds, keep your landscape clean and tidy.
Most of the time, keeping your landscape tidy and well-watered ensures its longevity.
- Don’t hesitate to call for help
Sometimes, the condition that your lawn is in just isn’t salvageable using do-it-yourself methods. Perhaps the pest situation has gotten out of control. Maybe the grass is dying despite trying everything possible.
If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to contact your local lawn care in Oakville. The professionals would know exactly what is going wrong with your precious lawn and be able to fix it before it’s too late. They can also help you with landscaping to make your space look even more beautiful by introducing elements that complement your home.
Why Should You Entrust Lawn Care to Professionals?
It is always a pleasure to bear the fruits of your own labor, sometimes even literally. However, lawn care professionals bring their expertise into the picture that not only improves lawn health but also ensures longevity and sustenance of this healthy state.
There are several more convincing reasons that make outsourcing lawn care to professionals more reasonable:
Saves time
The precious time of your weekend that you spend maintaining your lawn can now be spent with your friends and family, making fun memories together. In addition, you get to see a perfectly manicured lawn every day without worrying about it.
Contract-less operation
The best part about lawn care in Oakville is that most professionals do not require you to enter into a binding contract with them. You pay for the services you ask for, and you get the results. If you need their services again, you can call them when required.
Economical
This may sound counterintuitive, but outsourcing lawn care to professionals is more economical in the long run. The money you save on wasted products and ineffective care is well invested in paying a professional lawn care expert – for better results at the end of the day.
Value addition
Lawn care experts have done the whole nine yards to know the tricks of the trade. They can provide insights and knowledge to help you maintain your lawn better. They can also help landscape the area, making it look even more beautiful.
Wrapping Up
Lawn care doesn’t have to be all about effort and expenditure. Leverage the tips above to make lawn care about efficiency and efficacy instead. Better yet, consider getting a consultation from your local lawn care in Oakville for the best results.