Maintaining a beautiful lawn can be a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it! A well-manicured lawn adds curb appeal to your home. And it also helps keep your property looking neat and tidy. If you’re looking for some tips on how to properly maintain your lawn, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we will discuss 6 Lawn Maintenance Tips that you can learn from the pros!

Lawn Maintenance Tips

Many homeowners don’t even know where to start when it comes to yard care. That’s why these lawn maintenance tips from the pros are the perfect way to get you started!

Tip #01: Start by mowing your lawn regularly.

Mowing your lawn regularly is one of the most important things you can do to maintain it. But it takes some time and planning to do it right! For example, always make sure to set your lawnmower at the correct height and always use sharp blades. When mowing your lawn, be careful to go against the grain of the grass. Doing this ensures you get a clean cut, plus the grass will grow back in the right direction.

As we noted, you must take care to set your mower to the proper height. That’s because cutting off too much of the grass can damage it and make it difficult for it to recover. And this is a common mistake that many homeowners make – but the pros know better! Thus, always be sure to trim your lawn to the height recommended for your specific turf variety. Your lawn will look better and healthier when you do!

Tip #02: Water your lawn properly.

Did you know? Watering your lawn improperly can actually do more harm than good! When watering, be sure to water deeply but infrequently so that the roots will grow down into the soil. You should also avoid over-watering, as this can cause problems such as fungus growth and root rot. In fact, if you have a drought-resistant turf variety, you may need to water even less often.

Other than the variety, another way to determine how much water your lawn needs is by using a rain gauge or soil moisture meter. This will track how much water your lawn is getting and let you know if you need to adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

And when you do water your lawn, be sure to do so in the morning or evening when it’s cooler. This can help prevent fungus and rot, as well. Overall, your watering schedule and amount will depend greatly on the type of grass you have.

Tip #03: Fertilize your lawn regularly.

Fertilizing your lawn is another important step in keeping it healthy and looking great. However, be sure to use a high-quality fertilizer that is specifically designed for lawns. Ask for help at your local garden shop if you aren’t sure what to use! And always read the instructions carefully to make sure you are applying it correctly.

One way to determine what your lawn needs is to conduct a soil test. This will help you better understand what nutrients your soil is lacking. And a healthy lawn starts with healthy soil! Once you understand your current soil makeup, you can purchase the appropriate fertilizer to address any imbalance. Additionally, take care to fertilize your lawn at the appropriate times of the year. This may be specific to your turf variety but is typically spring and fall. Do some research to make sure you get the timing and type of fertilizer right for your lawn!

Tip #04: Aerate your lawn annually.

Have you ever aerated your lawn? This is a pro move that many homeowners neglect. Aerating your lawn helps improve drainage and allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass more easily. You can aerate your lawn by either renting an aerator or using a garden fork to poke holes in the soil.

All summer long, you get great use out of your lawn. But all that traffic compacts the soil underneath. And then over the winter, the ground temperature drops and sometimes freezes. All that compaction makes it hard for your soil to absorb oxygen, water, and nutrients. When you’re ready to aerate, make sure it’s been at least two weeks since the last mow, to avoid overworking your lawn.

Tip #05 Spread some topsoil.

Topsoil is vital to a healthy lawn, but it’s something that many homeowners forget about. Adding topsoil to your lawn helps to improve drainage, nutrient uptake, and water retention. When you spread topsoil, it’s important to do so evenly so that your lawn looks uniform. You can buy bags of topsoil at most home improvement stores or garden centers. Always read the label before you buy to make sure that it’s topsoil specifically meant for use in grassy areas.

Once you are ready, spread the topsoil evenly over your entire lawn using a rake or shovel. If you have a garden roller, you can use that to help pack the soil down and ensure good contact with the grassroots below. But if you don’t have that tool, just walking back and forth across your lawn a few times can achieve similar results. Do this once a year, preferably in the late spring, for the best results. Not only will your lawn look better, but it will also require less watering. Win-win!

Tip #06: Control pests and weeds naturally.

Pests and weeds can be a major nuisance when trying to maintain a beautiful lawn. Fortunately, there are many natural ways to control them. For pests, you can try using organic pesticides or traps. For weeds, you can use vinegar, boiling water, or salt to kill them.

The important step is to address issues right away – which means keeping a watchful eye on your lawn and knowing what to look for. Keep an eye out for brown patches, wilting, discoloration, or other signs of distress.

Bonus Tip: Start Strong

So this isn’t so much one of the lawn maintenance tips as it is a tip for having a great lawn from the get-go. Start strong with healthy, high-quality sod meant for your climate and tailored to your specific property.

Bermuda

Bermuda varietals such as TifTuf and TifGrand are strong, drought-resistant turfs that are tough and do well in both full sun and shade. This grass grows well across nearly the entire bottom half of the country. And TifTuf Bermuda grass can be installed any time of year to give you a jump on a perfect lawn!

Zoysia

Zoysia varietals such as JaMur and Zeon are popular for their lush, soft grass leaves. They also have broad grow zones and even grow well in cooler climates. Even better, Zoysiagrass is super dense, making it naturally weed-resistant!

Bottom Line

If you’re like most homeowners, you want to have a well-manicured lawn that looks great all year long. However, actually keeping a lawn looking good can be difficult – especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. But maintaining a beautiful lawn doesn’t have to be difficult. By following these lawn maintenance tips from the pros, you can keep your lawn looking great all year long! And if you’re interested in finding a grower to install high-quality sod to start your lawn off in the best condition possible, contact the pros at The Turfgrass Group today.