Throughout the frigid winter months, many homeowners allow lawn care to fall by the wayside. After all, people who live in parts of the country that are prone to harsh winter weather simply can’t do much for their grass during this time of year. However, with summer in full swing, there’s no better time to help your lawn regain its health and luster. While revitalizing your grass after a long winter may seem like an uphill battle, such an undertaking doesn’t have to be strenuous, costly or time-consuming. In the quest to keep your lawn looking its best all summer long, the following tips are sure to prove useful.
Be Aware of How Much and How Often You Water
Many homeowners won’t hesitate to overwater their grass. The way they figure it, you can’t get too much of a good thing. While people believing that no amount of water is too much for their lawn is somewhat understandable, this notion couldn’t be more wrong. Many lawns receive far more water than they need, and more often than not, this has a detrimental effect on their long-term health. Consistent overwatering can make grass dependent on large amounts of water, leaving it unable to retain moisture and sealing its fate in drought conditions. As such, anyone who wants their lawn to thrive for the foreseeable future would be wise to avoid overwatering.
To determine how much water your lawn needs, you’ll need to do a little research. After determining the type of grass that makes up your lawn, go online or visit your local garden center to learn how much water it requires and how frequently water should be administered. If you lack the time or incentive to carry out these waterings yourself, consider investing in an automatic sprinkler system. These systems are affordable on most budgets and can be installed by a local handyman in a timely and stress-free manner. A reliable sprinkler system can ensure that your lawn regularly receives the ideal amount of water without you having to lift a finger.
Don’t Cut the Grass too Short
A sizable number of homeowners make a point of cutting their grass as short as possible – and frankly, it isn’t hard to see why. The shorter one cuts the grass, the less often they’ll need to mow. While it’s true that this approach will result in less frequent mowings, it also stands to compromise the overall health of your grass. The shorter blades of grass are cut, the less equipped they are to soak up and retain moisture. As is the case with overwatering, this leaves grass dependent on large amounts of water, resulting in more work for homeowners. Unfortunately, many of us won’t hesitate to set our mowers to the absolute shortest length.
Longer grass allows for the formation of longer roots – and longer roots can help grass obtain moisture from soil, even in the hottest conditions. With this in mind, consider setting your mower to one of the longer lengths the next time you mow. To determine the ideal length for your particular type of grass, hop on the web or consult an expert at your local garden center. This may mean having to mow more often than you’d like, but it can also go a long way in boosting your lawn’s resiliency and ensuring its long-term survival.
Always Be on the Lookout for Weeds
Many homeowners have no qualms about leaving weeds alone. After all, if you’re not particularly bothered by their appearance, why go out of your way to stamp them out? Unfortunately, this lackadaisical approach to weeding can have significant adverse effects on your lawns. If left unchecked, weeds can grow into the roots and eventually take over your entire lawn. You can stay on top of this problem by surveying your lawn for weeds every time you mow or water and promptly getting rid of any you come across. When removing weeds, try to pull them up at the roots, as this will prevent quick regrowth.
Summer is the season for bringing your A-game when it comes to lawn care. Due to the season’s long daylight hours, abundant rainfall and agreeable temperatures, grass does more growing throughout the season that at any other time of year. As such, homeowners can’t afford to put lawn maintenance on the back burner during the summer months. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be a task that wears you down physically, eats up financial resources or deprives you of leisure time. Putting the previously discussed pointers to good use can set the stage for a healthy, beautiful summertime lawn.
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