Getting your lawn and garden into that perfect manicured look takes a lot of effort and time. However, with some simple tips and techniques, you can have your lawn and garden looking in tiptop shape no matter the season. Let’s look at some of the easy tricks you can do to get your lawn looking its best. (Image by Pixabay)
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Prevent Weeds Before They Come Up
Stopping weeds before they even sprout is essential to ensure your lawn looks pristine. The most effective way to prevent weed growth is pre-emergent herbicide. This type of product eliminates such threats as crabgrass, dandelions, big-leaf plantain, and other hard-to-eliminate weeds. The chemicals in herbicides stop the seeds of these plant pest from sprouting in your yard. It’s advised that you use this type of product early in the spring.
Before buying herbicides, be sure to do your research on the product. It gives you information regarding the proper clothing to wear, protective equipment required, safety precautions, and application procedures. Plus, you learn vital events, like the allegation that cancer was caused by Roundup, that could change your opinion of certain chemicals. Reading about incidents like this one can help you make more ethical and safer decisions regarding your lawn care.
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Mow High and Frequently
To keep your lawn grass weed-free and healthy, don’t mow your grass too short. Cutting it short may seem like a smart way to cut back on how frequently you have to do the chore. However, doing this can damage the grass and runs a higher risk of weeds setting root. To prevent this from happening, the accepted rule is that you should never cut off more than a third of the grass blade.
When mowing, you also want to ensure your mower’s blade is sharp. A dull blade tears the grass and gives your lawn a ragged look. The unevenness can also make your lawn appear grayish brown. As soon as you notice that your mower blade is showing signs of wear, sharpen or replace it. This should at least be once every season, but the size of your lawn and the frequency that you mow will ultimately determine how often you should update your blade.
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Feed Your Lawn
Like all living beings, your lawn needs nutrition. The great joy of homeownership is having a beautiful curb appeal. This take TLC to achieve. You have to water and fertilize your garden and lawn to make it beautiful. The best time to water your lawn is the early morning. When you do this, the rising sun will help dry the grass faster. If you water your plants at night, the prolonged exposure to moisture can increase the risk of certain diseases. Water less but for a longer period of time. You need to soak the lawn so that the soil gets the moisture it needs in its deeper layers.
Lawns need nitrogen to keep their healthy appearance. When you’re looking for the right fertilizer, you want to buy a mixture of fast-release and slow-release products. Feed your grass over time. For southern California, you’ll want to feed in the spring and summer. Remember, don’t try to feed dormant grass as it won’t absorb any of the nutrients.
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Add Touch-Ups
Go the extra mile and do the small things to ensure your lawn looks nice. The following are a few small things you can do that make a world of a difference.
- Reseed Sparse Lawns. If you notice that your lawn is thin in certain spots, seed over it. That will help make it lusher. The ideal time to reseed depends on the grass. For cool-season grasses, do it in the fall. For warm-season grasses, reseed in the late spring.
- Edge Your Beds. To make your best shrubs and flowers stand out, edge your garden and walkways. It will give it a clean and sharp look that will accentuate your beautifully maintained landscaping.
- Mulch Away. Mulch can be just what you need in your flower bed. With its various colors, it can add the finishing touch to the look of your garden. Plus, a thick layer of it minimizes the chances of weeds and keeps the soil moist.
Wrap-Up
It’s clear to see that making your garden look beautiful takes a lot of work. That work can be minimized with the right knowledge and techniques. The most important thing to remember is that it is a process, and you should be having the most fun possible doing it.