To keep your lawn in good shape you need to keep these 10 lawn maintenance practices in mind. Following our lawn maintenance tips we guarantee your grass will look great all year round.
- Avoid scalping grass, which is cutting it too short. A scalped lawn is vulnerable to diseases and weed infestation. If you’re wandering about how to spot grass that has been scalped is if you can see the stems of your grass. Scalping happens when your lawn is uneven or bumpy and the mower hits a low spot. Grass that becomes so long that it bends over and creates thatch can also cause you to scalp your lawn as the mower cuts near the base of the blade rather than the tips.
- Keep your mower blade sharp to get the best results from each mowing. A sharp blade cuts grass cleanly, while a dull blade tears grass, creating a jagged, uneven edge. These tears create openings for pests and diseases to enter grass blades.
- Adjust mower height throughout the growing season. For instance, shift the cutting deck higher in summer and allow grass to grow longer. Taller grass helps shade soil, which prevents weed growth and slows water evaporation from soil.
- Mow in shady areas as lawns that grow in shady areas benefit from a higher mowing height. Longer grass blades have a greater surface area for conducting photosynthesis. In a low-light situation, this is a great benefit and a secret to growing a healthy lawn in the shade.
- Mow when grass is dry. Mowing a wet lawn doesn’t harm the grass, but it doesn’t yield the best results. Wet grass fills and clogs a mower deck. It also has a tendency to fall over and clump together as you mow, creating an uneven cut.
- Mow when grass is dry. The act of mowing creates tremendous stress on grass plants. If you mow during the heat of the day, individual grass plants lose more water and recover much more slowly than if you mow during the cooler part of the day. Another option is to wait until shade is on the lawn. Grass in the shade loses less water when cut and is quicker to rebound.
- Roll wheel on edging. Create a flat edging along your lawn beside driveways, walks and planting areas. When mowing, roll a wheel of the mower on this edging, and you’ll never have to string trim edges.
- ‘Grass cycle’ when you let grass clippings lie on the lawn after cutting, that’s called grass cycling. It not only saves you, but it also saves money. Grass clippings can provide up to 25 percent of your lawn’s fertilizer needs, so you’ll save some dough on fertilizer, too.
- Compost clippings. Grass cycling works best with grass that’s mowed frequently and when only one-third of the grass blade length has been removed. Longer grass needs to be raked or collected in a bag attachment.
- Avoid mowing in the same direction or pattern each time you mow. When you do this, you risk compacting soil and actually creating ruts.
