Most homeowners dust off their lawn mowers during summer and embark on routine lawn care duties. They get into a cycle of mowing, weeding, and watering to keep their yards healthy.
Although lawn maintenance may seem easy, you may be making mistakes that can potentially ruin your lawn, especially during this period.
Adding Too Much Fertilizer
When applying fertilizers, timing and quantity matter. Excess fertilizer can burn grass blades and subject your yard to pests and diseases.
As such, you should use slow-release fertilizers that don’t require constant replenishing. Moreover, remember to follow directions as indicated by the manufacturer or consult an extension officer to ensure you apply the recommended quantity.
Incorrect Watering Practices
Incorrect watering is a typical summer lawn care mistake that most homeowners make.
Applying too much water on lawns will wash away essential nutrients and make the grass prone to fungal diseases.
On the other hand, underwatering your grass may lead to discoloration, eventually making the grass wither.
Ideally, you should find the right balance when watering your lawn during summer. If possible, install a small garden rain gauge to help you measure water volume since grass requires about 1-2 inches of water every week.
Skipping Weed Control
Weeding keeps the lawns aerated and healthy. In addition, since weeds are naturally resilient, they tend to grow stronger in summer, thanks to abundant sunlight.
If left unchecked, weeds can dominate the whole lawn and choke the grass underneath.
It is therefore essential to check for weeds and eliminate them as soon as they spring forth.
Using Dull Mower Blades
Dull mower blades can tear and shred the tips of your grass. This can promote the spread of fungal diseases and impact the aesthetic appearance of your yard.
For this reason, experts recommend sharpening the mower blade before you begin mowing.
Mowing Too Short
Some homeowners mow the grass too short to reduce the mowing frequency. However, you should never cut the grass below a 1/3 of the height of your grass.
Cutting too short reduces the plant’s ability to withstand pests and diseases.
Leaving Clumped Grass After Mowing
Some homeowners fail to collect grass clippings after mowing, leading to grass piling.
The downside is that uncollected grass clippings can block sunlight from reaching the grass and cause the blades to die.
Ensure you rake out dry grass clippings a day after mowing to keep your lawn healthy.
Planting the Wrong Grass Type
Different grass species thrive in different geographic locations and climatic conditions.
For instance, most grass types require abundant sunshine to survive. As such, they won’t thrive under shady conditions.
Moreover, others do well in warmer climates and adapt to cooler climates.
Before planting, make sure to research well so you can choose the right type of grass that suits your local climate and soil characteristics.
Uncontrolled Soil Compaction
Summer experiences much outdoor activity, which can impact your lawn. Notably, most people unintentionally compact the soil through increased foot traffic. As a result, lawns are more prone to wear and tear during this period.
An excellent way to mitigate soil compaction is to install pavements in high-traffic portions of the lawns. You could also rake the yards frequently on parts that experience high foot traffic.
Ignoring Signs of Pest Infestation
The warm summer weather makes your lawn vulnerable to pests and insects such as armyworms, cutworms, ticks, fleas, and bugs. It would help if you had a handy pest control plan whenever you spot a pest infestation.
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