First lawn care steps for the new homeowner

If you’ve recently purchased a new home, you may be scratching your head while you wonder about the best lawn care steps to take. There are many resources available, but knowing which treatments should be applied to your lawn can be a challenge. Here are some of the most important steps for new homeowners to take when considering their lawn care practices:

Check the pH balance of your soil

If you don’t know the pH balance of your soil, it’s impossible to know what kind of care and treatments are required. A pH test is both easy and affordable, you can get a simple testing kit at any home improvement store. You’ll know the results in no time, and this will help you decide what steps need to be taken in your lawn.

The pH balance of your soil indicates the amount of alkalinity or acidity that is present in your soil. Most plants, including grass, grow best in soils that are slightly acidic. Here is a guide to understanding the results of your pH reading:

• Higher than 7: Soil with high alkalinity
• 7: Neutral soil
• Lower than 7: Acidic soil

Even though acidic soil is best for grass, too much of an acid presence in your yard will make it impossible to grow grass or any other plants. There are certain types of fertilizers and lawn treatments (most commonly lime and sulphur application) that can adjust the acidity or alkalinity of your soil.

Research the type of grass that has been planted

If you aren’t aware of the type of grass seed that has been planted in your lawn, it can be a challenge to know how to best care for it. There are dozens of grass seeds on the market, each of which has their own unique care practices. If you’re unsure of the type grass you have, start researching some of the most common varieties and see if you can spot one that looks the same as your lawn.

If you don’t have any luck with visual identification, you may need to ask for help. You could take a look at your neighbor’s lawns to see if any of them match what you find in your own yard, if they do just knock on their door and ask what they planted. If you live in a subdivision, you may have some luck inquiring with the homeowner’s association.

Get in touch with a lawn care expert

The best way to assess your new lawn’s needs is to get in touch with a lawn care expert. These professionals know all about the lawns in your area, and they will be able to point you in the right direction of all of the best products and treatments for your yard. They’ll also be able to tell you the pH level of your soil, the best way to remedy it, the type of grass that has been planted and the best care practices for it.

Don’t wait until your lawn is already showing signs of failure to seek out help. Many lawn care companies offer low cost packages and free consultations. Take a small amount of time to research the companies in your area, and call a few to see which one seems like the best fit for you. This is the best step that you can take to ensure that your new lawn is giving the first impression that you want it to. Nothing looks worse than a dry and brittle lawn, and by following these simple steps you can ensure that this will never be the case in your yard.