Lawn Care Made Easy With a Few Basic Maintenance Tips

Easy lawn care may seem like a contradiction, but if you can master a few basic tips you can take control of your lawn. While it may be overwhelming to try and learn all about every lawn practice there is, getting your head around just three steps is a great first start. Once you can grasp these basic concepts, the easier your lawn will be to care for.

Three easy lawn care tips is all it takes to turn your lawn around. Additional treatments and maintenance needs may occur throughout the year, but they’ll be much easier to tackle with this foundation of good lawn maintenance. Testing your soil, knowing when to mow, and adjusting your irrigation schedule are the some of the most important parts of caring for your lawn.

#1 Test your soil

A simple soil testing kit can tell you a LOT about your lawn. The way your soil responds to certain types of plants and treatments can be determined by this test. These pH testing kits tell you the level of acidity and alkalinity that is present in your soil. Once you know this you can start to learn about the best steps to take for your lawn’s specific level.

All  soil contains a certain amount of acid or alkaline, and if there is not a balance it can be impossible to grow grass in your lawn. For the most part, plants thrive in soil that is slightly acidic, but even too much of acid in the soil can result in failing crops. The testing kit will tell you everything you need to know about the pH level of your soil, and the type of treatments that you’ll need to apply depend on these results.

#2 Know when to mow

You probably see your neighbors mowing their lawn once every week or two. While this may be right for their lawns, it doesn’t mean it is right for your own. Different types of grass have varying ideal heights, and these varieties also grow at different rates. Mowing your lawn is about keeping up with its growth, not the height neighbor’s lawn!

The best time to mow your lawn is when removing 1/3rd of the total blade length will result in your ideal height. This means when you mow your lawn should always be determined based on new growth, not the amount of time that has passed since the last mowing. This may mean that the frequency that you mow your lawn may change several times throughout the year.

#3 Adjust your irrigation schedule

Resist the temptation to set your sprinkler system once and never adjust it again. This is a common mistake, but it could end up ruining an otherwise healthy lawn. When soil gets over watered it becomes soggy, and the roots of the grass are unable to sustain their connection to the earth. Overwater your lawn just a few times and you could do enough damage to have to start from scratch.

So how much should you water your lawn? This depends on the type of grass, soil, and conditions in your lawn. Gather these factors and you’ll find your answer, but that still doesn’t mean you never have to adjust your sprinklers. Each time it rains you’ll want to deduct that amount from your daily watering. If it rains a lot, you don’t need to turn your sprinklers back on until the soil has had time to dry. Depending on your local weather patterns, you may not need to water your lawn at all during some seasons.

TruGreen will gladly visit your property as often as needed between scheduled visits to make any necessary adjustments and to ensure your satisfaction.

Getting Started with TruGreen

  1. Call or fill out the form above to reach a lawn care specialist.
  2. Know the square footage of your yard, as well as any specific areas of concern.
  3. With the help of your specialist, create a customized lawn care plan that meets your lawn’s needs.
  4. Schedule your Healthy Lawn Analysis2 to start your service.