A lot of homeowners these days desire to have their own beautiful outdoor space at home. It can be a patio, a yard, a garden or a lawn. However, most homeowners opt for a lawn since it provides a lot of functionalities and purpose. One of which is it adds the property market value, should the homeowner decides to sell the house. Another smart purpose for having a lawn is it can serve as a nice venue for outdoor events and parties. And because of this, lawn care experts share some basic yet effective lawn care tips every homeowner should know.
When it comes to dealing with weeds, you will have an easier time if you stop these before they establish themselves. Use a pre-emergent herbicide specifically formulated to control weeds and similar types of weeds before these take control of your lawn. Ideally, this herbicide should be applied early in spring. For broadleaf weeds like dandelions, it is better for you to allow these to sprout first. If there are a few of these unwanted guests on your lawn, you can simply pull these out manually. On the other hand, if you are dealing with plenty of these weeds, you can use granular weed control products. These should be effective remedies for rapid weed growth.
Learn how to mow grass properly. Avoid cutting the grass too short. You will not save much time and effort. Worse, you can damage your lawn. And when your lawn becomes damaged, it becomes easier for it to succumb to pests and diseases. As a rule of thumb, you should not cut more than a third off the grass blades each mowing session. Also, make sure that your lawn mower's blades are sharp. Dull blades can damage the grass and make the grass look grayish brown.
Remember to water the grass at the right time with the right amount of water. You do not have to water your lawn every day. Instead, water deeply but infrequently. Watering deeply facilitates deep rooting which, in turn, makes the grass resistant to heat and drought. Your lawn needs about an inch of water per week. If you notice that the grass has started to look brown, it means that it needs to be tailed. Water early in the morning to minimizeize evaporation which leads to water loss. Plus, watering in the morning allows the grass to dry, preventing the onslaught of diseases.
When it comes to using fertilizers, you must learn to choose which types are the best for the type of grass you have. Using the wrong fertilizers will not help you achieve your desired goal. Worse, you can end up wasting money and damaging the lawn. Subject the soil on your lawn to a soil test first. This will give you a fair idea of the nutrients the soil lacks. This is a smart way to ensure proper lawn care especially for the first-timers.
Source by Jean H Morrison