A healthy, verdant lawn requires year-round care. Even before the ground thaws, you can start caring for your lawn so that it stays beautiful all year and into next as well. Here’s how (and when) to do it:
- Don’t neglect lawn in fall and winter. Make sure you fertilize and aerate the soil in the fall. During the winter, keep your lawn free of debris, leaves, branches, etc., as these things can invite pests and disease.
- Mow frequently. Start mowing your lawn in the spring, after the grass reaches about 3-4 inches in height. Frequent mowing forces the lawn to grow thick and helps keep out weeds. Make sure mower blades are kept sharp, and consider using a mulching mower to fertilize as you mow.
- Mow properly. When mowing, be sure that the mower is set for the right height (don’t go too short, as this will expose the grass’s roots to the elements), and don’t mow the lawn when wet or the roots will become compacted.
- Dethatch your lawn in late spring. This “wakes up” your lawn after a long winter, allowing the soil to breathe and permitting nitrogen exchange with the atmosphere. Spring dethatching is especially important for dense lawns. Fertilize after spring dethatching for optimal results.
- Don’t overwater. Watering your lawn too frequently wastes water, results in thatch buildup, and encourages shallow roots. Water your lawn deeply but infrequently.
- Look out for summer problems. Some of these include pests and weeds. Applying natural pest-control and weed-control products during the summer as needed can help address these problems. Brown patches are another summer lawn problem, but they are easier to prevent (with good year-round lawn maintenance) than to cure.
- Rent lawn and garden tools. Lawn and garden tools such as mowers, dethatchers, and aerators are essential for proper lawn care. Renting these tools can make your life a whole lot easier and eliminate the hassle of tool maintenance. It also makes financial sense in many cases – for example, why buy a dethatcher when you only need to use it once a year?
To see the lawn and garden equipment One Stop Rental has available for rental, visit onestoprent.com. We also have new and used equipment for sale.