Pillars of Lawn Care
Lawn care as a whole can be broken down into 4 essential components. Here is a look at the basic principles of each quartet in order to ensure a happy and healthy lawn for all.Fertilizing Most grass types should be fertilized four times a year. The first treatment should take place in early spring, close to a month before grass begins re-growth. The final three treatments should be administered in 60 day intervals, the last of which coming late in the fall season. Remember to stick to the recommended dosage as over-fertilizing can be just as harmful as not fertilizing at allWatering A lawn will require on average during the summer one of inch of water per week. It is recommended to water in one lump sum on a weekly basis than every other day in diluted amounts.Mowing Remember to keep your grass clean cut, but not too short. While you do not want your lawn to look overgrown, cutting it too short is less healthy for your lawn. The perfect mow removes the top third of each blade of grass, leaving approximately 2 inches remaining from soil to tip.Thatching Perhaps the most tedious of the pillars of lawn care, thatching is also the most ignored. Thatching helps to remove the layer of living and dead roots that develops between grass and the soil surface over time, allowing for better drainage and prolonging strong growth. Usually a task performed annually, traditionally done by manually raking the lawn with a hand rake. Using a power rake may be easier on the arms but runs the risk of damaging the soil. Aeration machines are a suitable alternative and can be used to remove thatch plugs, a process much less involved than the hand rake and equally effective.