If this is your first time caring for your own lawn, there are many things you should take note of! There are many common lawn care mistakes that first time lawn owners make and you can learn from them. If you are afraid of damaging your lawn, you should first engage in a lawn care service provider that is professional and has a good portfolio! Do ensure you do your research before engaging in their services. However, not everyone is able to afford lawn care services so many choose to tend to their own lawns by themselves. If you are one of them, there are some tips that could be helpful for you! Here are some common lawn care mistakes that we all can learn from!
Not Testing the Soil
Many homeowners usually do not think too much about the soil. It is usually the least of their concerns because it’s underneath the surface. However, it is important to note that homeowners should not plant grass as and when they like. For grass to thrive and survive, it has to be in soil that has a pH value of 6 or 6.5. To be able to identify the pH level of the soil, you can send a soil sample to a local county extension office to test. The test is usually free! It is usually recommended for you to test the pH level of your soil every three to five years.
Wrong Seeds for Your Lawn
Usually when we purchase grass seeds, they actually contain weeds. You can see the back of the packaging of the grass seeds. It usually will show that there is a percentage of weed seeds and even other crops. Instead, you should choose to purchase premium and higher quality grass seeds. In these premium seeds, there are no weed seeds nor do they contain seeds from other crops. As such, many first time lawn owners get worried when they start seeing weeds growing quickly.
Planting One Type of Seed
Many times, homeowners would usually pick a single type of grass seed and grow it throughout the whole lawn. However, it is important to plant a larger variety of grass seeds. Different types of grass seeds have different strengths and weaknesses. Planting them all together will help the pros and cons of each seed offer each other. Additionally, when there are different types of grass, it is likely that the lawn will survive harsher and tougher conditions than a single-seed lawn.
Scalping the Lawn
It is important to note that you should not mow your grass to a length that is too short. Doing so will actually limit the grass’ ability to absorb sunlight which is crucial to perform photosynthesis and produce food. This can weaken the roots of the grass. As such, it is recommended to set the mower height about 2.5 inches. Do not cut off more than more than a third of the grass at once.