The growing season is upon us, so here is an important reminder for anyone that is aspiring to have the "perfect lawn" this year...
Believe it or not, there is a magic formula that can give you the perfect lawn.
There are three fundamental things that you have to get right to have the lawn perfect lawn. They are equally important, and if you get one of these things wrong, you might as well get ALL THREE wrong. Get one of these wrong, and you are guaranteed to be disappointed in your lawn this year.
First, why is it important to know this? Primarily because if you look to the internet for the answer to “how to to have the lawn of my dreams”, you will very quickly be bogged down with a 100 different answers telling you 100 different things. Soil samples, pH levels, do this and that, topdressing this time of year, aeration that time of year…all those things have their place and are sometimes necessary. But all of that means nothing if you don’t get these three things right.
- A good, consistent fertilization and weed control program. Most people focus on this alone and tend to get it right. This is fundamental to the health of any lawn, and most people know that. Your lawn needs fed, its simple. And it needs to be fed consistently. Pre emergents are also absolutely necessary to keep weeds out.
- Proper watering techniques. Your lawn is alive, it has to have watered! Figuring out exactly how much water your lawn needs, and how much your irrigation system is giving it, can be a little tricky. The bottom line is, your lawn needs 1-2” of water per week, and that needs to be split up so your lawn gets at least .5 inches per watering. Fewer waterings per week, for longer periods of time are far better than watering every day for just a few minutes.
- Last but not least, proper mowing techniques. This is probably the one that people have the most trouble with. Lets face it, mowing is not always fun. But keeping your lawn mowed on a weekly basis, at the right height, with sharp blades, is absolutely crucial for a healthy lawn. A properly mowed lawn will have fewer weeds. Feedings for a properly mowed lawn will be more effective. A properly mowed lawn will have a stronger root system, and be much less susceptible to insect and disease damage.
Thats it! Simple enough right? Again, let me reiterate…if you get one of these things wrong, you will not have the perfect lawn that you have always wanted. Fertilization and weed control is not the cure all for lawn problems, and neither is the fanciest of irrigation systems or the finest mowing job ever performed. It is a combination of these three things that will you the results that you want.
If you would like more information on any of these three things, check out our facebook page. There a number of videos that cover theses topic in more detail.
