Proper lawn care is critical when it comes to keeping your grass green and your plants alive and well. As a residential or commercial property owner, maintaining a beautiful and green lawn is probably one of your greatest sources of pride and joy. If you want people to marvel at your garden as they pass by or visit, then you need to make sure you take proper care of it. Of course, not everyone has a natural knack for gardening. If you’re one of those people, then you might be making some major gardening and lawn care mistakes that are unintentionally killing your grass.
Here are four gardening and lawn care mistakes you need to stop doing right now.
Using the Wrong Mowing Techniques
A lot of people might not know this, but there’s actually a wrong way to mow your lawn. One of the biggest no-nos when it comes to lawn mowing is trimming the grass too short. Another one is mowing against the grain.
While it’s true that shorter grass blades makes it easier for your lawn to absorb nutrients and moisture, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Yes, moisture and nutrients are good for your grass, but only in the right doses.
Allowing your lawn to absorb too much water all at once can actually end up drowning it out and that’s why you might start seeing brown patches here and there.
Neglecting to Sharpen Your Lawn Mower Blades
Using blunt blades to cut the grass is doing a huge disservice to the health and aesthetic appeal of your lawn. Continuously using blunt blades on your lawn will not only bruise and damage the individual blades of grass, but it’ll also eventually stunt their growth.
When grass is unable to grow for long periods of time, this creates the ideal breeding ground (literally) for harmful bacteria to grow and spread their seed. Not only can these bacteria spread diseases to your beloved plants, but they can also create the perfect environment for weeds to grow and that’s the last thing you want to have to deal with this spring and summer.
Replacing or sharpening your blades on a regular basis will help keep them in pristine condition.
Over or Under Fertilizing Your Lawn
Just like over-trimming your lawn, using too much or too little fertilizer can actually have a detrimental effect on your grass. Additionally, using the wrong type of fertilizer for your grass species can also have a negative effect.
If you’re unsure of the type of fertilizer you need and the appropriate amount to use, then you should consult a landscaping expert in your area or talk to someone at your local garden center for advice.
Ignoring Harmful Insect Species
Certain types of local insects such as spiders, ground beetles, and praying mantises are good for your lawn and garden because they help keep other more harmful bugs at bay while also helping to cultivate your plants.
However, you should be extremely weary of pests like cabbage looper caterpillars, flea beetles, and slugs because these bugs tend to feed off of your plants and the nutrients they need to survive.
If you think you might have a pest problem in your outdoor space, then it’s time to call on the landscaping experts at FOREVER GREEN LAWN & LANDSCAPE INC. for help.
We’ve been beautifying and maintaining residential and commercial properties in Toronto and the GTA for more than 20 years. Book a free consultation today to see how we can help you take care of your lawn!
