Mowing seems a simple task, but every time you cut your grass, you will be paving the way for your lawn’s success or failure. Your lawn deserves a lot of care and attention. If you don’t take care of your lawn, it won’t take long before it gets bald and infected with weeds. The unfortunate bit is that it has to put up with wear and tear as pets, kids, and weather takes their toll. However, it would be advisable to put enough time and effort into upkeeping your lawn. Thus, maintaining your lawn needn’t be time-consuming. The better part is that you needn’t slave to keep your lawn healthy. It is not the amount of work you do, but when and how you do it. Here are the best tips for a healthy lawn that will keep it green and vibrant.
Tip 1: Choose the Cutting Height Which Matches the Time of the Year
During the cool climate, you should cut the grass at the height of 1 ½ cutting height. That should be done during the first cutting of the year to eliminate the dead grass and allow sunlight to reach the grass crowns. You should raise the blade by two inches and lower it to 1 ½ inch for the year’s lasting cutting in the year. For any cutting happening in the warm climate, the heights will be about ½ inches. When adjusting the blade, you should change the height. You should measure the height from the hard surface to the bottom of the mower deck and add ¼ inches. Most blades usually sit ¼ inch above the bottom of the deck.
Tip 2: Use a Sharp Mowing Blade
A sharp and balanced blade is essential for maintaining a clean and evenly cut lawn. A dull blade will tear grass, and it won’t give a uniform cut; the damaged grass will turn yellow, and it will cost you more since you have to provide nutrients and water for it to recover. It will also be more susceptible to diseases. If the blade is unbalanced, it can also damage your lawn mower bearings. Hence sharpening the blade about three times every year is vital to ensure a right cutting edge.
Tip 3: Do Excellent Soakings Instead Of Doing Many Light Sprinklings
Light sprinklings will only moisten the grass and surface soil, but deep watering will avail adequate water that helps the grass to develop deep roots. Encouraging more shallow roots will require you to water them frequently. 1 or 2 inch of water for your lawn is enough for the lawn every week. You can do it in 3 to 4 days. However, it can vary depending on the type of grass, soil conditions and temperature. Lawns on sandy soil require more frequent watering since it drains faster. Lawns in the slow draining soil require less water. If you notice your lawn is losing resiliency and some of it is wilting with some leaves turning dull green, you should water it. It is appropriate to water your garden early in the morning. Ensure the water pressure is high so that only a small amount of water is lost through evaporation. You should avoid watering your lawn at night since that makes it susceptible to diseases that are caused by high moisture content. Well watered lawns nurse the roots hence they develop properly, which in turn translate to a healthy lawn.
Bottom line
Whether you like it or hate it, mowing is one of the main jobs you will have to do in the garden in spring and summer. Riding lawn mowers make it easier to mow. Mowing is vital to maintain a healthy lawn since it encourages the grass to grow thickly, creating a pleasant look. It also eliminates the weeds and keeps them healthy to withstand wear and tear. Even though cutting the lawn can be time-consuming, it is worth ensuring it is appropriately done to attain the best results. Choosing the appropriate cutting height, using a sharp blade for cutting and watering your garden early in the morning are some of the essential tips you should consider.