Lawn Care Tip – Don’t Neglect The Basics Because Summer’s Almost Done

Summer may be almost over, but that doesn’t mean you start to neglect the basics when it comes to your lawn care routines. In fact, this is the one time of the year when you should be very particular about how you treat your lawn. Slip up now and you may have to wait for spring before you restore your lawn, and that opens the door to weeds and other pests.

Looking after a lawn at any time of the year is fairly straightforward if you remember six basic principles – mow high, mow dry, mow often, water occasionally, fertilize properly, and repair immediately. If you get those principles right, you will have a thick and healthy lawn that rarely has weed, insect or disease problems. When those problems do surface, point six (repair immediately) is a quick and easy task. Those six principles can be broken into three key areas:

Mowing - your lawn may be slowing its growth down, however, you do still need to mow, and it’s still important to mow properly. Mowing high will prevent any weeds from attacking, mowing dry will ensure you don’t damage your grasses, while mowing frequently means you are only taking the top off. Many gardeners go from mowing weekly to mowing every two or three weeks, and then find the going tough because the lawn is longer. Stick to a weekly routine for as long as possible.

Food and Water – your lawn may still need watering, although as the weather cools you can cut back on how much water you are giving your lawn. Most grasses prefer occasional deep irrigation and will survive a week or two with no water at all. Likewise, a slow release fertilizer on a regular basis is the best approach.

Repair – if you repair any problems immediately, they will not have a chance of escalating into bigger problems. If you repair using a lawn repair tool, the existing grass will help to protect the damaged area while it is regenerating – that’s the smart way to repair your lawn.

Follow those basics throughout the year and your lawn will stay in great shape. Of course, for those who have lawns that either hibernate, or are snow covered in winter, you can sit back and relax for a while. Winter isn’t here yet – so don’t neglect those basics.