Most people tend to think that lawncare only happens in the fall just before the winter sets in and the ground is blanketed with a sea of white snow. This is not actually the case and lawn care should happen year-round. Without proper lawn care, your entire front and backyard could go to seed, weeds, and just be overgrown by nature. These additions to your lawn that you didn’t put there will take up valuable nutrients for your actual grass, leaving dry and patchy holes of dirt where grass used to be. And let’s face it; re-sodding your entire lawn is expensive and if there is one thing we don’t need – its more expenses.
People’s backyards are generally a place of relaxation and an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They can be where memories with their families are made, through backyard camping trips to bonfires to socializing. They can be the place where a person goes to escape and a place where a person just allows the stress, tension and anxiety of the day to leave them; so, you definitely want to make sure your lawn is protected for the year.
Summer
Summer is the best season for preparing your lawn for the fall growing and harvest season. It is during this time that your lawn will grow a little more lush and quicker due to its natural ability to “buff” up for the colder temperatures ahead.
During this season, always mow your grass until it reaches approximately three and a half inches of height. Do not under water your lawn during the hot summer months but you want to make sure that you aren’t watering it every single day as this promotes shallow root growth.
If you get rainfall during the summer, your lawn should be sufficiently watered unless its only a sprinkle here and there. A rain gauge on hand can help you keep track of how much water your lawn is receiving (in millilitres) during the summer.
Fall
Its during the fall that lawn care maintenance needs to be stepped up and increased in preparation for the upcoming winter. This is the season where you would mow and trim your lawn to prevent the grass from falling over the weight of the snow. The longer the grass, the more the weight of the snow can damage the stems which prevents it from growing back year after year.
You need to turn the soil of your lawn, place lawn seed and fertilizer over the entire thing; and for good measure? Finish up with a coat of compost that will act as a barrier for your grass, gardens, and shrubs versus the stark cold winter temperatures and high wind speeds. You can make your own compost or purchase it from your local gardening centre. It is cheaper and easier to make your own using items found in your household garbage and recycling. Find the best composters here.
Winter
One bright spot about the winter months is that lawncare comes to a halt. When your lawn is covered with snow, ice and sleet? There is nothing you can do about it, short of shoveling it down to the grass. Even if you tried this, the cold temperatures and winds would damage your lawn; so, enjoy the breather.
Spring
The winter is finally over and you can see your lawn again after months of nothing but white snow wherever you looked. the only problem is that your lawn is brown, dry, and droopy after all winter. That is where spring lawn care maintenance comes into play.
You’ll want to test your soil and ensure that there are no containments after the swirling winds of winter. Once you are sure that your lawn is ready to go for the spring, it is time to set things in motion. Wait until your lawn is dried out and all water runoff from the melting snow is gone; then give it a mow with the lawn mower and use a weed wacker to trim up around your home, patios, etc.
Once the lawn is mowed and trimmed, give it a little bit of TLC by sprinkling lawn seed mixed with a fertilizer over the surface. Pay special attention to spots that you can see soil through and use a natural weed-killing solution to prevent weeds from setting down roots.
Conclusion
It doesn’t take much for lawn care or lawn maintenance but instead with a bit of allotted time and a bit of willpower combined with physical effort; you can have the lawn of your dreams without having to pay someone. All it would take would be a weekend each season for the bulk of the lawn care maintenance and then a scattered day where you trim your grass, remove dead lawn clippings and compost areas that could use a little boost!
If in doubt about the state of your lawn, simply contact your local nursery and inquire about the best approach to your lawn’s problems. They might even be able to provide you with a fertilizer or lawn seed to jump start the restoration process so that you will not be stuck paying for costly landscaping.
