1. Start with a Healthy, Green Lawn
Welcome! This is the first of 11 Tricks to Make Sure Your Grass Is Always Greener, a free eBook. We’ll be posting a new trick on this blog every other week.
Before diving into the nitty gritty details of how you can make sure you have the greenest lawn in the neighborhood, here are a few of the basic “best lawn care practices” you should be aware of. This will ensure you are primed for greener grass (and envious neighbors!)
Selecting the Right Grass
If you’re just starting out, you’ll want to select a grass that’s optimized for your climate and conditions. The most common South Florida grass is St. Augustine grass. Bahia grass is also a possible lawn option, but it will not thrive in a shaded area. In fact, all shaded areas in your lawn require your special attention. They tend to be areas of thin and patchy grass, which leaves them open to weed invasion.
Be Careful with Chemicals
In some cases, the only way to improve a lawn that’s turning brown will be to use herbicides or fungicides. Unfortunately, some homeowners are too quick to rely on chemicals. If your weeds are manageable, it might be best to pull them out by hand. This simple technique is often the most effective because it removes the entire root system. Hand-pulling also reduces the spread of seeds and disease from lawn mowing equipment.
Keep Soil Light and Loose to Avoid Damage
If your grass is under heavy traffic, it’s going to suffer. The blades of grass won’t get enough oxygen, and compacted soil won’t allow water to drain away. Avoid parking cars on grass or having a constant stream of foot traffic. These areas would be better served by paving a sidewalk or driveway.
Go the Extra Mile
Are your landscaping beds a potential source of weeds for your lawn? Mulch can be your best friend. It will block the light from reaching beneath your landscaping. Without light, the weeds won’t germinate and spread to the grass. You can add a synthetic mat with herbicide underneath landscaping beds to further prevent the spread of weeds.
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
After an infestation of pests or an invasion of weeds, it can be difficult to get your grass back into shape. A heavily damaged lawn will take longer to recover. How can you prevent problems? If you can, have your irrigation, fertilizers, pesticide products, and schedule checked by an expert. By avoiding early mistakes, you can save yourself time and money.
Don’t know where to start? We at Adam’s Pest can help! Contact us today.
