Lawns are the constituent parts of our backyard and if trimmed in a proper, neat way can radiate the effect of the refined and elegant household. Lawns and yard care are about being active and devoted to completing horticultural tasks. We put a lot of effort into keeping and maintaining our home fresh and contemporary. Here are some tips and hacks on how to keep your lawn beautiful during the whole year.
Prune
It is important to prune your lawn in winter and early spring. This way you eliminate all of the old branches and grass that will prevent new ones to grow. Cut out all the disfigured and lower branches. Disfigured ones will considerably change the appearance of your bushes and trees. Lower branches have no specific purpose but can additionally change the visuals of your lawn and affect the growth of the bush or tree themselves. Lower branches draw out the energy.
Prune summer-flower shrubs: Do this in the winter or early spring, but before growth starts. It is very important to take down all the old branches because new flower buds start growing on the new branch.
Prune spring-flower shrubs: Do this after spring flowers fade. They will bloom on the basis of the previous season. So it is crucial to do the bush grooming right after the blooming season.
It is very important to use proper machines for the bushes shaping. There are various soft machines adaptable to the bushes. Trimmers such as cordless hedge trimmers have different blades for different types of bushes. It is just a matter of preference which one you will use.
Clean Leaves Regularly
Goa easy and clean all the leaves from the lawn. Even though you had already cleaned some of them during the fall, there are the leaves that remained on the ground and practically stayed glued to the lawn. This may cause bad grass growth and yellow spots on your lawn. You can use these leaves as the natural compost for your trees and a very good source of energy. So do not make them waste. However, piles of leaves and multiple layers of leaves can cause mold and disease.
Treat Aggressive Weeds Early
Treat the aggressive weed on time. The best period you should have them treated is in March or April. If you do not treat them in this period, their roots will get stronger and it would be almost impossible to pull them out without destroying the soil of your lawn. One of the ways to have them treated is by using herbicide. Early spring is a good choice if you want to eliminate them before the new grass starts growing. Also, you can let some of the lawn to the wildflowers. Wildflowers are the natural way of fighting aggressive weeds.
Note on dandelions: Dandelions are considered to be an aggressive weed. They can be easily plucked out in the early spring while their roots are still fresh and weak. Most people choose not to treat them and enjoy their yellow, sunny flowers. However, if you want to prevent them from spreading, you should cut their heads before they produce seeds. This way, they will not be able to spread uncontrollably.
New Grass Seeding
After the winter period can reveal some of the damages you were not fully aware of. Your lawn can reveal some of the bare patches due to numerous factors. Some of the reasons for having bare spots can be from pets, traffic, snow cleaning, etc. These spots have to be seeded again. Make sure you are using the same seed as for the rest of your lawn. Different seeds have different natures, so you want to avoid different grass species on your lawn. NB: If you are using herbicide to prevent aggressive weed growth, this will also stop your new grass from growing. So, the best period for your grass to be seeded is in the fall. The seed will have enough time to germinate and develop new grass. Before you put seeds in the ground, make sure to soften the soil so that it would be easier for new roots to break through the ground.
Early Fertilizing is Not Good
Early fertilizing is not an efficient thing to do. The best period for fertilization is autumn. This gives the soil enough time to take all of the beneficial matters and gives enough time to the lawn grass to soak up all the benefits. However, most people will apply spring fertilization as well. The best time for the spring application is May. This is the time when the grass starts to adopt green color and additional fertilization will just spice things up with some green lush. Fertilize before summer, and before the grass is fully grown. A good portion of fertilizer, up to 1 pound, will give your grass enough supplies for a nice growth all over the year.
Mow Grass
Mow your grass, but not too soon. Mow your grass when it is 2 or 3 inches tall. The lawn needs some time to recover after winter. However, if the grass grows way too long it will shade the new sprouts and prevent them from growing. If you are using a traditional mower, spring is the time for its preparation. This is the period when you should have your blades changed or sharpened. Be careful, if your blades are not sharp enough, grass would be unevenly cut and it can make some major damages such as making bald spots.
Loosen the Soil
During the winter soil can be very compacted, especially when people are walking across the lawn. If you want your grass to grow nicely and evenly, the best way is to loosen the soil a bit on the places where the grounds are too compacted and have new grass seeded.
Making your lawn look nice and neat is quite a task and demands complete devotion. You have to understand and be familiar with all the little secrets of horticulture in order to keep your lawn elegant and refined. It is your place for relaxation. Inner order reflects outer order.
