Basic Lawn Care for the Lazy Homeowner

Lawn Care Tips

Taking care of a lawn is a necessary chore if you own a home, and sometimes if you rent a
home as well. Some people enjoy spending the weekends cutting, fertilizing, weeding, etc. So what do you do if you aren’t the type of person who enjoys weekend yard work but still wants to have a healthy, green lawn?

The good news is there are a few basic steps you can take that will keep your lawn healthy and won’t take up every spare weekend.

Sharpen your blades

If you cut your own grass with a riding lawnmower or a walk behind mower it’s very important that you get your blades sharpened before your first cut of the season. Everyone knows that the sharper something is, the easier it will be to cut, and it’s no different for grass and mower blades. What people may not know is that cutting with dull mower blades can actually harm your grass. When mower blades get dull they start pulling the grass instead of cutting it. This is a problem because it starts to create empty spaces in your lawn and can provide an opening for weeds to grow and spread.

If you don’t know how or where to sharpen your mower blades, check out any local or big box home improvement centers, most will sharpen blades for you for a small fee.

 

Don’t cut so often

Yep, you read that correctly. Cutting your grass too much, or too short can be harmful to your lawn. Longer grass helps to promote good root growth, which is especially important during times of drought. Also, if you live in an area that gets lots of sun or very high heat, the longer grass can help prevent your grass from “burning” and getting brown or brittle.

Water

Don’t just go out anytime though or set up some sprinklers on a timer when you’re at
work during the day. The time of day that you water matters and can make a huge difference in the health of your lawn. The absolute best times to water are in the evening or early in the morning.

During the height of summer, when the days are longer and hotter, more of the water will evaporate, preventing it from being absorbed into the roots. Also, the extra heat and direct sunlight during the days can be magnified by the water droplets and increase the overall ground temperature of your lawn. Watering in the early evening, as the sun starts to set for the day, is the best time because it provides the maximum amount of absorption and nourishment.

Clean up dog waste

Ok, I know, cleaning up dog waste shouldn’t be a part of a “lazy” guide to anything because it takes time and it’s not the most pleasant activity. However, leaving dog waste in your yard, especially after the winter snow and ice melts, is one of the biggest reasons why many yards have those brown patches in an otherwise green backyard. As the temperature gets warmer and the dog waste starts to thaw, it actually traps moisture and can begin to mold, which will effectively kill any grass that’s under the waste.

Fertilize

This really is an important step in giving your grass the nutrient boost that it needs after the long Minnesota winters. Pay attention to the different types of fertilizers on the market, especially if you have pets or young kids. Ask an employee at your local hardware store or ask your neighbors which.

Call us!

Really, call us. Instead of spending your weekends in the yard, you’ll have them free for short trips and family time. Have a cookout and invite your friends over so they can see how green your backyard is and smile as they ask you how you keep your yard looking so nice.

We can tailor packages to fit your individual needs and come as often or as little as you like. Plans aren’t as expensive as you think and you get the added benefit of not having to buy and store any equipment or chemicals in your garage or shed.