A beautiful, well-manicured lawn sets off a landscape as nothing else can! After all, it is the first thing guests, neighbors, and passersby see! There are many secrets to the success of a lawn. For a lush, green, weed and pest free lawn, follow the below tips and see your neighbors grow green with envy!

Mowing:

First and foremost, a stunning lawn is always mowed high and often. An average rule of thumb is to mow a lawn at 3.5 to 4 inches. A lawn that is maintained at this level will produce a deeper root system and denser turf. This prevents drought damage when the heat of the season is at its peak and reduces the opportunity for weeds or pests to thrive in the lawn.

Mow often – cutting no more than one-third of the blades during each mow. Removing more than one-third of the blades in a single mow will stunt the re-growth process and often contribute to “browning” in the lawn.

Flexibility with a mowing schedule is often needed. During peak growth seasons, when rainfall is plentiful and temperatures are mild to moderate, lawns will grow at a faster rate and often need mowed every 3 to 4 days, in order to remove only the top one-third. Once the summer season sets in, rainfall is less and heat is at its peak, mowing only once every seven to ten days will work.

When possible, do not collect the lawn clippings with bagging attachments. The clippings, when returned to the lawn, offer additional nutrients and minerals, vital to the success of a lawn.

Sharp blades provide a clean, neat lawn where dull blades will result in “split ends” and a “ratty” appearance in even the lushest of lawns. Mowers blades should be sharpened at least once a year, more often depending on the size of the lawn and the frequency of mowing.

Fertilization:

Fertilization is necessary to get the best performance out of a lawn. Most lawns need fertilized four to five times a year. The final fertilizer treatment should be applied with the final mowing of the season. This will provide an extra nutrient boost which is stored through the winter and provides faster, more desirable results in the spring.

It is important to not fertilize during high heat/low moisture times, as it can cause burning in the lawn.

Applying fertilizer evenly is key in order to avoid over- or under-treating areas. In both cases, the results will become apparent within a few days of the treatment. Over-treating can burn lawn areas and result in brown areas. Under-treating will show duller green areas, once the treated areas absorb and “green up” in contrast.

Lastly, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for application methods and amounts!

The best way to have a pest and weed free lawn is to prevent them from the start! Following these tips and tricks will help immensely. Follow Aspen Landscaping on Facebook  for more solutions for your lawn.  Next week, treatment for Common Lawn Problems and Pest!