Plenty of people dread lawn care. But these days, it’s become quite a pleasant project for tenants as it can give them more time to spend outside. Plus, it’s fantastic for gardening enthusiasts and terrific practice for when you’re planning to buy a house with a lawn. Either way, it’s an excellent way for you to find out if a yard is a good fit for your lifestyle.
You might be feeling like you’re at a loss, especially if it’s your first time dealing with lawn maintenance. Perhaps you grew up in an apartment or have never been responsible for the lawn your whole life. So, some apprehension can be expected, but the great thing is that everything can be learned. Besides, there are easy ways to get it done.
Take a deep breath and check the basics, as well as a few other helpful tips, below.
Just get it serviced
As a tenant, there are all kinds of responsibilities that are you’ll have to take. Duties will depend on what agreement you have with your landlord. Checking the lease is the best way to clarify which responsibilities are yours or your landlord’s. If you’re here, then you’re probably in charge of lawn care.
The first tip to keep in mind is to just get it serviced. Let’s face it. Lawn care isn’t for everyone. It takes a lot of time, knowledge, and tools. And these days, most people are too busy.
And there’s a demand for yard maintenance because many people with lawns can’t deal with the upkeep all the time. Leaving it to lawn professionals like Yard Smart is the quickest way to deal with maintenance like watering, fertilizing, weeding, and dealing with pests.
If you get food and groceries delivered to you, then getting your lawn done for you shouldn’t be strange.
Getting the right tools
While you can do some tasks without any tools, most of them will require tools. Besides, it can make some undertakings easier and quicker.
Here are the things you’ll need:
- Lawnmower
- Edger
- String trimmers
- Lawn spreader
- Blower/vacuum
- Lawn aerator
- De-thatcher
- Sprayer
- Rake
- Rain gauge
- Spade
- Hand weeding tools
- Hose and sprinkler heads
Weeding
Dealing with weeds is essential as it can affect lawn growth and health. These weeds can block air and nutrients, making them a severe problem if things get out of control.
If there are only a few weeds here and there, you can easily pull them out with your hands or with a tool. Remember to get the roots out! But if there are too many weeds throughout the lawn, you can use a low toxicity herbicide chemical.
Removing moss
Moss can be troublesome as they can multiply quickly. Just like weeds, moss can inhibit healthy grass growth. Moss thrives in shaded or moist areas, places with poor drainage, soil with clay in it, thatch, drought, and low-quality turf.
The primary way to deal with this problem is to get to the root of the problem. Scarifying and feeding can be done to maintain remaining moss growth. Scarifying is when you remove lawn thatch using tools or machines. Afterward, you can start feeding your lawn with the right fertilizer.
Dealing with thatch
Unwanted organic matter buildup on your lawn is called thatch. This can get in the way of nutrients and moisture entering the soil. Scarification with a rake can get rid of thatch, or you can use a lawn scarifier.
Aeration
This process can help your lawn get more water and air. You can do this by puncturing the soil with tiny holes. You can use some tools: garden forks, manual aerators, machine aerators, or even aerating shoes.
Lawn drainage
If your lawn can’t absorb water properly, then this can ruin it entirely. One problem causing this could be thatch buildup, root layers, soil compaction, or too much clay in the soil. Aeration should do the trick. But adding plant species that are appropriate for your soil type can help war absorption, also.
Another reason for poor lawn drainage is the garden topography. Getting a professional to fit drainage and gutters can help you deal with waterlogs entirely. Of course, if you’re renting, this type of project should be up to your landlord.
Over-seeding
Thankfully, you’ll only need to do this once a year. After you’ve done scarification and aeration, you’ll need to distribute fertilizer with seeds across the lawn. This method is called over-seeding, and it’s crucial to avoid weed growth, promote growth in thin and damaged areas, and enhance color.
Try to get it evenly on your lawn. A spreader can help you do this. Add top dressing and keep your yard moist. Make sure to use the top dressing to level the lawn, improve drought resistance, and boost drainage.
Mowing
Mowing the lawn depends on how fast the grass grows. You’ll need to mow the lawn more often during the summer. It’s best to cut the grass when it’s dry. If done while wet, it can cause damage to your lawn.
Remember to cut away a third of the grass’s height. And if you’re using a roller, go in alternate directions.
Edging
After mowing, use an edger to trim the grass in places that the mower can’t reach. These could be corners, as well as borders.
Feeding
Feeding has already been mentioned before. But all in all, you’ll need to feed the lawn twice annually. If it’s fall, use fertilizers rich in phosphate and potash. For spring, lawn feed high in nitrogen will do the trick.
Watering
Watering all depends on the climate, soil type, and even your location. This can keep your lawn lively and rich in color. But whenever you decide to do some watering, it’s best to do it in the morning.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, mowing a lawn isn’t all that complicated. The most tedious steps are only done once or twice a year, and the rest is just maintenance—weeding, scarifying, as well as mowing, which is quite simple and easy. Do what you can, and when in doubt, calling a professional is perfectly acceptable.
