If there’s one time of year when the health of your lawn really matters, it’s summer. A gorgeous lawn provides an inviting place to hang out and soak up the nice weather. Is your lawn ready? These tips from Advantage Termite & Pest Control are sure to help:
- Test Soil pH – Have the pH of your soil tested. Ideally, it should fall between 6.0 and 7.5. When pH is off, microorganisms and nutrients are negatively impacted. To raise pH, add lime; to lower it, add iron.
- Leave it Long – If you cut your grass as short as possible in the hopes of cutting it less frequently, stop. The grass still grows back just as quickly, and when it’s cut short like that, it puts far too much stress on the grass. Aim to cut about the top one-third of growth each time.
- Do a Weekly Deep Watering – Rather than frequently water your lawn for brief periods, fully soak it one time per week. This will inhibit the development of thatch and help the grass thrive.
- Fertilize Twice a Year – At the very minimum, have your lawn fertilized twice per year. Use a fertilizer that is loaded with a complete array of micronutrients. In particular, look for copper, sulfur, and iron.
- Spot-Treat Weeds with Herbicide – If you see weeds sprout up, use a spray herbicide to spot treat them away. Keeping your grass longer will inhibit the growth of weeds too because the tall blades help to block the sun from weeds that begin deep in the soil.
- Aerate Your Lawn – If your lawn hasn’t been aerated in a while, odds are that the soil is far too compact and could be inhibiting the growth of strong, healthy grass. You can easily aerate your lawn yourself with a manual tool, or you can hire a lawn service to do it.
- Let Clippings Fall – Don’t bag your clippings. Since you’ll only be cutting the top one-third of growth, you can safely allow them to fall to the ground. There, they will break down and provide additional nourishment for existing and new grass.
- Sharpen Your Lawnmower Blades – When the blades on a lawnmower get dull, they tend to tear the grass, leaving it ragged and less able to retain moisture. Check the blades. If they are dull, bring them to a shop to have them sharpened.
Finally, if pests like ants, mosquitoes or wasps are keeping you from enjoying your home and lawn, call the experts at Advantage Termite & Pest Control. We proudly serve residents of Lawrence, Topeka and Kansas City, so contact us today to get started.
