Common Lawn Care Problems and How to Avoid Them
There are few things more beautiful in the middle of the summer than a lush, green, well manicured lawn. However, keeping a large area of grass in pristine condition can be much easier than it looks. There are any number of lawn care problems that can arise to plague even the most seasoned landscape pro at the height of the growing season. However, educating yourself about the types of problems that you might encounter, and learning about the ways to overcome or even avoid them, will take you far in keeping that grass looking great from spring through the fall.
Soil Preparation
Many lawn care problems will begin before the sod is even laid, and this is due mainly to poor soil preparation that leaves your grass with a poor environment for growth. Before putting in your lawn area, it is a good idea to have your soil tested by your local garden center or extension office to determine what organic matter, if any, you need to add. For clay soils, there are substances that you can incorporate into the soil to adjust the texture to make it more conducive for growing. Another good option is to mix a starter fertilizer into your soil to give your new lawn all of the nutrients it needs to really thrive. Finally, tilling your soil by machine will ensure that the dirt is loose enough for maximum root development and water retention. A well prepared soil will help you to ward off many potential lawn care problems right from the beginning.
Watering
While most of us try to avoid lawn care problems by making sure that our grass gets adequate moisture, over watering can bring its own host of issues. For example, frequent watering when establishing a lawn is a good idea, but if the watering is too frequent, you may never give your roots a chance to establish completely. A good rule of thumb to avoid lawn care problems is to water as infrequently as possible, but to water thoroughly so that the moisture will work its way down to the tips of the roots. Early morning watering is the best choice to avoid a whole host of lawn care problems, since water in the afternoon will evaporate too quickly and nighttime watering can lead to a variety of diseases.
There are many lawn care problems that can develop, but you can go far in preventing many of these issues by caring for your grass properly right from the early stages of your lawn's life. By keeping your grass healthy from day one, it will be better prepared to manage many of the possible lawn care problems that may come. And you will reap the rewards of good lawn care with a rich, beautiful carpet of green to enjoy right in your own backyard.
