10 Common Lawn Care Mistakes to Avoid
May 5, 2023
6 min read
If you’re lucky enough to have a lawn, you know the pride and satisfaction that comes with having a lush green expanse in your backyard. But if you don’t take care of it properly, it can quickly become an eyesore.
Lawn No-Nos: The Top 10 Things to Avoid
While there are plenty of things you should be doing to keep your grass looking its best, there are also some key things you should never do if you want to keep your lawn healthy and vibrant. Read on for a list of what not to do when caring for your turf.
Here are some of the biggest mistakes you should avoid when caring for your lawn:
1. Using Too Much Fertilizer
Maintaining a vibrant and healthy lawn requires careful, precise application of fertilizer. Choosing the correct type of fertilization is vital to prevent damage to your yard. Using too much nitrogen can result in a burnt and barren lawn. Rapid-release varieties are ideal for providing rapid nourishment, while slow-releasing options guarantee continual sustenance over time—both essential components in achieving optimum cultivation.
While fertilizing your lawn can provide many benefits, it is crucial to use it in moderation. It is recommended to apply fertilizer twice a year, in the spring and fall. Adding dolomitic lime to your lawn every few years can help restore the pH levels of the soil and provide the necessary minerals for a healthy lawn.
2. Mowing at Noon
To help your lawn retain its rich, emerald hue during summertime, mow at the right moment of the day. Avoid starting early when dew is still coating the grass blades; let nature take its course and wait until it dries out before revving up!
Late afternoons and early evenings are ideal for mowing. The midday heat can take a toll on both you and your grass. Avoid this stressor by tending to the yard during more damp times of the day. Additionally, try not to water in direct sunlight as much of the moisture from this process will disappear with evaporating temperatures.
3. Scalping Your Lawn
Be sure to keep it at a height that allows for deeper root growth to improve the health of your lawn. Studies have determined that allowing two-thirds or more of the leaf blade to remain has significant benefits—improved absorption and retention of moisture and nutrients lead to thicker grass overall.
Horticulturalists urge keeping your lawn lush and vibrant by limiting shearing to the top third of grass blades. A healthy-looking lawn will not only benefit from the reduced presence of pesky weeds, but its increased shading capacity will also help retain moisture in the soil.
4. Getting Rid of Every Mushroom
Despite their unattractive appearance, mushrooms are more beneficial than one might think. Fungal reproductive parts such as 'shrooms feed on decaying matter like tree stumps and animal waste. Relying on decomposing matter helps mushrooms release essential nutrients into the environment that can help stimulate grass growth.
Mushrooms can create unsightly rings in lawns by overstimulating grass growth and killing plants when the fungi penetrate the soil, preventing moisture from reaching them. If you want to remove mushrooms on your lawn, cutting back on watering may be a solution.
You can also try mowing the tops of the weeds or hitting them with a 9-iron golf club, but this will only temporarily remove them and will not address the root system beneath the ground.
5. Using Chemicals
Rather than relying on synthetic chemicals, experts suggest avoiding herbicides and pesticides when caring for a lawn. These substances can harm our natural environment, blocking water absorption in the soil while impacting beneficial insects and microorganisms that keep grass healthy. Some typically uninvited vegetation, like clover, is advantageous due to its capacity to enrich dirt with nitrogen from the atmosphere.
For effective weed management without compromising the environment, try mowing and cutting off dandelion heads before their seeds spread. Natural weed killers are an alternative for those looking to rid their gardens of weeds more sustainably; these products often stem from corn gluten or other nonchemical sources.
6. Collecting Grass Clippings in a Bag
Mowing the lawn requires two hours on a pleasant day. Stretch that to six with bagging, though mulching is the better option. Clippings provide nutrients and can hide any patchy spots. To start being eco-friendly, try using your grass trimmings as fertilizer instead of dumping them in landfill sites—you'll also save money by avoiding transportation costs!
Instead of carrying a rake this autumn, consider giving mulching a try. Researchers at Michigan State University have found that it can be beneficial for your lawn when done accurately.
In addition to acting as a natural weed barrier in bare areas, the leaves provide extra nutrients to the rest of your grass. If you take advantage of this natural process, you might even get away with using less fertilizer come springtime.
7. Using Salt to Melt Ice
Winter often presents challenging conditions for those in cold climates, such as snow, ice, and freezing rain. Many people use salt to maintain safe pathways through lawns during icy times of the year. However, the melted byproducts from the salted areas can potentially drain into the soil and harm the health of the grass.
As the temperatures rise and winter snow melts, your grass may experience a temporary setback. Brown patches of dead grass can form due to salt accumulation in the soil over winter months. Luckily, with help from spring rain or watering, these lifeless areas should recover within six to eight weeks.
8. Mowing With a Dull Blade
Maintaining a pristine lawn relies on sharp blades that promote water retention and heighten photosynthesis. During this process, the chlorophyll in plants captures light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
Keep a watchful eye on your lawn between mowing tasks. If you notice white, tattered pieces of tissue scattered across the blades after cutting, it's time to give your machine some TLC.
By sharpening and maintaining the blade twice a year, you can ensure that the nutrients in the grass are not compromised during each cut, leading to healthier turf growth overall.
9. Mowing Wet Grass
It is best to wait for the grass to dry before mowing to achieve a clean cut and reduce the risk of slipping. Wet conditions can make blades bend, resulting in an uneven finish.
Additionally, they may cause clippings to cluster instead of spreading out evenly across the lawn. Cutting grass in damp conditions can cause diseases to extend on the newly-cut grass blades, so it's crucial to wait for a less humid climate to avoid this issue.
Despite the risk of making a mess, mowing wet grass is sometimes necessary. Especially in rainy climates where tall growth can develop quickly! Conversely, during droughts and dry spells, it's best to avoid mowing as this stresses out our turf due to minimal moisture levels.
10. Overwatering Your Lawn
To create a lawn that withstands dry conditions and reduces weeds, watering once a week for an hour is advised instead of frequently during the day. This will promote root growth, which helps plants become more self-sufficient and less reliant on constant hydration.
However, going against this advice would lead to shallow-root systems unable to endure long drought spells without heavy reliance on external sources.
To maintain a lush and vibrant lawn, the best times to water are early in the morning or at night when the temperature is cooler, as this will reduce evaporation. Additionally, you should consider what kind of grass you have; some species go dormant under dry conditions and revive naturally with light rainfall.
Keep Your Lawn in Top Shape
Taking care of a lawn takes time, effort, and patience, but avoiding these common mistakes will ensure you have a healthy and lush yard year after year! You can also consult an experienced landscaper or garden center if you need additional advice on taking care of your lawn.
