Introduction
Lawn care is not just for spring, summer and fall. It’s an ongoing task that requires commitment from homeowners. You can’t just plant a lawn and expect it to look good without effort on your part. If you want your yard to look its best year-round, you’ll need to become familiar with some basic lawn maintenance basics.
Take a walk through your yard.
- Take a walk through your yard.
- Identify problem areas in the yard and mark them on a map or take photos of them if they are hard to see from above.
- Use this data to develop a list of projects that will improve the appearance of your yard and help it function better (e.g., removing overgrown shrubbery, trimming back tree branches, and adding mulch around plants).
Identify your grass type.
To maintain your lawn, knowing the type of grass you have is essential. Without this knowledge, you could be wasting money by doing the wrong things at the wrong time of year.
- Know when to fertilise: In Colorado, we experience a dry spring and summer followed by heavy rains in our fall and winter. Ideally, you want to fertilize in late winter/early spring before rain becomes an issue (and before the grass begins growing). This ensures that nutrients are absorbed into your soil before it dries out again and is washed away. If you wait too long with fertilizer application during these months then it may not work as well because the soil has dried out too much. Apply fertilizer one month after seeding so that new seedlings can start absorbing nutrients right away!
- Know when to aerate: Aerating helps promote healthy roots and keeps weeds from taking over your yard without having to use harmful chemicals like weed killers or pesticides which can be toxic if ingested by pets or children! It also helps reduce compaction in clay soils which results in less runoff during storms which ultimately reduces erosion problems on your property as well as flooding risks downstream from where stormwater drains off into nearby streams/rivers etc.
Aerate your lawn.
Aeration is a maintenance practice that helps to keep your soil healthy, allowing for better water and nutrient absorption by the grassroots. It also allows air, water and nutrients to reach deeper into the ground. The process involves removing plugs from the surface of your lawn and pushing them back into the earth where they decompose naturally over time. You can do this with either a manual or power aerator depending on how much space you have available in your yard and how much physical effort you want to put into it!
There are several ways to aerate:
- Manual or power tools such as tines (like those found on a pitchfork), spoons (similar design but smaller), forks or disks all work well for this purpose but require some physical exertion because they have no motorized assistance; however these tools usually cost less than more automated options so if budget is an issue then consider taking this route instead!
- Bobcats are one type available at most home improvement stores that use their motors instead; though these tend more expensive than other types above since they require electricity usage during operation so make sure beforehand whether or not this option makes sense before purchasing one yourself!
Weed and fed.
Weeding and feeding are great ways to keep your lawn looking its best. It’s quick, easy and convenient. For those who don’t have time to spread slow-release fertilizer, this may be the best option for you.
The only downside is that it doesn’t last as long as slow-release fertilizer does. Weed and feed products are applied in spring or summer and need to be re-applied every season until fall when you can use a product like Scotts WinterGuard Plus II Fertilizer & Weed Preventer (Amazon). This means that you will need to buy more weed killer once every year or two if you want continued results from your initial application of weed killer/fertilizer mix; however, if your yard isn’t too large or if you aren’t too concerned about having lush grass all year long then this shouldn’t be an issue!
Keep up with watering.
Watering is one of the most important things you can do to keep your yard healthy and looking good. The right amount of water at the right time will mean that your plants, trees, and grass are getting the nutrients they need to be healthy. You also want to make sure that there is enough moisture in the ground so that roots don’t dry out or crack open because of heat (e.g., in summer). If you have a sprinkler system, use it regularly throughout the year—but make sure to turn it off when it rains or if temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit or fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Watering too much or too little can cause problems with grass clippings staining sidewalks and driveways; excessive watering may also cause weeds to grow more quickly than desirable species such as flowers which thrive in drier conditions.
Water at the right time of day.
- Water at the right time of day.
- Set up a watering schedule and stick to it! A good rule of thumb is to water your lawn no more than twice per week; if you have an automatic sprinkler system, set your timer so that it waters between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM. This will ensure that the water soaks into the ground before evaporating into thin air during the day.
Use compost in flowerbeds.
You can improve the soil in your flowerbeds by adding compost. Compost is made from organic matter, such as leaves and grass clippings. It’s a great way to add nutrients to your soil and help your plants grow.
Yard maintenance is an important part of owning a yard. Use these tips to keep it looking beautiful!
Plant wisely.
One of the most important things to do when you are planning out your yard is to plant wisely. This means planting the right plants in the right places and doing so in a way that will ensure long-term growth and beauty.
- Planting too many plants in too small an area can lead to overcrowding, which will eventually cause stress for them all.
- Planting many similar types of plants together can cause competition for space or water, leading to unhealthy growth or death.
- Placing plants with similar sun requirements together can also lead to less-than-ideal results: they’ll either shade each other out or be unable to reach their full potential because they’re competing for sunlight.
Don’t cut the grass too short.
- Don’t cut the grass too short. If your lawn is dry, cutting it very short will cause the grass to die at the roots. This is often a sign that you need to water more frequently or apply fertiliser for new growth.
- Don’t cut the grass too long. Overgrown grass can be bad for your lawn’s health because it begins to look scraggly and unattractive when it grows longer than 3 inches high. You can tell if your lawn needs a haircut by looking at how much light reflects off of its surface (the brighter it shines, the more room there is between blades). If you find yourself needing something like this done professionally by an expert to maintain healthy green grass throughout your yard space year round then check out our list of recommended companies here: https://www*Don’t cut them too late into fall/winter periods either! Doing so may cause damage due to freezing temperatures which could kill off some sections entirely.”
Know when to call in a professional.
If you are not sure what to do or are unable to do it:
If you find yourself unsure about the best way to maintain your yard, consider enlisting the help of a professional. A landscaper can offer advice on what needs to be done and how often, as well as provide maintenance services that will make life easier for you (and more attractive for visitors). If your yard is too big for you:
If your lawn is simply too expansive or challenging to care for on your own, consider hiring an expert who knows what they’re doing—and make their job easy by giving them plenty of time and space. If you don’t have the time:
Even if you’re willing and able-bodied enough to maintain your yard, life can get in the way sometimes. It’s very tempting to put off tasks until later because there are so many other things vying for our attention—but if left unattended too long then this can lead down some unsightly paths (weeds growing out of control? We’ve all been there). You don’t need professional help unless it’s necessary; otherwise, just stick with simple maintenance every week or two when possible!
Make a schedule
It’s important to make a schedule for everything. Make sure you don’t forget anything, and that each task gets done on time every time.
- Schedule watering properly so that your plants are never thirsty.
- Mow your lawn at least once a week, more if it’s long (like mine).
- Fertilize when needed during the growing season, which is usually spring and summer—don’t fertilize during fall or winter because it will encourage growth in those seasons and cause problems like weeds you don’t need!
- Prune dead branches from trees throughout the year whenever they appear (I do this once per month), but wait until after flowering has finished before pruning shrubs or ornamental trees such as rhododendrons because they may bloom next year based on what kind of plant they are! This is just one example off the top of my head; there might be other reasons why something needs maintenance work done depending on what you’re trying to achieve with whatever project happens next…
Make sure your yard is irrigated properly
If you want to maintain your yard and make it look great, then you need to make sure that it gets enough water. This is especially important if you live in a desert area or somewhere where there’s not a lot of rain.
To make sure that your yard is irrigated properly:
- Make sure that you have the right sprinkler for your yard space. You can use an overhead sprinkler system or drip irrigation if needed.
- Choose the right type of soil so that when it rains all year long, there’s enough water on hand at all times to keep everything looking fresh and green throughout springtime until winter arrives again (or vice versa).
- If possible, choose a place where rain falls most often (for example: near mountains) because this will ensure continuity throughout the year and prevent damage caused by droughts or other types of weather conditions like hurricanes or tornadoes which could damage some areas but not others!
Maintain your lawn mower
Maintaining your lawn mower is crucial to keeping your yard green and healthy. There are many things to consider when it comes to maintaining your lawn mower, but these are the most important ones:
- Make sure the blade is sharp. A dull blade can lead to uneven cutting, which will cause damage to the turf in your yard.
- Keep the blade clean. If you don’t clean out debris from around or under your blades, they may overheat and cause damage or even fire hazards!
- Check oil levels regularly (at least once per month) so that you can change them as necessary when they get low on oil. Also, make sure that there’s not too much oil in there either—too much will cause friction between moving parts which could result in overheating issues as well!
- Change spark plugs whenever they’re due based on the manufacturer’s recommendations because this helps keep everything running smoothly while also extending the life span of equipment longer than usual thanks to reduced wear-and-tear caused by regular usage across periods without proper maintenance being performed regularly enough during normal operation cycles throughout each day/weekend cycle depending on frequency rate at which homeowners typically tend their yards when not working full-time jobs outside the home during evenings/weekends.”
Know when to replace plants
- When plants are no longer growing. If your plants are not getting any bigger, and there is no new growth or fresh leaves, it’s probably time to replace them.
- When the plant is dead. If you can see that your plant has died or is in poor condition, get rid of it immediately!
- When the plant is damaged by pests or diseases. If you spot insects or other problems with your yard maintenance planters, remove them before they infect the rest of your garden and make sure to replace them with something else!
Praise and encourage yourself along the way!
You should be proud of yourself for the work you have done. You have come so far and you haven’t even had to pay someone else to do it! Your yard is looking beautiful and you deserve to be proud of yourself.
The best way to encourage yourself is by patting yourself on the back every time you finish a task or take care of something in your yard. This can include planting flowers, mowing the grass, trimming trees, cleaning up leaves, or even just picking up dog poop (yes, this needs to be done more often than most people think). If there are things like weeds that need pulling out then make sure they get pulled out too. The more things that get taken care of around your home it will look better overall which will make your entire neighbourhood look better as well!
Watering your lawn
Watering your lawn is a must. Without regular watering, the grass will die, and that’s when you’ll have to start from scratch. The most important thing to remember when watering your lawn is that you should do it in the morning or evening to avoid evaporation during the day. If you water at night, make sure the sprinklers are set on low so they don’t wake up anyone in the neighbourhood who isn’t expecting them!
Pruning
Pruning is the removal of dead, damaged or diseased branches. It’s important for healthy growth and to maintain the shape of your trees and shrubs.
How you prune depends on the type of plant you are pruning:
- Deciduous plants (trees or shrubs with leaves that fall off in winter) should be pruned in late winter/early spring before new growth starts. This includes maple, birch, oak, apple and magnolia tree varieties. Branches should be removed at their base to create a more open structure with good airflow through the tree(s). These trees can also benefit from root pruning if they have been planted too deeply in their original location; this means removing some roots along with branches so that there is only one layer of roots left below ground level when all done cutting back over time as needed.* Pineapple guava trees need annual pruning after harvest each year because top growth can become unbalanced during the fruiting season.* Evergreen shrubs like azaleas require yearly maintenance consisting of both trimming back any dead wood along with thinning out overcrowded areas where several stems grow close together under one branch tip (this keeps them smaller than they would otherwise become).
Mowing your lawn
Mowing your lawn is one of the most basic yard maintenance tasks you can do. You will want to mow your lawn regularly, ideally once per week. The best time to mow your lawn is when it is dry outside, so if you can wait until after a rainstorm or before it rains again, that would be ideal. Mowing wet grass will cause you to use more gasoline and wear down the motor on your lawn mower faster than usual.
The temperature also affects how often you should mow; generally speaking, hotter weather means that less frequent mowing may be needed because grass grows faster and dries out more quickly in warm weather. However, if it’s sunny and windy out there then this might affect how much water the grass needs – since wind dries it out more quickly – which means that you might need to increase how often you cut back high grass growth during summer months!
Weed control
Weed control is an important part of maintaining a beautiful lawn. Weeds not only look unsightly, but they can also be harmful to your lawn. They compete with the grass for nutrients and water, weakening its root system. Additionally, their seeds can spread throughout your yard, making it more difficult to keep weeds at bay in the future.
Fertilizing your lawn
The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the spring and fall. In the spring, your grass needs nutrients to help it grow and thrive. You can use a fertilizer with nitrogen or one that includes phosphorus, potassium and other essential nutrients as well.
The amount of fertilizer will depend on how much maintenance you want to do on your lawn each season. If you have an established lawn with plenty of roots already in place, then use a smaller amount since it will be easier for them to absorb what they need from the ground. On the other hand, if you’re starting from scratch with sod or seedlings then apply more fertilizer because otherwise, those roots won’t have anything left over after absorbing all their nutrients!
It’s important not only when but also how often during the growing season (spring & summer) we should apply this vital nutrient source for our plants’ survival throughout their lives.”
Conclusion
It’s a lot to keep up with, but making sure your yard is healthy and beautiful doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep these tips in mind as you go through the process of maintaining your lawn, and you’ll soon be enjoying all that extra time outside!