What is Lawn Maintenance (And What Do You Need to Know About It)?

Chris

Your lawn contributes greatly to your home’s curb appeal and can even increase the value of your property, enabling a good return on investment when it comes time to sell. This is why it’s highly recommended that homeowners begin to take good care of their lawns and be diligent enough to conduct maintenance and improvement efforts.

However, let’s admit it — not everyone has the luxury of time or resources to conduct lawn maintenance. Others don’t even know where to start. In this article, we lay down everything you need to know about lawn maintenance and what you should do to improve your lawn, boost your curb appeal, and increase your home’s value. 

Table of Contents

What is Lawn Maintenance?

Lawn maintenance involves conducting the necessary efforts to keep your lawn clean and manicured. Some common maintenance efforts include trimming the grass, mowing, filling bald spots, planting greeneries, etc. 

Lawn maintenance is often associated with lawn care. The former focuses more on the appearance of a lawn while the latter is more targeted to its health. Both of these work hand in hand and must each be done to keep a lawn looking in optimal shape and condition. 

Lawn Maintenance Efforts to Conduct

If you don’t know where to start with your lawn maintenance and care efforts, here are the basics that every lawn needs to stay in the pink of health. 

1. Lawn Mowing 

The most basic lawn maintenance effort is mowing. While it sounds easy enough, there are proper and improper ways to mow your lawn to ensure that the grass stays healthy and grows properly. 

Most homeowners make the mistake of cutting their grass too short. While this seems like the best way to keep your lawn looking well-maintained, it can wreak havoc on your lawn and make it a more attractive target for weeds, pests, and diseases. 

You want to mow your lawn high and frequently, but the height and frequency would depend greatly on the type of grass you have. Some grass classifications, such as Bermudagrass, should be kept short, but higher grass is beneficial in hot climates. Generally, you should not cut off more than one-third of your grass in each session. 

2. Sharpening Mower Blades 

It’s not only your lawn that needs to be maintained but your lawnmower as well. Make sure that you’re constantly sharpening your blades and replacing them as necessary. Dull blades may seem to get the job done, but they actually damage your grass, making all your efforts rather counterproductive. 

If your lawnmower blades are dull, they shorten the grass by tearing it instead of cutting it neatly. This makes the grass prone to discoloration, water loss, and more prone to weed growth. 

Ideally, you should be sharpening your blades at the start of every season. It’s also good practice to have spare, sharp blades for easy replacement. 

A tell-tale sign that your blades need to be sharpened or replaced is when you notice shredded or frayed blades of grass instead of neatly cut ones. 

3. Getting Rid of Weeds 

Weeds are your lawn’s number one enemy. When they are left to thrive, they become competition for your grass and greeneries, having to fight for water, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil. Weeds should be kept at bay at all times, — leaving them unchecked can make them uncontrollable. 

The good news is that you can stop the growth of weeds before they even begin to thrive by using a pre-emergent herbicide. This is a formula applied and spread on your lawn every spring that helps prevent the growth of weeds. 

If you’re already starting to notice weed growth, you can easily pull them out to prevent them from thriving in your lawn. If you don’t know what to look for, keep a close eye out for the most common types of weeds, such as: 

4. Watering 

One of the most basic ways to take care of your lawn is by watering it at the right time and in the right amount. Timing is everything when watering your lawn. Ideally, you should schedule watering in the morning before the weather gets too hot. Avoid watering in the evening as this can leave excess moisture in your grass and cause rotting or disease. 

5. Fertilizing 

Fertilizers are great at helping lawns thrive and become lusher. Feed your grass with a slow-release fertilizer during the fall and spring to supplement their nutrients all season long. Make sure you don’t put too much fertilizer to avoid burning your grass. 

Engage American Landscapes for Your Lawn Maintenance

Maintaining a lawn can get tedious. And unfortunately, not all homeowners have the time and patience to take care of their lawns.

American Landscapes, a landscaping and lawn care company located in Cincinnati, can help. We have lawn care programs and landscape maintenance services you can take advantage of. We handle everything you need to create a lush lawn that boosts your curb appeal and increases your home’s value.