Below are 3 tips to improve a lawn, not just any lawn, but your lawn. And the best part is that you don’t need to make a trip to the store.
1. Mowing Height
One of the best and most important practices you can do to improve a lawn is to mow it at the correct height. Mowing your lawn too short can stress the grass and make it more susceptible to weeds and diseases. The ideal height for most lawns is around 3 inches. I keep my height of cut at 3.25 inches most of the year, going up to 3.5 in the summer. In the Fall, I’ll start to drop it back down to 3.25 inches and usually my last cut of the season will be at 2.5 inches when the weather is cooler.
2. Mowing Direction
Mowing your lawn in the same direction over and over again will eventually result in soil compaction and leave wheel marks. The grass will get matted down resulting in uneven cuts. Try changing mowing directions every 2-3 weeks. For example, if you mow in a north-south direction, try changing it to east-west. This will promote even growth and also create some interesting patterns.
3. Watering
Water your lawn deeply and infrequently, about 1 inch of water per week. Watering your lawn deeply and infrequently helps to encourage deep roots, which makes the grass more drought-tolerant. Watering your lawn too often and shallowly can encourage shallow roots, which makes the grass more susceptible to drought and weeds. I usually try to put down about a half inch of water every other day. This allows the soil to dry between waterings. Try not to water at night to prevent the lawn from becoming wet for a long period of time which can result in funguses and other lawn diseases.
If you follow these basic 3 tips to improve a lawn, your lawn will begin to look better and thank you for it!
