5 Simple Steps To Take To Have The Lawn Of Your Dreams

5 Simple Steps To Take To Have The Lawn Of Your Dreams
May 8, 2021 handsomelawn
In Article

Having a lush, green lawn sprawling from one end of your property line to another is not as difficult as you might imagine. While there are many different companies out there peddling the best fertilizers and lawn care guides to have your lawn looking its best, you don’t need to buy into all the hoopla to get the lawn of your dreams. Once the dullness of winter fades, that’s when the real work begins. With just 5 simple steps, you can have your lawn going from winter dormancy to springtime flush in no time. But just be forewarned, to have the lawn of your dreams does take a little bit of legwork.

Start by inspecting your lawn for any damage caused during winter.

Unfortunately, temperatures and weather can be quite unpredictable during winters in North Texas. Just this past year we had devastating plunges into cold, ice, and frost that were not expected. These types of fluctuations in weather can cause some serious damage to our yards. When snow stays on grass for a long period of time, a fungus that is called Snow Mold can grow. Inspect your yard for either pink snow mold or grey snow mold, which look like matted areas of your yard shaped in patches. Once you spot these patches, you’ll need to rake the yard thoroughly to break up the matting, then come April, reseed the area if necessary.

Use a pre-emergent weed killer.

One of the quickest ways to lose control of your lawn is by allowing the weeds to overtake the beauty of the grass. So, you’ll want to use a pre-emergent weed application twice per year, once during the fall which will prevent winter weeds, and once during the spring, to prevent spring/summer weeds. The pre-emergent is designed to control any weeds at the germination stage so that they do not have a chance to grow. Depending on the type of weeds common in your area, you may want to consider a more specific pre-emergent like crabgrass or broadleaf.

Check for the types of weeds your lawn caters to.

Speaking of broadleaf and crabgrass control, do you know what types of weeds are most common in North Texas? Having this type of knowledge can help you along your lawn care journey. In addition, you’ll want to know what types of weeds are more common in the fall/winter and spring/summer. For example, more common winter annual weeds include bittercress and speedwell, while spring weeds include broadleaf weeds like dandelions, chickweed, purslane, and thistle. Once you apply weed control in late April to early May, your lawn should be protected throughout summer.

Apply a fertilizer.

Similar to pre-emergent, you’ll want to fertilize twice per year, once in spring and once in the fall. You’ll want to choose a balanced fertilizer for your yard, which includes the proper ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus, to potassium. A simple soil test can be a handy way to determine what your lawn needs to thrive. From there, you’ll want to apply half the fertilizer for the spring season, and the other half for fall.

Make sure you’re mowing the right way.

Yep, you heard that right – there is a right and wrong way to mow your yard. Many newbies to lawn care assume you’ll want the grass to be cut as short as possible to avoid having to cut often, but this can actually kill your grass quickly! First and foremost, make sure your lawn mower has a sharp blade each season. Then, make sure you keep your yard at around 2.5 to 3 inches in height. This way your lawn will be encouraged to root deeper, but still shades soil enough to reduce weeds from growing.

As always, remember that you can count on us at Handsome Lawn Service to take care of your lawn care needs. We can work toward getting you the lawn of your dreams in no time! Also, if you need some help getting your lawnmower ready for the upcoming season, we have you covered.