Top 7 Lawn Care Mistakes Homeowners Make

If you’re a new homeowner with your first lawn or a veteran with several years of lawn care under your belt, you may be unaware of mistakes you’re making that negatively impact the growth and health of your lawn. Here are seven of the most commonly made mistakes in lawn care:

Improper Fertilization

Whether it’s using too much, too little, or not using it at all, fertilizer greatly impacts your lawn’s health. When fertilizing, it’s very important to apply it once or twice a year during active growing periods. This means during spring or fall, but never during the heat of summer as this can cause burns. For more detail on good fertilization practices, check out our helpful guide.

Bad Mowing Practices

The most common mowing mistake homeowners make is cutting their lawns too short. Regardless of the length of your lawn, you never want to cut more than ⅓ of the length of the blade at one time. This can cause the lawn to go into shock which in turn causes yellowing, poor growth, or can even kill your grass. 

Another common issue is not replacing or sharpening the blades of your mower. Dull blades tear the grass rather than cut it, which can cause the tips to turn brown. Torn grass is also more susceptible to being damaged by insects or diseases.

Forget to Aerate

Aerating your lawn at least once a year, typically in the early spring, is absolutely necessary for a healthy, beautiful yard. Aerating your lawn ensures the grass roots receive the oxygen, nutrients, and water they need to grow. This also helps keep the soil healthy by reducing compaction and increasing water absorption. While many homeowners opt to hire a professional to handle this job for them, you can aerate on your own. 

Plant the Wrong Grass Seed

Whether you seeded your own lawn, used sod, or it was done by a previous homeowner, the grass will not thrive if it’s not right for your climate. You want to ensure you’re picking the proper grass seed blend for your area. For most of Utah, including Cedar City, you’ll need to pick a cool season grass blend such as Kentucky bluegrass.

Neglect Weed Management

Weeds are an obnoxious, but inevitable part of having a yard. While you’ll certainly want to stay on top of pulling weeds regularly, this isn’t a cure-all solution. You’ll also want to implement a regular herbicide application into your lawn care schedule. Or you can take out the guesswork and labor by having us come do it for you. 

Poor Watering Habits

Many homeowners aren’t aware of how frequently, what time, or how much they should be watering their lawns. Watering too frequently doesn’t encourage deep root growth which is necessary for a drought-tolerant lawn, so limit your watering to 2-3 times a week. You should also avoid watering during the day as this can cause the water to evaporate too quickly. The optimal watering time is very early morning, while temperatures are lower and there is typically less wind. For more information on watering grass in Cedar City, check out our blog.

Not Testing Soil

Your soil health directly impacts your lawn health and ability to thrive. Knowing your soil pH is vital for a beautiful, vibrant lawn. A pH level between 6 and 6.5 is ideal for grass growth. You can buy a soil test kit at your local home improvement store to see where your levels are. Using this information, you can buy the nutrients your soil needs. This can include lime, nitrogen, or phosphorus among others. Using these can get your pH level to the right level for optimal grass growth.

By ensuring you’re following the guidance in this article, as well as other best practices in lawn care, you can almost guarantee your lawn will be green and ready for your next barbecue. And don’t forget, if you need assistance, our expert lawn care professionals at Cedar Lawn Care are available to help your lawn reach its fullest potential.