5 Worst Pieces of Advice About Lawn Care

We’ve Debunked 5 Lawn Care Advice Myths

There is a lot of bad lawn care advice floating around out there about lawn care. Some of it is urban myth. Some of it is spread by “know it alls”. Some of it is just a plain old fashioned cop out. We want to set the record straight on these lawn care myths once and for all so you can get your lawn and landscape off to a fantastic start this spring.

My neighbor’s lawn is full of weeds so I can’t have a nice lawn either. So your neighbor has a “dandelion farm”. That does not mean that you cannot have a nice lawn. By practicing proper fertilization, weed control applications, mowing at the correct height, and good watering habits, you can have a beautiful lawn despite what is happening on the other side of the fence. Let your neighbor make their dandelion wine, you want a nice lawn.

Not collecting lawn clippings leads to thatch. Thatch naturally occurs in any lawn whether you bag clippings or not. Incorrect pH, compacted soil and the lack of micro-organisms and organic matter in your soil all contribute to the build-up of thatch. Mowing frequently and using a mulching blade actually will make your lawn look better, re-introduce nutrients and provide organic compost that  micro-organisms thrive in.

The pH of my soil is ok without adding lime. The soil in our area is naturally very acidic, meaning the pH falls far below 7 on the scale (remember high school chemistry?). Turf can best take advantage of all of the nutrients available when the pH falls between 6 and 6.5. If the pH is not in that range, turf will not be getting everything it needs to thrive. Adding lime in the correct amount helps keep the pH in the optimal range. The best way to find out how much lime to apply is to submit a soil test to a testing lab.

The best way to water my lawn is by hand. Lets’ get real. This is boring and time consuming and there is no way anyone is going to do a good job of this for very long. To develop a good root system that will be able to survive the summer heat, turf grass needs deep waterings 3-4 times per week. This means at least 20 minutes covering all areas of the lawn. Get a sprinkler and a timer and set it to go off in the pre-dawn hours. You can move it around to different areas every other day to make sure there is complete coverage.

If I cut my grass real short I won’t need to mow it as often. On one hand, this may be true, but you will not have a healthy lawn to enjoy. Grass should be maintained at 2 ½” to 3” in length. This allows the grass to provide enough shade to keep the root system cool in the summer and enough leaf blade to allow for photosynthesis to fuel the plant. It is never good to mow off more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time. If the grass is maintained to short, it stands a better chance to burn out.

There you have it, 5 of the worst lawn care advice myths that we have heard debunked. Of course, if you do not think you want to tackle the lawn care yourself, the professionals at Allentuck Landscaping Co. are standing by to take care of it for you. After all, we are Your Residential Landscape Company.

 Phone: 301-515-1900  Email: info@allentucklandscaping.com