We all want a lawn that makes neighbors slow down as they drive past. And let’s be honest, everyone has their own way of getting there. Maybe you’re a crack-of-dawn mower, or perhaps you prefer the zen of evening yard work. Whatever your style, there’s nothing wrong with having your own approach.
But here’s the thing: some of those tried-and-true lawn care habits we’ve picked up over the years? They might actually be doing more harm than good. The tricky part is that these mistakes often masquerade as helpful techniques. Those well-intentioned moves could be setting you up for bigger headaches down the road.
The good news is that once you know what to look out for, these pitfalls are pretty easy to avoid. By making a few simple adjustments to your lawn care routine, you can save yourself time, money, and backaches while keeping your grass healthy and vibrant. After all, your lawn should be a source of pride and enjoyment, not a constant battle.
Using Old or Dull Mower Blades
A dull mower blade brings two risks to life. The first involves the browning effect the blade has on your lawn. The blunted blade cuts through dirt as much as grass and even damages the health of your soil at the surface.
The second risk directs us to you, the person using the mower. The blade could bring up stones and other debris. The possibility exists that the mower clips the soil, tips up, and exposes the blade. Avoid the risks by keeping your blades sharp and replacing them regularly.
Cutting Too Short
Professionals recommend you cut only one-third of the total length of your grass. Cutting more than one-third damages the health of your grass and leaves the soil vulnerable to weeds.
If you neglect your lawn for a few weeks, make sure you still only cut one-third of the grass length. Even if the grass is longer than usual, it still needs that amount of grass blade to recover and retain the right nutrients to stay healthy and green. You can always slowly trim it down again in the following weeks.
Cutting Too Often
Mowing grass functions much the same way as pruning. The action injures your grass and prompts it to begin healing. The healed grass gains strength, much like your pruned plants.
Cutting grass too often doesn’t give it time to heal. You need to let it sit for at least a few days, mowing once or twice a week at most.
Overusing Weed Killer
Weed killer works wonders for dealing with pesky weeds that refuse to disappear. It also harms your grass and any other plants it comes in contact with. Use it as directed to protect your lawn’s overall health.
One method that seems to reduce the potential damage is weed and feed. You combine the weed killer with lawn feed, effectively killing larger weeds while keeping your grass healthy.
The weed and feed method also requires you to monitor how much you use, as the weed killer may still overpower your lawn’s health.
Overwatering
Your lawn needs consistent watering. The amount required will vary based on the season, especially during rainy or dry seasons.
The main risk of overwatering your lawn is that too much can drown the roots of your grass. The water pools under the soil and blocks oxygen from reaching the roots, effectively killing them.
If your lawn seems sickly, try watering it longer but less often, allowing the water to penetrate deeper into the soil rather than pooling near the top.
Mowing When Dewy or Wet
Always mow your lawn when dry. Any dampness or wetness in the grass causes it to clump while mowing, leaving it messy and uneven. Fungi and other unwanted things can also get spread around when mowing a wet lawn.
You also risk bringing up clumps of mud that make the ground slippery. Don’t take the risk of injuring yourself, and just wait for a sunny day.
Throwing Away Grass Clippings
Tossing your grass clippings won’t negatively impact your lawn. Mulching them and adding them back onto your lawn will have a positive impact. You return at least 25% of the nutrients the grass requires to recover from the clippings you would have otherwise thrown away.
Using a mulcher mower instead of a regular mower allows you to quickly and effortlessly deal with excess grass clippings instead of taking them off for disposal. Use a mulcher when the grass isn’t very long, as they work best with shorter grass.