Lawns have a significant ecological impact, but simple lawn care can reduce their environmental impact. Reduce lawn chemicals by collecting rainwater for irrigation and switching to natural fertilizers.

Aerating your lawn, dethatching, and maintaining proper mowing height encourage healthy soil. Aeration improves drainage and allows water, nutrients, and air to reach the grassroots. Contact LTP Property Maintenance now!

Weeds steal sunlight and nutrients from grass, slowing its growth. They often have long, thin leaves that mimic those of turfgrass and can be difficult to distinguish from your lawn’s grass.

A weed’s only way to reproduce is from seed. Annual weeds produce seeds in one growing season, biennial weeds in two, and perennial weeds for more than two. If you can prevent these weeds from setting seed, you can keep them under control.

There are several different herbicides used to kill weeds. The type of herbicide used depends on the weed, and whether it is being killed by contact or absorbed through the root system. The use of selective herbicides to target a specific species of weed is important for the overall health of your lawn.

When using chemical herbicides, be sure to follow all label instructions carefully. This is especially true if you are working with the more volatile organic herbicides. These chemicals have higher environmental risks and must be handled properly.

Other methods of weed control include covering the ground with materials that make it unsuitable for weeds to grow. For instance, several layers of wet newspaper will suppress weeds by preventing light from reaching them. Mulching with wood chips, gravel or comfrey will also be effective at inhibiting weed growth.

Regular lawn care treatments, such as mowing, fertilization and thatch removal will help to reduce the number of weeds in your yard. A healthy, dense lawn is less likely to produce weeds than a weakened turfgrass that is starving for nutrients. Be sure to avoid over-fertilizing your lawn, as this will feed the unwanted weeds and contribute to their overgrowth.

Fertilization

Fertilizers are essential for lawn care, as they supplement grass with the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive. Grass uses up these nutrients as it grows and repairs damage from weather, foot traffic, mowing, weed control, and other stressors. When these vital nutrients are depleted, the turf becomes weak and vulnerable to weeds.

Healthy lawns limit erosion, cool the environment, and control allergens, among other benefits. Having a well-fertilized lawn also improves curb appeal, and it helps property values.

A lawn should be fertilized at least twice per year. The type of fertilizer you use depends on the season — a spring fertilizer should be high in nitrogen to promote lush growth and fend off weeds; a summer fertilizer should help the grass retain its color, and avoid scorching; and a fall fertilizer should boost root strength for the coming winter.

Granular lawn fertilizer comes in the form of pellets that you spread on the ground using a lawn spreader. To get the most out of your granular fertilizer, it’s important to calibrate the spreader and follow the product instructions for how much you should apply.

There are also liquid lawn fertilizers that you dilute with water and spray onto the turf. The type of liquid fertilizer you choose should be based on the results of your soil test, as different types of lawns require specific ratios of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

When you’re ready to fertilize, wait until the ground thaws and avoid fertilizing near lakes or other bodies of water. The chemicals in some fertilizers can run off into these areas and cause environmental harm. It’s also a good idea to skip fertilizing on wet or rainy days, as this can lead to runoff and not allow the nutrients to penetrate the soil.

Aeration

Lawn care professionals are concerned with the health of the soil and turf. While most homeowners think about the appearance of their lawn, a professional’s goal is to ensure grasses are growing properly and that the roots can access essential nutrients, water, air and sunlight. The most important step in this process is aeration, and there are several methods for accomplishing this goal (coring, spike and liquid).

Aerating your lawn opens pathways for air to reach the roots, similar to how a human’s lungs work to bring oxygen into their bodies. It is also the best way to reduce soil compaction, which prevents the grass from growing.

The process involves punching holes in the lawn, which breaks up compacted soil and allows air and water to circulate freely. It also helps to break up excess thatch, which is a layer of organic dead and living shoots, stems and roots that build up between the soil surface and the green grass.

While a layer of thatch up to one-half inch can be healthy, excessive thatch blocks the root zone from oxygen and prevents the soil from absorbing water efficiently. This can lead to wilting in hot weather, thinning and patchy growth of the grass, and other problems such as brown patch disease.

The most common type of aeration is core aeration, which involves mechanically pulling small plugs of thatch and soil from the lawn with an aerator machine. The holes in the lawn encourage microbes to thrive, which helps to decompose thatch and other surface debris. This decomposition helps to improve natural aeration and makes the lawn more resistant to drought stress. There are other types of aeration, including spike and liquid, but core aeration is the most popular.

Mowing

The way you mow your lawn is important to its overall health and appearance. Professional lawn care specialists have different mowers for various types of grass and know how to cut it at the right height to promote healthy turf growth. They also remove excess debris from the landscape and mulch to help moderate soil temperature and retain moisture. They will trim shrubs, bushes and trees as needed to create an attractive landscape.

The best lawn care services go beyond simple cosmetic needs and identify potential problems before they become costly. This prevents weed and pest infestations, soil erosion and nutrient deficiencies. Many lawn services provide organic care treatments that are safer for the environment and your family than conventional chemical applications.

Most reputable companies offer a variety of packages with specified treatment plans over the course of a year. Some require a yearly contract, while others allow customers to cancel or change their service schedule at any time.

Ask lawn care providers about their methods and products to find out how they can improve your lawn’s overall health. For example, some companies apply insecticides in broad sprays to control pests that damage the turf. These applications can harm earthworms and other beneficial insects that help keep lawns healthy. Ask the company if they will use less-toxic pesticides or will skip them completely. Then you can make an informed decision about whether their services are right for your property. If you decide to hire a lawn care service, it’s a good idea to sign up for recurring services, which will save you time and money in the long run. This will ensure your yard stays in tip-top shape throughout the year, even when you’re on vacation or juggling other responsibilities.

Trimming

A lush, well-maintained lawn complements flower beds and shrubbery, provides a beautiful setting for summer picnics, and is a food source for birds and other wildlife. It also enhances your home’s curb appeal and helps to protect the environment by reducing soil erosion.

A comprehensive lawn care program includes regular mowing, fertilization, aeration, and weed control along with trimming and edging services. Lawn service companies can offer a monthly, biweekly or weekly schedule and can adjust the frequency of each individual service as needed.

Proper timing is key to a successful lawn care routine. For example, weed killers work best when the soil is moist. If you apply granules or liquid products when the ground is dry, they won’t stick to the leaves of your weeds and won’t be effective.

Soil testing will help you determine the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in your soil. This information is crucial when determining how much water your lawn needs and the timing of fertilizer applications. It can also be helpful when deciding whether or not to use aeration.

Most turf diseases are caused by fungi. But they often develop in lawns that are overfertilized, improperly watered, or cut too short. Therefore, mowing the lawn regularly, aerating the soil, and removing excess plant debris are all essential to controlling fungi.

In addition to hiring a reputable lawn service, it’s important to follow all the recommended maintenance steps for your specific climate and lawn. Educating yourself about lawn care is another way to keep your yard looking its best. The University of Maryland offers detailed guides to fertilization, aeration, and watering as well as tips on the best times to mow and trim your lawn. You can also check out Milorganite for more university-backed lawn care tips for beginners from horticultural experts.