Keeping a well-manicured lawn is a goal for many homeowners. That nice crisp look of freshly trimmed grass can really improve the appearance of your home and surrounding property, and there’s just something to be said for the lush green color of a healthy lawn. But what if your lawn isn’t quite as healthy as you think? It’s possible that all of the work that you’re putting into that manicured look is actually keeping your lawn from reaching its full potential.
When a lot of people mow the lawn, they tend to cut it low and keep it that way. While there are some grasses that thrive with a close cut, a lot of grasses are actually healthier if you let them grow slightly taller. If you really want to keep your lawn healthy and create a luxurious carpet of green around your home, here are some things that you should stop and consider.
Less Frequent Mowing
Keeping your lawn trimmed short usually requires getting out and mowing every week or so, and sometimes even more frequently during certain seasons. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it… right? Maybe not. Grass height tends to slow down a bit as the blades grow longer, so you can actually get away with mowing less frequently if you let your lawn stay a little bit taller than you’d normally keep it. If you let your lawn grow out to 3 or 4 inches, then you can still create an overall uniform look while mowing a bit less often and having a thicker and lusher lawn overall.
There are environmental benefits to this as well. If you’re not mowing as often, you’re not using as much gas over the course of the year. This can be a big benefit both to the air and to your wallet as gas prices continue to hover near record highs. Taller grass also requires less frequent watering, as the blades of grass retain some moisture within themselves and can capture more dew from the air. This means that you won’t spend nearly as much time or money watering your lawn, and you won’t have to worry as much about watering limitations if you’re in an area facing drought conditions.
Improved Lawn Health
There are some other things that you can do to improve your lawn health and get a vibrant green lawn without frequent mowing as well. One big action you can take is dethatching your lawn, which breaks up and removes the layer of old roots and other plant material that lays above the soil that can have a negative effect on the ability of new grass to grow. A dethatching machine runs over your lawn, cutting small furrows through the thatch to break it up and give your grass more room to spread out freely.
Soil aeration is another way that you can greatly improve your lawn health. For this, an aerating roller will pass over your lawn and poke small holes in the soil as it travels. These holes allow air and water to enter packed soil more easily, making your soil healthier overall, and providing some much-needed liquid refreshment to the roots of your grass. This can have an even greater impact if you experience dry, hot summers, as heat can dry out the soil and make the packing effect even worse. Aeration lets water bypass the dense level of packed earth and get to your grass before the heat can evaporate it, resulting in less water being needed to water the grass effectively.
Reimagining Your Lawn
Less frequent mowing, slightly taller grass, and some soil maintenance can go a long way toward revamping your lawn while saving you money in the long run. Lawn maintenance and landscaping pros in your area might have additional suggestions as well.
If you have questions about buying or selling your home, you may contact me to see how I can help you.
Michelle Lohman, Associate Broker
Realty One Group
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