Sometimes keeping up with your lawn may seem impossible. However, there are a few steps you can do to ensure a green and lush lawn. Follow these easy DIY Colorado lawn care tips to keep your lawn looking beautiful all year round.
Mowing
This may seem like an obvious one, but mowing is an easy way to keep up lawn maintenance. You can use different mowing techniques to guarantee a uniform cut. Mixing up the direction of your mowing also reduces soil compaction and excess thatching. Be sure to keep mower blades sharp as well. This ensures a clean cut of grass blades and a nicer looking lawn.
Dethatching
Your lawn might have an excess of built-up dead plant material called thatch. Some thatch is good for your lawn, but an excess can deter grass from growing properly. Remove dead thatch when it’s more than an inch thick. This will help with air and water circulation around the base of the lawn. You can dethatch using special dethatching tools or get the help of a Colorado lawn care service.
Soil Testing
Another easy way to DIY lawn care is through soil testing. Testing your soil will help you keep track of your lawn’s pH levels. Balanced pH levels ensure a healthy lawn year-round. You can test the soil by using a soil testing kit or by contacting a local Colorado lawn care company. The pH of your lawn should be between 5 and 7. This strikes a balance between too much acidity or alkaline in your lawn.
Fertilizing and Grub Control
Using the right fertilizer can also help balance the pH of your lawn. The results from your soil test kit can help determine which fertilizer is right for you. Fertilize in the spring and mid-summer to ensure a lush-looking lawn. If you are still noticing brown patches, you may have an infestation issue. There are many ways to address infestation, but a lawn care professional is your best option for avoiding this problem.
Pre-emergent Application in Spring and Fall
Deter the growth of summer and winter weeds with this DIY lawn care tip. Annual weed seeds and roots start growing in spring and fall, fully emerging during the summer and winter months. You can target the initial weed roots with a pre-emergent herbicide application. However, this step needs to be done promptly. Pre-emergent herbicide only works if the seeds haven’t germinated yet.
Weeding
For those stubborn weeds, you’ll need to keep up with annual weeding techniques. Weeds can easily get out of hand, especially if you don’t have time to manually weed them. Use an all-natural deterrent to keep weeds at bay like cornmeal or boiling water. To keep them from overtaking your landscape, opt for the help of a professional. Colorado Lawn Care can help you keep weeds under control. This will ensure a beautiful landscape and yard during the summer and winter months.
Aeration
Compacted soil can lead to major lawn issues. Make sure that your lawn is getting the vital nutrients it needs by aerating your lawn. This will help air and water to penetrate grassroots, ensuring the survival of your lawn. Use an aerator or hire a professional to help with this process.
Overseeding
If you have bare patches in your lawn, seeding may be in order. You can seed in spring or fall to help fill in a patchy yard. Overseeding provides easy DIY lawn care since you don’t need to tear up old grass to do it. Simply seed over the top of the already there grass and water two to three times a week for a few weeks.
Winterization
Winterization is an important step in any lawn care regimen. You can apply a winter fertilizer at this time. This will encourage any new seeds to get a head start during the dormant months. There are many steps to winterizing your yard, but a lawn care professional can help check these items off your list.