Although your grass may be covered with a white blanket of snow at the moment spring is just around the corner so it is time to start putting together a lawn care plan to get the grass greener than ever before.
Having a thick green carpet cover the grounds of your property is something ever Chicago homeowners strives for.
However, finding the right steps to take to get a perfect lawn rolling throughout your property is much more involved than it seems. In today’s post we will cover some of the most common lawn care mistakes homeowners in the Chicago make.
1. Misidentification and Wrong Treatment for Problems
If your yard is unhealthy and you misdiagnose the problem and then use the wrong treatment, your yard could wind up looking even worse. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine whether your lawn is suffering from an insect problem or fungal issues. And the wrong treatment may simply exacerbate the problem.
While it may be possible to do some research and figure out yourself you will most likely get the best results by enlisting the services of a professional. There are several services that specialize in diagnosing the current condition of your lawn and applying treatments throughout the year as necessary. Having the right treatments applied at the right time will prevent weeds and other pesticides from taking over your lawn.
2. Mowing Too Short
Mowing too short (and too often) prevents grass plants from developing vibrant foliage and deep strong roots. The plants aren’t able to take in nutrients and take up water as well. The plants then become susceptible to disease and vulnerable to pest attacks. Taller grass also shades weeds and impedes their growth, but, obviously, grass cut too short can’t do this. And then you’ll be inviting a weed infestation.
3. Waiting Too Late to Address Weed Problems
A related mistake is waiting too long to address weed problems. Prevention is always better than a cure when it comes to weeds. But if you do let weeds get established in your lawn, you need to see the cure as a long-term, ongoing process. There simply aren’t any quick fixes – like poisoning your lawn by over-dosing it with weed killer – in this situation.
4. Watering Too Often
Of the 6 lawn care mistakes that can ruin your yard in Chicago, this is one that a lot of us are guilty of when hot, dry summer weather hits. In fact, watering too often can impact your lawn more adversely than not watering enough. Daily watering inhibits deep root growth, and then the grass plants won’t be hardy enough to survive harsh weather conditions.
5. Improper Feeding
When it comes to feeding your lawn, one size does not fit all. Regularly fertilizing is, of course, essential for a healthy lawn. But it needs to be the right fertilizer in the right amounts and at the right time.
For example, in late spring and early summer, you should use a fertilizer with slow-release nitrogen. Too much nitrogen too quick can “burn” the developing grass plants, which may then be stunted and brownish – if they survive at all. This is one instance when too much of a good thing can definitely be harmful.
6. Planting the Wrong Grass
Planting (or re-planting) the wrong species of grass for your specific lawn conditions just might be the hardest to rectify of all the 6 lawn care mistakes that can ruin your yard in Chicago. It could take years to put right again.
So suppose, for example, that you just love the look of the vibrant Kentucky bluegrass growing in your neighbor’s yard. What you’ve overlooked, though, is that her yard is sunny while yours is shaded by large trees. And if you press on and plant Kentucky bluegrass, you’ll be gravely disappointed.
Besides, most yards have a mix of shady areas and sunny areas. So one kind of grass throughout is seldom the best approach.
Whether you intend to sell your home or live in it for many years to come, you must avoid these 6 lawn care mistakes that can ruin your lawn in Chicago. And then there’s the other side of the coin: the things you do need to do for a beautiful, lush lawn.