Spring is Almost Here, Are You Ready?

The days are getting warmer and nights are getting longer…that’s right SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!!!  With springtime comes barbecues, baseball games, days at the lake and a ton of fun, but don’t forget about the beloved green lawn outside.  If you’re lucky enough to live in an apartment building managed by Nebraska R.I.S. need not to worry because we’ll take care of the lawn for you.  For all of our other lucky tenants living in single family homes and duplexes that are responsible for lawn-care, here are a few tips on how to have the best yard on the block this summer!  If you are unaware whether you are responsible for lawn care or not, give your Property Manager a call or check your lease!!

Mowing

Everyone knows the lawn needs mowed. But did you know you can mow the lawn too short? Lawns should kept at about 3″ in height. Mowing it shorter will create too much stress on the grass, and cause it to waste a lot of energy in an attempt to replace lost leaf. This can prohibit root growth and depletes food storage.

And by the way, don’t mow the lawn when it’s wet. Mower blades can’t cleanly cut grass that is wet, so you can cause damage to the lawn by trying to do so.

Watering

There’s more to taking care of the lawn than turning on the sprinklers for a few minutes every day. Yes, watering is important, but an even, thorough, application of water is most important. According to American-Lawns.com, most lawns will require between ¾” – 1″ of water weekly, although there are many factors, such as soil and weather, that will determine the exact amount of water needed. Additionally, American-Lawns.com recommends the following:

1. Spread water evenly across the lawn. Avoid over watering or missed spots in the yard.

2. Water early in the day or late at night which will allow more water to reach the root zone.

3. Know which weather conditions will require more, or less, watering.

Fertilizing

Watering the lawn isn’t enough, it also needs fertilizer to give it the nutrients it needs to stay strong and healthy. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company recommends ‘feeding’ the lawn as much as four times a year to help it combat weather, drought, and other stresses. In fact, Scotts recommends a regular feeding schedule which includes fertilizing as follows:

Spring (February – April)

Late Spring (April – June)

Summer (June – August)

Fall (September – November)

Blade condition (Keep it sharp!)

An important, yet often overlooked, aspect of proper lawn care is ensuring the mower blades are kept sharp. Dull blades don’t cut the lawn, they rip and tear it, instead. This leaves ragged ends on the lawn, which not only looks unattractive, but can cause damage to the grass, too. It can make the grass weak and susceptible to insect problems, weeds, drought, and more.

Leave clippings alone

If you spend hours raking grass clippings off the lawn after mowing, you’re wasting a lot of time. Did you know it’s actually good for the lawn to leave those clippings in place? They will lay on top of the grass, break down, and reduce the need for fertilizer. Just be sure that the lawn in not wet when you mow, or else the grass clippings can actually cause damage to the lawn.

With all of these wonderful tips plus your green thumb, you’ll have the greenest, nicest yard in town!!

Tips retrieved from: https://voices.yahoo.com/lawn-care-basics-beginners-10960208.html