Lawn Care 101: New Homeowner’s Guide to Lawns

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As a first-time homeowner, you may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of maintaining a lush, green lawn. It’s an exciting time, but there’s a lot of responsibility involved, especially since your lawn is front and center.

You may be unsure where to start or how to tackle common lawn care issues. But you can have a healthy and beautiful lawn with some planning and know-how.

Professional landscapers make a big difference, thanks to their expertise. Rocket Pest Control’s skilled lawn care team knows how to assess your lawn’s needs and create a tailored plan to tackle your specific lawn challenges.

Seasonal Lawn Maintenance: Year-Round Care

Homeowners often struggle to adjust their lawn care routine for different seasons. Lawns need seasonal adjustments, or else you risk disease, drought, or winter damage.

Here are some things you may want to consider:

• How much time do you have for lawn care? If you’re juggling a busy schedule, monthly lawn care services could be the ideal solution.
• How will you and your family use the lawn? Whether it’s a play area, garden, or space for entertaining, your lawn should match your lifestyle.
• Is there an irrigation system already installed? If not, proper watering might require adding one to keep your lawn healthy.
• Are there HOA requirements? If your home is in an HOA, you may need to follow strict lawn care rules. You might also enjoy maintenance services provided by the HOA.
• What’s the terrain like? Sloped yards or areas with extra moisture can complicate mowing and attract unwanted pests.
• What’s the condition of neighboring lawns? Take a look around. Problems like brown patches or dry areas in nearby yards could indicate recurring issues in the area.
  

DIY efforts to rotate care techniques by season can be hit-or-miss. Forgetting to fertilize in spring or winterize in fall can weaken grass, leading to long-term damage.

What is the most common mistake seen when treating lawns?

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is over-applying fertilizer.

Fertilizer helps keep your lawn healthy, but too much can harm the grass or cause it to grow too fast. It can also lead to problems like runoff pollution, diseases, and pests. It can also cause fertilizer burn, which appears as yellow or brown patches on the grass.

Common Lawn Care Practices

Whether you’re starting fresh or dealing with lawn issues, here are some important things to consider:

• Watering: High heat can be intense, so it’s vital to water your lawn regularly. A consistent schedule will keep it hydrated.
• Irrigation Systems: Does your property have one? If not, you can have one installed to keep your lawn thriving year-round.
• Soil Health: The pH level of your soil plays a big role in your lawn’s appearance and vitality.
• Fertilization: Over time, your lawn uses up nutrients in the soil. Fertilizing regularly keeps your turf lush and healthy.
• Seasonal Prep: Winters may be mild where you live, but your lawn will still need some special care during colder months.
• Spotting Issues Early: Keep an eye out for brown spots, fungus, or other signs of trouble and address them before they spread.
• Tree & Shrub Maintenance: Trim often to prevent overgrowth and protect from disease.
• Pest Control: A warm climate invites pests, especially in the spring and summer. Stay ahead of pests with expert management services.
• Mowing: A tidy lawn is important in many neighborhoods. Be sure your mowing routine meets local standards.

Grass Care 101

Small details, like mowing heights, watering times, and seasonal changes, are important in grass care. Cutting grass too short or overwatering are common mistakes that can make lawns weak. As a result, they can become more prone to diseases, pests, and drought stress.

Trial-and-error is a normal part of figuring out grass care. Nailing down a watering, mowing, and treatment schedule year-round may take some time.

What is the ⅓ rule for grass care?

The ⅓ rule is a simple guideline that states that you should never cut more than ⅓ of the grass blade height in a single mowing session. Cutting more than ⅓ can stress the grass, making it more susceptible to disease, pests, and drought.

Pest Management

Lawn pests like grubs, ants, and chinch bugs wreak havoc on lawns, leaving them patchy, brown, and unattractive.

Pesticides may work, but they often provide just temporary relief. Pest prevention and expert pest control are the best ways to keep pest infestations away.

Weed Care

One of the most common issues faced by new homeowners is weeds in their lawn. Weeds detract from the appearance of your yard and compete with your grass for nutrients and water.

Using store-bought herbicides or pulling them out by hand can work, but they often don’t fix the root problems that let weeds grow. Lawn care experts use targeted herbicides, mow correctly, and apply good practices.

Watering

A lush, green lawn requires the right balance of nutrients and water to thrive. Setting a consistent watering schedule is the best way to keep your lawn healthy and green.

Watering too much or too little, and using the wrong fertilizer can cause many lawn issues. These problems are nutrient shortages, diseases, and pest invasions.

Experts can help you choose the right fertilization schedule and watering methods for your lawn and climate. They’ll guide you on proper watering techniques so your lawn gets enough moisture. You’ll save water and reduce the risk of disease.

Experience the Difference of Professional Lawn Care Services

As a first-time homeowner, you have enough to worry about without the added stress of trying to maintain a perfect lawn on your own.

That’s why you should partner with our skilled lawn care team! You’ll have a beautiful lawn that boosts your home’s curb appeal. It also creates a welcoming outdoor space for your family.

Our lawn care services are thorough, and we focus on keeping you happy. You’ll see why handling lawn care alone was a tough task.

So contact us today to book your lawn care consultation. 

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