There are a lot of really great things you can do for your lawn. But there are also a lot of really terrible things you can do – things that can result in a very unattractive lawn. Why would you want to do that? Americans spend billions of dollars and countless hours on their lawns each year. It’s an investment of time, money, and effort that no one wants to see go to waste. So, just as it’s important to learn about the things you should do for your lawn, it’s important to learn about the things you shouldn’t do, too!
Skip Mowing
There may be certain times of the year, depending on where you live, where mowing the lawn is the last thing you want to do –the winter is a prime example. Dormant grass that’s no longer growing doesn’t need to be cut. But when you do cut your lawn, it should be cut regularly. Skipping that weekly mow is a bad idea. Not only does it look bad, it also gives weeds the chance to take root.
When you give your lawn a chance to grow taller than it should, you also take the risk of scalping your lawn once you do cut it. Never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. When it’s the right season, you should mow your lawn weekly.
Bag the Grass
There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about this, but the truth of the matter is that you should never bag your cut grass. Why? The clippings left on your lawn after a good mow provides essential nutrients to your lawn. A lot of people are under the impression that leaving clippings on the lawn sets you up for thatch issues in the future, but that’s not how it works. Thatch is comprised of a layer of decomposing roots, not clippings.
Unless you have a mulching mower, those grass clippings should stay where they lay. And consider a mulching feature on your next mower, it really does come in handy during times like this since it will finely chop the clippings and return them to your lawn.
Use Dull Mowing Blades
When was the last time you sharpened those mower blades? If you can’t remember, then you’re probably mowing your lawn with dull blades and that is a big no-no. Dull blades rip the grass instead of cutting it, creating jagged edges that leave the lawn more susceptible to disease and drought. It can even make your grass appear discolored.
Make sure to sharpen your mower blades at least one each and every year, several times per year if you’re really on top of it and have a yard with a lot of roots and rocks that can nick your mower blades.
Let’s face it, there’s a right way and a wrong way to do things – even the simplest things like mowing a lawn. But aren’t you glad you have the pros at Lawn Love to help you find the right path to a healthy and happy lawn?
