These are the most common maladies lawns develop in the cold-weather months and what you can do to protect them. Salt & De-Icing Damage The solutions many homeowners use to clear ice from sidewalks and driveways often cause nearby grass to wilt and become straw-like. This will be easy to spot because grass along hardscaping will be affected, but the center of the yard will still be healthy. To prevent this problem, carefully apply de-icing products, avoiding any contact with grass, and consider switching to a salt alternative that’s gentle on lawns. If the damage is already done, give your...
Sharp blades are critical to clean-cut grass, a healthy, even lawn, and long-lasting mower performance. Before you store your mower for the season, sharpen its blade as part of the winterizing process — and after every 25 hours of use. Disconnect power: Unplug your mower for the power supply, remove the battery, or disconnect the spark plug wire to prevent it from accidentally turning on while you’re working. Empty the gas tank: If your mower uses fuel, drain the tank so gas doesn’t leak when you tip it over to access the blade. Remove the blade: Carefully turn your mower...
If your lawn is in need of a little love after a brutal summer, consider overseeding! Rather than starting from scratch, overseeding allows you to spruce up your existing lawn for lush results. Grass that’s yellowing, thinning, patchy, or overwhelmed by thatch can greatly benefit from this process. The best time of year to overseed can vary a bit by location and grass type, but it’s generally between late summer and early fall when conditions are mild around 50 degrees. A day after rainfall when the ground is damp but not muddy and when there’s minimal wind that could blow...
Making a few changes in when and how you cut your grass during the hot summer months could help it grow thicker and healthier. Mow Little & Often Rather than occasionally taking off the majority of your grass’s length, give it a more frequent trim and don’t cut more than a third off at a time. Setting your mower blades low and trimming too much at one time can result in the grass stems being exposed — known as scalping. Grass won’t get the sunlight it needs to thrive, and it could turn an unhealthy shade of brown....