Common DIY Lawn Care Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Caring for your lawn can be tricky, and with so many DIY lawn care tips available out there, it can be hard to determine the right way to care for your lawn to ensure it stays lush and green.

At Superior Lawn Care, we’ve examined some of the most common lawn care mistakes and have provided tips on how to prevent these mistakes and keep your lawn thriving all year round!

Overwatering

Watering your lawn is a great way to keep it hydrated and healthy looking but overwatering your lawn can have damaging results. When you water your lawn too often, it can drown the emerging growth and can also discourage the grass from developing a deeper, stronger root system. When you overwater your lawn, the roots do not grow down to take the water that is available deeper into the soil, which results in the roots becoming more dependent on supplemental watering.

By watering less frequently and deeper, you can encourage your lawn’s root system to grow deeper. Your lawn should only require roughly 1 inch of water per week, whether from rain or watering, to stay healthy depending on the type of grass and weather conditions.

Overfertilizing

Although fertilizing your lawn provides your grass with the nutrients it needs to grow, overfertilizing can cause unsightly damage to your lawn. When you overfertilize your lawn, especially with fertilizers that contain high concentrations of nitrogen, you can limit your lawn’s root growth while also causing excessive leaf growth.

It is important to also keep in mind that heavy applications of fertilizer can burn your lawn. This burning is due to salt build up in the soil which dries out your grass, causing your lawn to turn yellow or brown. Superior Lawn Care’s Five-Application Lawn Care Program features custom blended fertilizers that can be expertly applied to your lawn throughout the seasons to help keep your lawn healthy.

Seeding Too Early

When the winter season ends, you may notice some faded spots on your lawn. It may be tempting to plant new seeds in hopes of restoring your lawn, but this method will not work as effectively in the spring because the seeds are less responsive. Fall is the best time for planting new seeds when the moisture and cooler weather create optimal growing conditions.

It is important to combine overseeding with aeration to help loosen the soil, allowing water, air, and nutrients easily reach the grass and the seeds while also enhancing the seed germination for the best results.

The professionals at Superior Lawn Care offer fall overseeding in conjunction with our expert aeration services to help repair the damage that the harsher seasons like summer and winter have caused. With our Fall Special Offer of aeration, overseeding, and lime application, you can help promote newer and stronger growth in your lawn.

Mowing Too Short

Mowing your lawn is not only a great way to keep it looking neat and clean but also to keep it healthy. Regular, proper mowing can help stimulate growth, keeping your lawn strong and lush. When you scalp your lawn or mow too short, it harms the plant and can limit the grass blade’s ability to absorb sunshine and perform the process of photosynthesis which is required for proper growth.

In addition to stunting your lawn’s growth, mowing too short can also weaken the root system and can make your lawn more prone to disease and weeds. Be sure to mow with sharp blades and avoid mowing under 3”. This will help your lawn develop a deeper, stronger root system that will require less water to thrive.

Expert Lawn Care Services for a Healthy Lawn

By avoiding these common lawn care mistakes, you can keep your lawn lush and green while making it more resistant to weeds and disease. With our Five- Application Lawn Care Program, featuring services such as customized blended fertilizer and weed control, you can encourage growth in your lawn and promote a healthy root system to keep your lawn looking its best!

Contact us today to learn more about our Five-Application Lawn Care Program and our other professional lawn care services to achieve a healthy, green lawn. We proudly serve southwestern PA, including Greensburg, Upper St. Clair, Indiana, Belle Vernon, Wexford, Uniontown, and throughout the Pittsburgh area.