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Lawn Care for the First-Time Homeowner 

You did it! You’ve made one of your biggest purchases – your first home! Now, make it truly yours by giving it the love and attention it deserves. Just like decorating your interiors as per your aesthetic sensibilities, you can do the same with your home’s exterior. Growing flowering plants and perennials is a nice way to beautify your yard, but installing and maintaining your lawn requires a bit more skill, time, and effort. Our team has compiled some useful tips to get you started.

A New Homeowner’s Lawn Maintenance Guide

Mowing – Grass in a well-manicured lawn must ideally be kept at 2.5 to 3 inches in length. Try to mow once a week during the growing season and once in two weeks for the rest of the year. End your annual mowing routine a week before the first frost, generally in late fall. Here are some more tips to mow your lawn the right way: 

  • Do not mow more than 1/3rd of the grass blade’s length. 
  • For an overgrown lawn, increase the frequency of mowing instead of cutting it short in one session as this might cause undue stress. 
  • Increase the lawn height during the height of dry spells in the summer to enable more moisture retention. 
  • Mow your lawn by mid-morning or early evening while the sun isn’t too hot and the dew on the grass blades has dried.

Watering

  • A recently seeded or sodded lawn needs frequent watering to ensure that the top layers of the soil (around 2 inches) are always moist, and not soggy. 
  • Once the grass grows, water twice a week, ensuring that it penetrates 6 inches deep in the soil. 
  • Water in the early morning or once the sun sets, for optimal moisture retention. 
  • Limit watering during spring and fall seasons when it rains frequently. When your lawn is covered with snow in winter, your grass gets enough moisture. 

Aerating and Overseeding – If you have a newly seeded or sodded lawn, you should wait at least 6 months before you can aerate it. Let the new seedlings reach maturity before aeration. There are many benefits to aerating and overseeding your lawn between September and November.

Soil-Testing and Fertilizing  – If youare tending to your lawn for the first time, conduct a soil test before adding new seeds or spreading fertilizers. It is recommended to do a soil test once every 2-3 years. Get soil samples from 3-4 areas of your lawn, mix them, and send them to the lab to be tested. Based on the result, you can add the required fertilizers, lime, or other soil amendments to help your lawn stay healthy. Fertilize your lawn at least 4 times a year, with a gap of 6-8 weeks between each application. 

Weeding  – Weeds take up space and steal nutrients and water from the soil needed by your lawn to stay healthy. You can manually pull the weeds out with their roots so that they don’t spring back. Call your lawn care professional if you want to use safe pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicides.

Pest Control  – Grubs, insects, and other pests can wreak havoc on your lawn. Insects and bugs are also most active during warmer months.  Get help from experts if you plan on using insecticides or other pesticides to eliminate or control any pest problems.

Keep your Lawn Healthy and Enjoy the Outdoors

Your lawn is your sanctuary, a place where you can enjoy the outdoors in private. Having a healthy lawn, however, needs a lot of time, effort, and commitment. Let Greenskeeper help you understand its needs and nourish it well. Create memories in this outdoor space that is truly an extension of your home. Call us now to know more.

Check out our service programs or call GREENSKEEPER at 215-938-8440. You can also contact us using our online form for a free quote.