How Do I Keep My Lawn Looking Good Year-Round?

Most Duke City homeowners want a beautiful, lush green Albuquerque lawn. Beautiful green grass can make the difference between so-so and sensational curb appeal.

But keeping grass in good shape isn’t so simple as it may appear. There are a lot of factors that determine whether your yard is appealing to the eye as well and being environmentally friendly, healthy, and safe — including soil type, climate & region, type of grass (species) and ancillary pests that feed on it.

The best lawn care techniques can save you a tremendous amount of time, effort, and money by avoiding trouble from the outset.

As a provider of top-notch Albuquerque Lawn Care services, R & S Landscaping is your best resource for expert advice and information on what it takes to establish and keep a healthy lush lawn.

In this article, we’ll share our knowledge with you to continue reading for the best tips and tricks on proper lawn care.

Know Your Grass & Climate-Type Combination

Lawns placed with various species of grass have varying needs to be healthy and attractive. Selecting the correct type of grass for your lawn and area will have a huge influence on how you care for your lawn, not to mention keep it looking good.

For the most part, there are two kinds of grasses – warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses, each being preferable in specific climatic zones.

• Warm-season Grasses: Best for areas with warm winters and warm summers. They are also prodigious from late spring to the end of summer, and the most popular hope in southern states. Some of the warm-season grasses are Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, Centipede grass, St. Augustine grass and Bahia grass.
• Cool-season grasses: These varieties are ideal for areas with cold winters and temperate summers. They usually experience most growth in autumn and spring with rest during the winter. That being said, the most common types of cool-season grasses include Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Fine Fescue and Tall Fescue.
• Fertilizing: Fertilizing is an important part of lawn treatment, as it delivers essential nutrients that your soil may not have in adequate supply. Key nutrients N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) are required in different ratios for optimal growth in various types of grass. The percentage of each nutrient will be printed on fertilizer bags with an N-P-K label. Just be sure to choose the appropriate Fertilizer burn can occur, especially if you apply more than 1 inch of water over a month and when temperatures are hot.

Mowing Techniques & Height

Essential to having a beautiful lawn is treating it properly and ensuring that you mow it correctly.

The way you mow and the height at which you cut your grass have a huge impact on the overall health of your lawn. You can ruin your lawn by mowing it the wrong way, and that makes it vulnerable to disease, weeds and other problems.

• Mowing Height: Each type of grass is successful as a stand in its own tried-and-tested range. Scalping Grass out too short can damage the root system and result in a sparse lawn that is more susceptible to injury. Conversely, allowing grass to get too tall will affect air flow and create disease and pest problems.
• Sharp Blades: Mowing with dull blades rips the grass instead of making a clean cut, leaving jagged edges that can brown out and make your lawn more susceptible to disease and insect damage. Keep your mower blades sharp to ensure a clean cut and a healthy lawn, or simply replace the old blades if they are too dull.
• Mowing Patterns: Changing the direction in which you mow will help reduce soil compaction and ruts. Changing up the mowing direction horizontally, vertically or diagonally encourages even grass growth and helps contain some of those unsightly weeds!

Watering Your Lawn

Good watering is key to a good looking lawn. Utilize water resources and provide just enough moisture to grass.

Water Sparingly but Deeply: Most lawns need around 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, depending on the type of grass and your local climate.

Aim to water your lawn less frequently but more deeply, which promotes strong roots. Watering one to two times per week for extended periods allows for deeper penetration into the soil, thus irrigation results in a more drought tolerant and vigorous lawn.

Time of Day: The best time to water is early in the morning so that the water can seep into the soil before the heat rises throughout the day. Water in the early hours or late afternoon to prevent water evaporation.

You should also not water in the evening because prolonged moisture can result and increase susceptibility to lawn diseases.

Lawn Aeration

Compressed soil, or thatch layering on your lawn over time can impede air, water and nutrient intake. Lawn aeration is one of the most important lawn maintenance processes for maintaining healthy, attractive grass.

A process in which you poke holes into the soil so that air, water, and nutrients can reach a lawn’s roots more easily. This is also a great solution for high-traffic lawns or those with dense clay soils. It is most effective to aerate when your grass has reached it’s peak growing season and you can use a spike or plug aerator.

Weed Control

If left unchecked, weeds can easily take over and compete with your grass for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Weed control is important for a healthy lawn.

• Pre-Emerge Weed Killers: They work by inhibiting weed seeds from germinating and installed prior to the start of the season. The timing is crucial for pre-emergent herbicides to be effective, thus it’s important that you time the application appropriately based on the recommendation in your region.
• Post-Emergent Herbicides: This group of herbicide will eliminate weeds that have already emerged including dandelions, clover and crabgrass. Apply post-emergent herbicides when weeds are actively growing, but before they go to seed.

Overseeding & Lawn Repair

The fact is, foot traffic, pests or diseases can cause thin or bare lawn patches over time. In those instances, overseeding is a good way to replenish its look and health.

• Overseeding: Overseeding is the act of spreading new grass seed over your existing lawn to help fill thin, damaged or sparse areas and increase the overall density of your turf. Selecting the right seed mix and using sound overseeding techniques can breathe new life into your lawn, making it more even and attractive.
• Timing: When to over-seed The best time to overseed will depend on the grass variety you have. Overseed cool season lawns early in the fall, and overseed warm season lawns in late spring to early summer. This timing gives young seedlings time to take root before the best growing season.
• Soil Preparation: Prior to overseeding, mow the lawn to a lower height and rake away any debris. This technique promotes good seed-to-soil contact and helps to encourage the germination of any new seedlings.

Professional Lawn Care Services in Albuquerque Are Worth the Investment

Albuquerque lawn care can be such a pain and time commitment for the average homeowner. Lawn Service Bloomington MN. With our professional lawn care services, you can guarantee that your lawn stays healthy and looking great year-round.

Composting: Compost your organic waste which breaks down to add valuable nutrients to your soil. Make a compost pile out of grass clippings, leaves or wood chips and use the resulting compost as an all-natural fertilizer for your lawn or plants.

Organic Fertilizers: In this type of fertilizers, nutrients are extracted from natural sources like plant and animal material. Organic fertilizers, which tend to release nutrients more slowly than synthetic types, are also less likely to damage your lawn after heavy rain or local water sources.

Corn Gluten Meal: This naturally derived byproduct of corn processing functions as a pre-emergent herbicide, natural nitrogen fertilizer (naturally 60% N), an organic matter, and it will kill the “weed” grasses while allowing lawn and flowers to thrive.

Biological Pest Control: Instead of insecticides you might consider biological pest control methods such as placing beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings which feed on aphids, mites and other pests.

Advantages of Professional Lawn Care

Companies such as ours provide expert advice, years of expertise and knowledge, special equipment that most homeowners aren’t capable of owning or handling.

When using lawn care experts, you’ll receive customized lawn work solutions to your specific lawn requirements with years of industry experience behind us.

At R & S Landscaping, we provide a variety of professional lawn care services to help keep your yard looking great.

From fertilization and weed control, to aeration and pest control, our team will be there for you with our custom-tailored service program that best fits your lawn’s challenges. Save yourself the time, effort and peace of mind of relying on industry professionals to maintain your lawn.

Paying attention to the advice shared in this ultimate guide and teaming up with a professional lawn care service such as R & S Landscaping can help you obtain –– and keep –– your dream lawn.

Reap the numerous rewards and enjoyment of having a rich, green grass for many years to come!

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to work hard to get a lush, healthy, beautiful lawn. This ultimate guide to lawn care has provided you with the information and tools to keep your yard lush and beautiful. By knowing your grass type and climate, proper soil management, mowing and watering correctly, maintaining weeds and pests at bay can mean a beautiful green lawn for you 365 days a year.

Trust R & S Landscaping for Your Lawn Care Needs

For those looking for professional help maintaining their lawn, R & S Landscaping is your source for reliable lawn care services. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing custom tailored services & treatments specific to your lawns needs. Give your yard the love it deserves, and reap the benefits of expert knowledge and support.

Are you ready to realize the full potential of your lawn?

Contact R & S Landscaping today for a free estimate, and let our professionals work with you to create the healthy and beautiful lawn you’ve always wanted!