Maintaining your lawn and taking care of your garden can have a huge impact on your home’s appearance. Your garden is one of the first things that people notice when they enter your house so a well-maintained lawn will make a strong first impression. Additionally, having a garden and taking care of it can be a great and relaxing hobby that you can enjoy doing alone or with your family. If you are new to this then keep reading for a useful guide on how to take care of your garden and maintain your lawn.
Mow Your Lawn
It is essential to regularly mow your lawn to keep your garden well-maintained. This is because trimming the grass will give the chance for the roots to easily spread thus blocking the weeds and filling any gaps. So, make sure that during the summer you mow your lawn once a week, and for the rest of the year, mow it once every couple of weeks. Additionally, you should check your mower every once in a while to make sure that the blades are still sharp and working properly.
Edging
If you want to increase your curb’s appeal and your house’s value as well then you should edge your lawn. Edging is a lot similar to getting a new haircut as it will give your garden a neat and fresh look. The easiest way to edge your lawn is by using cordless strimmers. According to the reviews on DIY Garden’s best recommended cordless strimmers, there are many types that you can choose from so you have to check the speed, battery, weight, power, and charge time of various strimmers to find the right one for your needs. You don’t have to edge your lawn as often as you mow it, just once a year is enough, preferably in late June though.
Fertilizers and Water
Nothing can survive without food or water. Therefore, you will have to water and feed your garden regularly. You feed your garden by fertilizing your lawn using a fertilizer spreader. The best time to apply fertilizer is right before it rains since it will allow it to reach the root directly without burning any leaf blades. That being said, predicting the rain isn’t always possible, and many people live in dry areas where it doesn’t often rain. In this case, you will need to water your garden using a hose after applying the fertilizer. Additionally, it is recommended to use organic fertilizers because they are a much healthier option than chemical ones. Last but not least, feed your lawn only twice a year; during midsummer and spring.
Thatching
Root stems, dead leaves, and grass tend to grow between the soil and leaves creating an organic matter layer that can foster mold. This can result in obstructing the necessary nutrients and moisture from entering the soil and reaching the roots. Recognizing this area is fairly easy. When touching the ground, it will feel more like a sponge and the lawn will start to look dull and colorless. In order to remedy this situation, you will have to get rid of the mulch from your lawn using tools like a rake. That said, you should only do this process when your lawn is dry to avoid damaging your grass.
Break up Compacted Soil
Garden bed soil can become compacted after the winter, and the beds will be covered with thin and thick layers of leaves. In this case, you will only need to remove the thick layers of leaves and leave the thin ones. The thin layer of leaves won’t cause any harm as you can mulch over them in the future. Loosening your soil is vital since it will allow the oxygen to reach the roots. You will require a spade for this process but if it is a small area, you can simply use hand tools. That said, it isn’t just your flower beds that can get compacted, the same can happen to your lawn as well. If you notice that your lawn is declining then you should aerate it to make it easy for the air and water to reach the roots. Simply put, you are allowing your lawn to breathe so it can grow. The best time to do this process is during the fall.
Taking care of your garden and maintaining your lawn won’t take much time or effort but it will give you a sense of accomplishment. As a matter of fact, it has been proven that gardening can reduce stress and depression because it keeps you busy, and watching something that you work on grows can make a person happy and improve their mental health as well. So keep working on your lawn and you will notice the impact it has on your garden, house, and emotional wellbeing.
Sources:
https://www.almanac.com/content/10-tips-maintaining-beautiful-yard
https://www.lovethegarden.com/uk-en/article/7-lawn-care-tips
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/top-lawn-care-tips/
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