Every spring, before the grass, turns green and starts to grow, mow the lawn. The lawn receives its signal to begin growing when the old, dead tips are cut off. The sooner your lawn begins to grow, the more effectively you can crowd out weeds before they emerge.

How frequently should I mow?

The norm is to mow your lawn once a week, but some lawns require more frequent maintenance. Some lawns, which grow more slowly, might only require cutting every ten or two weeks. Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Any more could endanger the grass. Instead of considering when the lawn was last mowed, think how long it is.

Mowing Advice

Blades should always be sharp. Instead of cutting the grass blades, dull mower blades often rip them. Every broken blade provides a path for disease and stresses the lawn. Avoid mowing a lawn when it’s wet if at all possible to avoid the same issue. If you attempt to mow a wet lawn, you’ll create ruts and the grass will start to lean over, making it challenging to get a good cut.

Feel free to leave the clippings after mowing as long as your lawn is healthy and there are no thatch issues. Mulching is beneficial, but it is not required. Your lawn won’t be harmed if the clippings aren’t too much. In a short amount of time, the clippings will decompose and supply nitrogen to your lawn.

Let it Develop

Your lawn’s root system will extend the longer you allow it to grow (in terms of length, not necessarily time). Your lawn will be healthier and more resilient to stress if its root system is longer. Less watering is required for lawns that are more resilient to drought and stress. Additionally, studies have shown that by limiting the amount of sunlight that weed seeds receive, the number of weeds in the lawn can be decreased by allowing the grass to grow to a length of 212 to 3 inches. Longer blades also provide more surface area for photosynthesis, which gives the grass more energy and food to sustain life. Make the season’s final cut the shortest one possible. The likelihood of matting, which contributes to winter kill damage, is decreased by cutting the lawn short for the winter.

Don’t have time to mow your lawn or maintain it? Call Lola’s Landscape for your seasonal package deal that best suits your home. Learn more today!

It’s the best time of year for fall fanatics! Preparing for fall is such a drastic change from spring and summer that many see it as a breath of fresh air after the hot summer months. With many favorites that everyone can identify, it’s fun to see fall home projects start popping up in your neighborhood. Preparing for fall is actually fairly easy, and there are a ton of ways to make sure you’re all ready by the time cool weather is here to stay and fall is well underway!

Clear Out the Gutters

As the weather starts to get cooler, it’s common for leaves to start falling, pointing to the start of the fall season. If the leaves don’t get removed, they can clog gutters and lead to serious roof damage. If you find yourself struggling to keep up with water coming into the house, it’s likely that panels are damaged. Take a look, and you might notice the gutters are too full of fall leaves.

Drain Lawn Care Equipment of Fluids

Don’t put away your mower or weed whacker without draining it of the fuel needed to keep it running. Any leftover fuel can damage the equipment and give you problems come spring when it’s time to get things back out again.

Prepare for Winter, Even if it Seems Early

It’s not necessarily going to snow in October but getting ready now means you’re prepared for anything that winter might throw your way. Plus, you’re likely making room by storing things from summer, so take some initiative and stock up on salt, as well as fuel for the snowblower.

Fertilize for Fall

Grass goes through something fierce during the fall and winter. Taking time to fertilize now will make a difference when things thaw out after winter and spring show a lawn that’s weathered the weather. Taking time to fertilize now gives your grass the strength it needs to handle snow, freezing temps, and even the random heat rushes we get late in September and into October sometimes.

Check Your HVAC Now Before Issues Pop Up Later

As you transition from air conditioning to heating sooner than later, make sure to get your HVAC serviced. This could be as simple as something being replaced or renewed, and really not cause much of a headache. It helps to be proactive here because when temps start dropping hard, you don’t want to be left without heat.