4 Lawn Care secrets to having the BEST lawn on the block

We are going to share with you our 4 lawn care secrets to having the best lawn on the block.  We get calls all of the time that go a little like this… “How do we get the best looking lawn on the block?  I swear my husband is trying to have a turf war with the neighbor, but he’s losing the battle.  I think we need to bring in some lawn care professionals.  Can you guys help?”  The simple answer is, YES, we can help you establish an amazing lawn and/or bring it back from the dead.  However, you could do it also if you follow our proven steps.  We will expand on this article at a later time, but we want to lay the groundwork now.  Lawn care takes many forms, but we have found these 4 areas to be the most impactful.

Our SECRET SAUCE: shhh! Don’t tell anyone!

1. Mowing:  When we take over a property, the most common issue is the grass has been mowed way too short for far too long.  Most commercially available grasses do not like to be mowed short.  Most grasses that are common in the Meridian Kessler, Broad Ripple, Westfield or Fishers area like to be maintained at 3.5-4.25 inches.  We often see Tall Fescue or Bluegrass in our area.  The taller you mow the lawn, the deep the roots will go.  The deeper the roots, the healthier your lawn will be.

   

2. Fertilizing:  Would you agree that to be healthy, you should have a proper diet?  Same goes for your lawn.  Fertilization is nutrition for your lawn.  If you are able to maintain a consistent fertilizer regiment at the correct times of the year, then you will be 1 step closer to a great lawn.  You will need to select a plan that has the proper amount of N-P-K at the correct time of the year.  N stands for Nitrogen, nitrogen is great for growth in the lawn.  P stands for Phosphorus, phosphorus is great for root development.  K stands for Potassium, and Potassium is great for the plant resiliency towards stressors in the lawn.  I know this sounds a bit daunting, but it can be done and it’s not too difficult. The image below depicts a lawn that is getting fed properly.
3. Watering:  Just like a human, grass needs water too.  If you want a great lawn, you are going to need to water.  Aim to deliver 1-2 inches of water per week!  Now here is the kicker…You want to deliver all the water at 1 or 2 times.  You do NOT need to water the lawn daily.  That is actually detrimental to the health of the lawn.  We aim for deep and infrequent watering.  When you water deep and infrequent, you train the roots to dive deeper into the lawn to find water which helps the plant.  The image below is in need of water.

   

4. Aeration and Over-seeding:  The final step to our secret sauce.  Did you know that grass has a life span?  It’s true and if you do not add more seed on a yearly or bi-annual basis, you should expect to see thinning of the lawn.  As older grass plants begin to die, new seed needs to be added in order for it to germinate and fill in those bare or thinning areas.  Make sure to read the seed label and add the proper amount of seed after you finish core aerating the lawn.  Aeration is typically the missing link when a client is doing everything else properly.  Aeration is a very specialty service since it isn’t offered all year round.  There are only a few weeks when aeration and over-seeding are beneficial.  The image below shows aeration.

Now that you know the 4 secrets to having the BEST lawn on the block you have a bit of work to do.  While you get to work, we will start breaking down each of these segments for future blog posts.  It is very important to remember that you need to do all 4 (Mowing, Watering, Fertilizing and Aeration/Overseeding) to have a truly great lawn.  If you are missing one piece, you can’t have a great lawn.

If you are in need of some help and you live in the Indianapolis area, (Broad Ripple, Meridian Kessler, Westfield or Fishers)  we would be more than happy to help you achieve lawn domination!  You can reach us at 317-748-3153 or click here to submit and estimate request.

All the Best, 

Matt