4 Common Lawn Care Myths You Should Know About
The lawn,
for some, is a display of pride—a pocket of nature that an individual can
customize to their own liking. As such, there are common lawn care tips that
pros and hobbyists alike actively share. Some of them, however, ring truer than
others. Those who base their routines off the old wives’ tales may not realize
that many common beliefs regarding lawn care are not as accurate as we would
like to think. Listed are some common lawn
care myths and what makes them untrue.
1. Sowing Seeds in Spring is
Best
While many people would be quick to believe that spring is
the best time to sow grass seeds, that isn’t totally correct. If you sow your
seeds before the summer, they’ll be growing in conjunction with weeds, which
can overtake them. An ideal time to plant seeds would be within the first
couple weeks of September when the weather is consistent, but it isn’t too cold
to affect the root’s growth.
2. You Can Water Your Lawn at Any Time of Day
Well, you can, but
should you? It’s easy to think that any water is good water, but it’s still
useful to strategize how we use it in order to achieve the best results. Early
morning or evening is an ideal time of day as you’re dealing with cooler
temperatures. A harsh sun is going to evaporate the water faster, so you want
to avoid the time of day when the heat is strongest.
3. You Should Rake Your Leaves
This is a typical thing to hear, but it may cause more harm
than good. Many people dislike raking a giant leaf pile, especially when it
ends up getting spread around by a particularly harsh gust of wind. The truth
is, decomposing leaves become a free source of mulch and fertilizer for your grass.
Plus, opting out of using a leaf blower cuts back on pollution.
4. You Should Cut Your Grass Short
Also called scalping, an extremely short trim is not
something you want to do. It may make your life a bit easier by giving you a
couple extra days in-between maintenance, but this is actually one of the most
harmful things that you can do to your lawn. When you cut your grass too short,
you damage the turf and weaken the grass. Being too rough on your turf can
eventually cause dead grass as well as weed pollution.
