Belton, Texas
Getting Lawn Care in Belton
Guarding the health of your lawn is an important part of taking care of your home. Not only can regular maintenance enhance curb appeal, it also protects the home's structure from experiencing water or pest damage. With trim grass, healthy soil, and neat edges, good lawn care can add value to your property and to the neighborhood.
Because new problems can arise every season, it's important to regularly practice lawn care. Finding help through professional lawn care in Belton can be worth it, especially with the amount of tools and equipment required to keep lawns in spotless condition. This helps establish a new and revived appearance for your lawn, as well as more time to enjoy it throughout the year. Read on to learn more about common lawn care practices used by professionals and homeowners alike:
Mowing— Mowing at the incorrect height is one of the most common mistakes in lawn care. Some grass types require a different mowing schedule, depending on the season and climate. Mowing your grass too low can cause scalping, which destroys the roots and stems. To avoid lawn damage, grass should be cut to the appropriate height for the season.
Watering— Even though plants need plenty of water to grow, overwatering could limit grass growth. This may lead to lawns becoming exposed to weeds and diseases. Nevertheless, watering is essential, especially during seasons of drought. For the most part, lawns are best watered in a deep and infrequent cycle rather than a single flooding.
Fertilizing— Fertilizing your lawn is a major part of growing strong and healthy grass. There are some things to consider when fertilizing, such as the climate, grass type, and grade of fertilizer. Fertilizers can be organic or synthetic, composed of food compost or created with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus nutrients. Despite popular belief, adding more fertilizer does not mean grass will grow faster. In fact, over-fertilizing should be avoided at all costs.
Aerating— Aeration may be commonly used on lawns with compacted soil, but even healthy ones can still benefit from having it done. In loosening the soil, more air can reach the roots of plants, in addition to more nutrients and water. If your lawn is in a region that experiences heavy rain or foot traffic on lawns, it's likely you will need to aerate the soil at some point.
Lawn Care in the South
In most areas, including Belton, lawn care methods and schedules change based on the season and type of grass you have. For most Southern states, the prevalence of warm-season grass types entail frequent maintenance in the spring and summer and low maintenance in the fall and winter. Among the most common grass types found in the South are:
In order to maintain a healthy lawn year round, a mixture of watering, fertilizing, herbicides, and other lawn care techniques should be implemented.
- Bermuda
- Bahia
- Centipede
- Zoysia
- St. Augustine
Spring
In the South, spring provides an optimal time to build a new lawn and strengthen it before summer arrives. The combination of warm temperatures, humidity, and occasional rain all contribute to healthy grass.
Lawns that have been overseeded with a mixture of cool-season grass seeds should grow them all out before restarting a mowing schedule for the spring. If your lawn hasn't been overseeded, use a spring fertilizer treatment to encourage growth.
Establish a mowing schedule once the fertilizer has been applied and the weather warms.
Before it gets too hot, apply pre-emergent herbicide if you need. Applying it under hot temperatures could actually damage the plants.
Test drive the lawn mower and make any maintenance tweaks to prepare it for the summer growth season.
Summer
Summer is the time for Southern lawns to grow and flourish. Be prepared to mow more frequently and combat pests and diseases. Consider performing overhaul tasks such as aeration, dethatching, and fertilization to strengthen grass against the summer heat.
Because of the heat, a regular watering schedule is crucial to the survival of lawns in the South. Implement an irrigation system or use a garden hose to distribute water in the mornings so that it can evaporate over the entire day.
Lower the lawn mower blades so that it cuts more grass at once. Be ready to mow at least twice a week. Lower grass helps deter pests and weeds, effectively reducing the need for weed and pest control.
Compacted soil can occur in two instances: when there is too much water and when there is not enough water. To fix this, aerate the soil from time to time to allow the water and oxygen to reach the roots.
If you see any bald patches, overseed late in the summer before temperatures turn cool. In order for warm-season grass seeds to root, warm temperatures are needed.
Fall
Fall lawn care in Belton should mostly be spent preparing for colder temperatures. Apply the last bit of pre-emergent herbicide and switch to using fall fertilizers. To further strengthen your lawn against the cold, mix in cool-season grass seeds while overseeding. Annual ryegrass is commonly used.
Scale back any watering to around 10 minutes twice a day to allow the new seeds to grow. Avoid mowing more than once a week or growth will be hindered.
Stop all watering if your lawn has gone dormant and wait for the grass to grow and strengthen. Dormant lawns can still be mowed, but scalping should be avoided.
Winter
Most lawns in the South will turn brown as the season grows colder and the grass goes dormant. As spring approaches, it will begin to turn back to green.
Water once a week to keep lawns hydrated during dry winters. Even dormant lawns need some water to keep from dying.
Avoid mowing a non-overseeded lawn during the winter, while mowing slightly on overseeded lawns. Reduce the rate of watering especially when frost arrives. Take advantage of the downtime to service and maintain your lawn mower.
Weeds can sometimes sprout in the winter. Dig them up manually or apply spot-spray to keep them from spreading. For taller weed varieties, a lawn mower will have to be used to get rid of them. This is the only time you should use a lawn mower in the winter.
For the most part, winter lawns in the South should remain as untouched as possible. Due to the slowed growth of the grass, any foot traffic could cause damage and have difficulty recovering.
Hire Professional Lawn Care Now!
Doing lawn care on your own can be rewarding, but it also involves a lot of work. Lawn can be time consuming, especially on top of other household priorities. This could lead to lawn deterioration, a drop in property value, and overall disrepair.
Avoid this by seeking help from a Belton lawn care expert. Allowing a professional lawn care company to take care of your lawn can help save valuable time and money spent on lawn care. You'll also save on costly damages by preventing them early on. What are you waiting for? Contact a Belton lawn care company today and get started on a healthy, green lawn now!
