Cripple Creek, Colorado
Lawn Care Cripple Creek: Why You Need It
Protecting the health of your lawn is an important aspect of maintaining your home and property. Regular maintenance can boost curb appeal and protect your home from experiencing pests or water damage. By curating even grass height and healthy soil, good lawn care is able to contribute to the value of your property and to the surrounding neighborhood.
Due to recurring problems every season, it's vital to practice lawn care on a regular basis. Hiring professional lawn care in Cripple Creek could be worthwhile, particularly with the amount of tools, products, and equipment needed to get lawns into great condition. This can help reinvigorate your lawn's appearance, while allowing you more time to enjoy it during the year. See below for more information on common lawn care techniques:
Mowing— Mowing grass to the incorrect height is among the most common mistakes in lawn care. There are some grass types that require a different mowing regimen based on the season. Cutting grass too short can lead to scalping, which damages the roots and stems. To avoid damaging the lawn, it's vital to cut grass down to its appropriate height for the season.
Watering— Plants need water, but not excessively so. Overwatering could stunt grass growth by causing it to grow shallower roots. This could even lead to an increased exposure to weeds and lawn diseases. Regardless, watering is an essential part of lawn care, particularly when droughts occur. For most lawns, it is more beneficial to water deeply and infrequently as opposed to flooding the soil.
Fertilizing— One of the most important techniques for growing strong, healthy grass is fertilization. When fertilizing, a few things should be considered, such as climate, grass type, and type of fertilizer. Fertilizers are available in organic or synthetic varieties, including food compost and nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus. Although most people believe using more fertilizer means faster growth, this isn't necessarily true. Over-fertilizing should actually be avoided.
Aerating— Although it's mostly used as a remedy for compacted soil, healthy lawns can still benefit from having aeration done. As the soil loosens up, water, oxygen, and other nutrients are able to better reach the roots of plants. If you live in a region that endures heavy rains or foot traffic on lawns, you may need to aerate the soil at some point.
Southwestern Lawn Care Techniques
Weather has a major impact on lawn care, including homes in Cripple Creek with lawns featuring common Southwestern grass types. Warm-season grasses may be able to survive in extended periods of heat, but year-round care and maintenance are still needed. This generally means consistent care during the summer and spring with minor care in the cooler seasons. Read on to see additional lawn care tips for a healthy lawn in the Southwest.
For the best results in lawn care, combine regular watering, fertilizing, weed control, and maintenance throughout the year.
- Bermuda
- Zoysia
- St. Augustine
Spring
With its dry climate and desert landscape, the Southwest takes in less rain than most other regions in the country. For this reason, cities in the Southwest, including Cripple Creek, may become sensitive to drought. Fixing the sprinkler or irrigation system beforehand can help prevent high temperatures from affecting new plants.
Apply broadleaf weed killer to stop weeds from growing and spreading across your lawn. Read the label of herbicide products carefully before purchasing.
Use sods or plugs to plant new warm-season lawns. It is best to do this before the summer arrives and the heat prevents grass from rooting into the soil.
Lawn thatch that has grown over the winter can sometimes block nutrients from reaching the roots. To help plants receive these nutrients, dethatch the grass to unblock the soil.
Summer
Compared to other regions, Southwestern lawns are at the highest risk of extreme drought. Drought can lead to lawns going dormant. If this is the case, scale back on watering to at least once a week.
Fertilizer should not be applied in the summer. Extreme temperatures could cause it to burn rather than help the soil.
Set sprinklers to go off early in the morning so that the lawn has the entire day to evaporate. This can also get rid of beetle larvae, which feed on plant roots.
Fall
Once the temperatures are low and cool enough, pre-emergent herbicide can be applied effectively to get rid of weeds.
For homes at higher elevations, planting cool-season grasses are a great idea. Higher-elevated areas offer the best chance at receiving heavier rains and cooler temperatures.
When the leaves begin to fall, it can make it difficult for lawns to receive the sunlight they need. Try raking and removing leaves once a week to help grass grow.
The summer heat could potentially cause fungus and diseases to appear. Catching these growths can help prevent damage from incurring on your lawn.
Winter
As winter arrives, many Southwestern lawns will go dormant. Foot traffic should be limited in order to prevent damage.
Pocket gophers can also pose a problem for lawns in the winter. They can be helpful in aerating the soil, but also destroy crops.
Combine your lawn's grass seeds with annual ryegrass, a cool-season grass variety. This helps fill in the places that may go bare as the warm-season grass goes dormant for the winter. Regular mowing and watering should follow once overseeding is complete.
The winter is also a good time to apply pre-emergent herbicide as it will help stop weeds in the summertime.
Get Professional Lawn Care Today!
Building your lawn and maintaining it can be a satisfying hobby, but you may need a helping hand from time to time. Along with other household tasks, lawn care can easily become a major project to manage. As a consequence, your lawn may start to degrade, decrease in value, and disorganize your property.
Get help from an experienced Cripple Creek lawn care service that can pinpoint your lawn's needs. Having a professional lawn care company take care of your lawn can save valuable time and money. Above all, it'll help save you from potential damages later on. Get started on a green and healthy lawn today by contacting a Cripple Creek lawn care company now!
