Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Lawn Care for Pea Ridge Homes
Maintaining the health of your lawn is an important aspect of caring for your home. Not only does frequent maintenance boost curb appeal, but it can also prevent structural damages caused by water and pests. In keeping the grass trim, soil healthy, and edges neat, good lawn care adds lasting value to your property and to the neighborhood.
Since new problems can surface every season, it’s important to regularly perform lawn care. Hiring a professional lawn care service in Pea Ridge can be worthwhile, especially with all the tools, products, and equipment needed to keep lawns in good condition. This way, you’ll achieve a refreshed appearance for your lawn and more time to enjoy a healthy lawn year-round. Here is more information about common lawn care practices:
Mowing— One of the most common lawn care mistakes is mowing at the incorrect height. Depending on the season and climate, different grass types will vary in mowing schedules. Cutting one’s lawn too short may lead to scalping, which can destroy the roots and stems. To prevent lawn damage, it’s important to mow the lawn according to the recommended height for the grass type.
Watering— Plants need water to thrive. However, overwatering can damage your lawn by causing it to grow shallower roots. This causes lawns to become more susceptible to weeds and diseases, leading to widespread lawn damage. At the same time, it’s also important to water when necessary, especially during periods of drought. For most lawns, it is more beneficial to water lawns deeply and infrequently rather than flooding the soil at once.
Fertilizing— Fertilization is another key practice in growing strong, healthy grass. There are a number of factors to consider when fertilizing, including climate, grass type, and the type of fertilizer. Fertilizers can be made from organic materials, like food compost and grass clippings or synthetic material containing nitrogen, potassium, or phosphorus. Keep in mind that adding more fertilizer does not necessarily accelerate the growth of your lawn. This is a common mistake that should be avoided.
Aerating— Although this technique is commonly used to remedy compacted lawns, it can also benefit healthy lawns. By breaking up the soil, aeration allows for oxygen, water, and nutrients to flow more easily. Regions with heavy rainfall and lawns that receive heavy foot traffic are more likely to need aeration.
More about Lawn Care in Southern Cities
In most places, including Pea Ridge, lawn care can change depending on the season and what type of grass you have. For most Southern cities, having warm-season grass involves heavy maintenance in the summer and spring and less activity in the fall and winter. Some of the most common grass types found in the South are warm-season grasses, such as:
To keep a lawn healthy, a combination of watering, fertilizing, weed control, and general maintenance should be utilized year-round.
- Bermuda
- Bahia
- Centipede
- Zoysia
- St. Augustine
Spring
In the South, the spring offers one of the best times to prepare and build a new lawn. This is due to the ideal weather combination of warm temperatures, slight humidity, and periodic rain, which all contribute to healthy-growing lawns.
If you mixed in a cool-season grass while overseeding during the winter, make sure it dies off completely before beginning a mowing schedule. If you didn’t overseed for the winter, begin fertilizing with a spring fertilizer treatment.
Create a regular mowing schedule once fertilizer has been applied and the weather becomes progressively warmer.
Pre-emergent herbicide should be applied before it gets too hot – otherwise, it could kill the plants.
Tweak and test drive lawn mowers to prepare for the high growth season of summer.
Summer
Southern lawns thrive in the summer. This means mowing becomes more frequent and pests and diseases will need to be watched for. To prepare for the mid-summer heat, perform overhaul tasks such as aerating, dethatching, and fertilizing.
Regular watering is essential to the survival of Southern lawns in the summer. Using either a garden hose or irrigation system, water the lawn in the morning so that it has the entire day to evaporate.
Set the lawn mower blades low enough to cut more grass. Anticipate mowing at least twice a week. Grass that is lower deters pests and weeds more effectively, reducing the need for weed or pest control.
Soil can become compacted if there is too much or too little watering. To remedy this, aerate the lawn periodically to make sure water and oxygen are reaching the roots.
If you need to reseed any bald patches, do it late in the summer just before the season turns cool. Warm-season grass seeds require warmth in order to root and grow properly.
Fall
Fall is the time to preserve and prepare Southern lawns for colder temperatures. Switch over to fall fertilizers and apply the last bit of pre-emergent herbicide. Mix in cool-season grass seeds, such as annual ryegrass, to overseed and strengthen your lawn against the cold.
With watering, cut it back to twice a day for 10 minutes to allow the ryegrass to grow. Do not mow more than once a week or its growth will be stunted.
If your lawn has gone dormant, stop watering and allow the grass to grow and strengthen. You can still mow a dormant lawn, but avoid scalping it.
Winter
If your grass turns brown, don’t panic – most Southern lawns go brown in the winter as a sign of dormancy. Once the weather warms up, it will likely turn back to green.
If the winter is turning out to be a dry one, water the lawn once a week to keep it hydrated and alive. Even dormant lawns need to be watered periodically to keep it from dying.
During this time, refrain from mowing non-overseeded lawns and mow slightly with overseeded lawns. Lower the frequency of watering, especially when frosts occur. You should also take this time to service your lawn mower to make sure it’s ready for spring.
Weeds can pose a major problem in the winter. Dig them up when you see them or apply a spot-spray like Roundup on warm days to prevent them from seeding and spreading. For taller weeds, use a lawn mower to get rid of them (this should be the only time you mow a lawn in the winter).
Most of all, Southern lawns in the winter should remain as untouched as much as possible. Because the grass isn’t growing as fast, foot traffic can cause damage that lawns may have difficulty recovering from.
Get Professional Help Today!
Planting and maintaining a lawn can be a rewarding experience; however, constant upkeep can be challenging. On top of other household priorities, lawn care can easily go from being a simple side project to an overwhelming task. As a result, your lawn may begin to deteriorate, causing your property to lose value and fall into disrepair.
To prevent this from happening, seek help from a Pea Ridge lawn service company that is better equipped to tend to your lawn’s specific needs. Hiring a professional lawn care service in Pea Ridge not only saves time, but also helps you achieve a beautiful lawn more efficiently. More importantly, it saves you from spending money on costly damages. Reach out to a lawn expert today who knows how to make your Pea Ridge lawn grow to its fullest potential – call or sign up today!
