Rockland, Maine
Lawn Care for Rockland 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 Rockland 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 the Northeast
The Northeastern region of the U.S. is noted for its hot summers and snow-laden winters. Because of this, lawn care Rockland practices should coordinate with local climate patterns in order to ensure that lawns remain green and healthy year-round.
Common grass types in the Northeast include:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Creeping red fescue
- Hard fescue
- Perennial ryegrass
- Tall fescue
Spring
Most lawns in the Northeast feature cool-season grass varieties that are more vibrant in the fall and winter than spring or summer.
To prevent it from dying in the off season, apply pre-emergent herbicides and grub control. Allow it to go dormant by watering and mowing only once a week.
Check the soil pH and add lime if it’s less than 6.0. Keep grass seed around to overseed areas that got damaged during the winter.
Summer
This is the off season for Northeastern lawns, so allow the grass to go dormant and set a regular irrigation schedule.
Avoid using herbicides at this point and focus on fertilizing and watering consistently, but minimally. You should not be cutting more than 1/3 of the grass blades at once.
Once the season starts to cool, add nitrogen-only fertilizer and water slightly to avoid damage from drought.
Fall
Fall is ideal for cool-season grasses found in the Northeast. Take the time to overseed, aerate, and dethatch under the cooler temperatures.
You can fertilize easily with natural materials by raking up the fallen leaves and combining it with grass clippings to make compost.
Continue watering new plants and overseeded lawns until the temperature freezes the water. Then wait until it gets warmer before watering again. Mowing should also continue, but wind down towards the end of the season to make sure there is enough to sustain it during the winter.
Winter
Heavy snowstorms can dominate the Northeast during the winter.
Mark off the edges of your lawn before the snow arrives so that you don’t accidentally plow the grass while removing snow. Likewise, refrain from walking on the lawn when it snows so that it doesn’t become damaged.
Take advantage of the downtime to service your lawn mower and think about the type of fertilizer you want to use for spring. Check the driver belt, spark plugs, oil and stabilizer tanks and make repairs so that it’s ready to go once the temperature warms up.
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 Rockland lawn service company that is better equipped to tend to your lawn’s specific needs. Hiring a professional lawn care service in Rockland 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 Rockland lawn grow to its fullest potential – call or sign up today!
