With fall fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about your landscape maintenance. This might be exciting news for some homeowners in Calgary. However, for others, it stirs up a feeling of dread as maintaining the lawn is not an easy task.
Here are simple tips for Calgary homeowners to maintain landscape and ensure a lush, green lawn all year round.
Mowing and Edging
Ensure you don’t mow too low to avoid exposing the grass to diseases. Sharpen the mower blade at least once every season as cutting with a dull blade is injurious to your turf. Make sure you mow at least weekly to prevent your grass from getting too long, which can easily damage your mower.
After mowing, the next thing is to edge the turf as it creates a separation between the turf and bed areas, which prevents the grass from growing into the beds. Although a gas-powered edger works very well, a weedeater, when held vertically, can also do the job.
Watering
Overwatering can be as dangerous as not watering because grasses need oxygen to survive. Turfs need watering weekly or three to five watering per week during the dry season. Consider watering deeply but less frequently. However, the slope and composition of the lawn will affect the watering times and frequencies.
Fertilization
When the grass lacks nutrients, it affects the lawn’s appearance, with the yard turning brownish. It’s necessary to fertilize three to five times per annum. It would be best if you fertilize when its below 80 degrees. When the lawn is topdressed or aerated, a reduction in fertilization is advised.
Aeration and Dethatching
Compacted soil hampers the plant’s growth by keeping water from passing through the earth. If this is the case in your lawn, there’s a need to aerate. To do so, you can either use a hand rake or hire a core aerator to perforate the ground. This allows air and water to penetrate deeply into the soil.
While aeration loosens the soil, dethatching helps reduce the layer of organic debris lying on its top layer. A three-quarter-inch layer is healthy, but anything more than that should be raked away. You can use either a power dethatcher or a thatching rake.
Weed and Moss Control
Healthy lawns minimize weeds. Knowing the appropriate mowing height, frequency of mowing, sharp blades, soil amendment, and mowing frequency will help you maintain a healthy lawn. Weeds can be removed with a herbicide or by hand.
On the other hand, moss usually forms in shady areas where the soil is not conducive to healthy lawns. Pruning helps to expose the grass to more sunlight and prevent moss growth. Also, consider applying moss removers, and then overseed the bare areas. It’s essential to do this during early spring as some moss removers can damage the lawn in warmer temperatures.
Pest Control
Insects, bugs, critters, moles, and other animals can litter and damage your beautiful plants. Therefore, we recommend spraying pesticides. Consider hiring a professional landscaper to do this if you can’t or grow ill tasting plants to prevent pests from coming back to your garden.
To ensure your lawn maintains that healthy, lush greenness throughout the year, you have to invest in its maintenance. An unhealthy, withered looking lawn will affect the overall appearance of your landscape. Contact Project Landscape for expert advice on landscape maintenance in Calgary.
