Having a thick green carpet for a lawn looks and feels great; unfortunately, it doesn’t grow like that on its own. The level of lawn maintenance required for your yard will depend on how immaculate you want it to be—that perfect, even suburban grass many are fond of takes quite a bit of work, while basic lawn care will take much less. We at Eagleson Landscape Co. have acquired much experience over the years from grooming and nurturing numerous landscapes. Here is our advice for growing a healthy, lovely lawn:
Lawn Mowing Advice
The goal of our mowing method is doing what is healthiest for the grass while still avoiding overgrowth. We cut lawns to 3 ½ inches, which keeps them thick and full and happy. Cutting below 3 inches risks killing your grass. Your yard should not look like it has been scalped to the crown of the dirt. We prefer changing the mowing pattern weekly to biweekly so the grass doesn’t lay down in the same direction. The blades become long and slanted when they lean one way too many times, making it more difficult to cut. Mowing can also be a challenge if you wait too long, especially during spring and summer, when you will likely need to mow once a week. Long grass makes for a bunch of clippings, which you will have to spend time and labor raking up afterwards. This leftover grass doesn’t always need to be cleared off—it can break down and feed your lawn again. However, if there is a thick layer of clippings, it could smother your grass and block it from the sun. If your lawn has gotten very long, you can bag the clippings to avoid raking.
Watering Your Lawn
The best time to water your lawn is early morning (we recommend 5 AM) or late evening. If you water during the middle of the day, your grass can get burned. The best way to tell if your yard needs a drink is to feel the ground. If the soil is hard and dry, get out the hose. You can keep track of what the weather’s doing and base your watering needs off rainy and dry times. When it’s monsooning in early spring, you won’t have to touch your sprinkler or irrigation system, but during any hot, dry summer weeks you will need to make it rain. Windy days are deceptive; the wind actually dries everything out fast even if it is not that hot out. The good news is you will really have to neglect your lawn for it to completely die from lack of water. Here in Indiana, it will usually take a drought to kill your grass. But all in all, a thirsty lawn is a sickly lawn—it won’t look nice for you.
Fertilizing Your lawn
Depending on what you plan to accomplish, there are 4 to 5 different stages of fertilizing. Some are just to boost the green in your grass—others include herbicides. To get started, test the soil of your yard to determine the proper grade fertilizer you need. If you don’t want to get that technical, you can research and choose a brand-name fertilizer that will most likely work on your lawn. Apply most of the fertilizer in fall rather than spring. Use no more than 1 lb N/1000 ft2 in a single application if you have a quick-release fertilizer. Spread the fertilizer in two directions (we recommend a rotary spreader for speed and convenience). Sweep up any scattered fertilizer on sidewalks, driveways or streets. Water your lawn immediately after.
Eagleson Landscape Co. maintains lawns to give our clients the neat, healthy landscape they are looking for. Though there is nothing wrong with clover or violets in your yard, we find that many homeowners yearn for the perfect green grass carpet—the tidy suburban look. To make a lawn immaculate, it will need continuous maintenance and regular applications of fertilizer and weed-killer. Call Eagleson Landscape Co. at 317-997-4803 or email us to discuss options or ask our landscaping experts any questions you may have.
Eagleson Landscape Company provides landscape and hardscape services in the Greater Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Zionsville, Westfield, Fishers and Geist.
