We all want a beautiful, thick, uniform lawn – this is true even if you live in a mobile home with more limited yard space. You still want to show pride of ownership and your lawn is an easy place to start. The problem, though, is that the very things we do to get the lawn we want often wind up doing more damage than good. Here are 6 common lawn care mistakes that can ruin your yard in Lincoln – mistakes you must avoid.
1. Misidentification and Wrong Treatment for Problems
If your yard is unhealthy and you misdiagnose the problem and then use the wrong treatment, your yard could wind up looking even worse. Unfortunately, for mobile homes, especially used mobile homes, it’s often not your fault. The previous owner did not care for the lawn very well at all. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine whether your lawn is suffering from an insect problem or fungal issues. And the wrong treatment may simply exacerbate the problem, so be careful before starting a treatment plan. You may want to consult with a lawn specialist first.
2. Mowing Too Short
Mowing too short (and too often) prevents grass plants from developing vibrant foliage and deep strong roots. Developing deep strong roots is essential to getting a healthy lawn. Without deep strong roots, the plants aren’t able to take in nutrients and take up water as well. The plants then become susceptible to disease and vulnerable to pest attacks. Taller grass also shades weeds and impedes their growth, but, obviously, grass cut too short can’t do this. And then you’ll be inviting a weed infestation.
3. Waiting Too Late to Address Weed Problems
A related mistake is ignoring or waiting too long to address weed problems. Prevention is always better than a cure when it comes to weeds. But if the previous owner did not watch out for weeds or you do let weeds get established in your lawn, you need to see the cure as a long-term, ongoing process. There simply aren’t any quick fixes – like poisoning your lawn by over-dosing it with weed killer – in this situation.
4. Watering Too Often
Of the 6 lawn care mistakes that can ruin your yard in Lincoln, this is one that a lot of us are guilty of when hot, dry summer weather hits. In fact, watering too often can impact your lawn more adversely than not watering enough. Daily watering inhibits deep root growth, and then the grass plants won’t be hardy enough to survive harsh weather conditions. Think of it this way: stressed plants turn on their unique cellular defenses and this make them more vibrant. Remember the colorful veggies you find at a farmer’s market. They are colorful precisely because these veggies were stressed (purposely given a harsher environment).
5. Improper Feeding
When it comes to feeding your lawn, one size does not fit all and one type of fertilizer is not suitable year round. Regularly fertilizing is, of course, essential for a healthy lawn. But it needs to be the right fertilizer in the right amounts and at the right time.
For example, in late spring and early summer, you should use a fertilizer with slow-release nitrogen. Too much nitrogen too quick can “burn” the developing grass plants, which may then be stunted and brownish – if they survive at all. This is one instance when too much of a good thing can definitely be harmful, and a little bit of research and save you lots of frustration.
6. Planting the Wrong Grass
Planting (or re-planting) the wrong species of grass for your specific lawn conditions just might be the hardest to rectify of all the 6 lawn care mistakes that can ruin your yard in Lincoln. It could take years to put right again. Unfortunately, if the previous owner of your mobile home planted the wrong grass, you will be left with the consequences. In this case you may need to consult a lawn specialist.
So suppose, for example, that you just love the look of the vibrant Kentucky bluegrass growing in your neighbor’s yard. What you’ve overlooked, though, is that her yard is sunny while yours is shaded by large trees. And if you press on and plant Kentucky bluegrass, you’ll be gravely disappointed.
Besides, most yards have a mix of shady areas and sunny areas. So one kind of grass throughout is seldom the best approach.
Whether you intend to sell your home as-is or live in it for many years to come, you must avoid these 6 lawn care mistakes that can ruin your lawn in Lincoln. And then there’s the other side of the coin: the things you do need to do for a beautiful, lush lawn.