The summer months will bring beautiful warm weather and the type of outdoor activities that will keep us outside for hours. Because we tend to spend so much time out in the yard during this time, many hours will also need to be devoted to maintaining a healthy lawn. With proper lawn maintenance, you’ll get better results, a beautiful rich green lawn, and full coverage. However, proper lawn preparation is a must. Some homeowners will know exactly what their lawn needs, while others will run into issues with their grass turning brown, patches creeping up, and a dry, almost barren looking lawn. Our guide will help you get your lawn back on track, allowing you and your family to continue to enjoy a beautiful green lawn this season, while also adding some instant curb appeal to your home.
Regular lawn maintenance will keep your lawn looking full, green, and healthy. But proper lawn care really doesn’t begin until the spring. During the spring months, it’s important to mow your lawn regularly, using certain precautions such as ensuring the grass is dry and the blade on your mower is sharp. If you’re preparing for lawn care season, then adding fertilizer and aerating the ground can have a major positive impact on your lawn’s health and appearance.
The riding lawn mower tips we’ve included here will help to keep your lawn looking great, or can even help to revive a dying lawn.
Lawn Mower Blade Care
First off, before you mow, make sure the blades on the mower are sharp. If you mow using a dull blade it can tear up the grass and leave behind jagged edges that will invite pathogens and discolor the lawn. The mower’s blade should be sharpened once a month during the grass cutting season. We also recommend having a backup blade on hand so can quickly switch out the blades if you don’t have time to sharpen the blade immediately before mowing.
Tune Up
Additionally, your mower should be tuned up with a new air filter and sparkplug at the beginning of the season. While your mower may not need a new sparkplug, changing it out is fast and easy and doing so each year can ensure your mower remains in perfect running order.
Gas
Make sure the gas you use is fresh. If left over the winter months, gas can turn and end up severely damaging your mower. Over a period of weeks, gas can start to accumulate moisture, a major issue in gas that contains ethanol. Because of this, it’s recommended that you use regular grades of gas only.
Lawn Care in the Spring
Spring is the perfect time to fertilize your lawn. If you live in a part of the country that experiences intense cold during the winter, then you should fertilize in the fall. This is because cool weather grass tends to go dormant in the winter, as it stores up energy in the roots. If you live in a warmer part of the country, then you should apply fertilizer in the spring, just as the grass starts to become active.
Aeration
Aerating your lawn involves punching small holes in the ground, which will allow oxygen, fertilizer, and water to reach the roots. Choose a day when the soil is nice and damp but not soaked. These conditions will make the process much easier for you. You may be surprised at how such a simple process as lawn aeration can make your tired lawn come back to life.
Keep Your Lawn Clean
Make sure you always keep your lawn clean and remove leaves and twigs, and small branches that have accumulated over the winter months. Wet leaves can easily smother your grass if it’s not promptly removed in the spring. Removing old debris will clear a path for applying herbicides and fertilizers. It can also clue you into pest infestations, especially if you begin to notice patches of discoloration.
Related Questions
What Type of Pests Do I Need to Watch Out for?
During the early summer months, you will need to watch out for grubs. During this time, the grub will start to feed on the roots of the grass which will cause it to slowly die and wilt. If you’re not sure that grubs are to blame for your dying lawn, you can pull back the grass and search for C-shaped white grubs. If you notice more than twelve grubs per square foot then you will need to treat your lawn with a pesticide.
Can I Use a Riding Lawn Mower on Uneven Terrain?
Yes and no. There are many models of riding lawn mowers on the market these days, which can make it tough to choose one that you know has the raw power to ride up hills or handle more challenging terrain. If you have a large property and don’t know how to use a riding lawn mower, then maintaining your lawn can be a real challenge. Fortunately, there are many new models on the market that are specifically designed for hilly or tough terrain. These mowers will have bigger engines that are designed to get the job done. To learn more about riding mowers, click here to read our buyer’s guide.
I Have Two Acres of Property, What Type of Mower Should I Use?
A riding lawn mower can offer the type of versatility you need to care for such a large lawn. These mowers are powerful, highly maneuverable, and can basically cut the amount of time you spend using a push mower, in half. But finding the right model can be a real challenge, especially if you’re working with hilly or uneven terrain. If you’re looking for a reliable model and one that’s packed with serious power, we recommend the Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower. This mower is built tough, easy to use, and comes with all the right features that will allow you to cut your lawn perfectly, with a single pass.
Final Thoughts
Proper lawn maintenance can involve preparing your lawn for the upcoming summer months by applying fertilizer and aerating the ground. Once your grass begins to grow during the summer, you’ll need to mow your lawn weekly and ensure the mower’s blade remain nice and sharp in order to avoid killing the grass or causing unsightly brown patches. As you can see, with the right tools and consistent care, you can enjoy a full, rich, beautiful lawn this season.