The lawn of your dreams doesn’t happen by accident—it takes hard work, consistency, and a plan. Middle Tennessee wreaks havoc on lawns, but you don’t have to suffer. You can fight back. And the first step to caring for your lawn is knowing which things to avoid… a.k.a. common mistakes.
Here are five mistakes that many Nashville homeowners make and how to fix them.
Mowing Your Lawn Too Short
We get it, nobody wants really tall grass in their lawn. It’s a bit unsightly and the HOAs hate it. But scalping your lawn is so much worse.
Trimming your grass to the right height is crucial. We recommend cutting no more than ⅓ of your grass’s length each cut. If you cut too much grass in one mowing session, you put stress on the grass and increase the likelihood of it scorching.
Using Dull Mower Blades
Mower blades are like knives. You don’t realize they’re dull until it’s time to use it, and then you’re in a real pickle because you can’t get the job done right. Dull mower blades tear your grass and cut it unevenly.
Every homeowner should sharpen their blades before the cutting season and a few times after that for beautifully cut grass. Many local hardware or lawn equipment stores will sharpen your blades for you.
Watering at the Wrong Time of Day
The morning is the best time of day to water your grass. Why? Because the grass and soil have enough time to absorb the water before it evaporates.
If you water your grass in the middle of the day, you risk burning your grass before it can absorb the water. Water on leaves is like a magnifying glass for the sun. As the water evaporates from the leaves, the sun scorches the grass. So, you’re left with dry, dead grass.
While many homeowners think watering at night is just as safe as the morning, they’re doing more harm than good. Temperatures drop at night, so the water won’t evaporate. Instead, it sits on the grass and encourages mold and fungus growth in certain areas of your lawn.
Ignoring Overall Lawn Health
Your grass is only as strong and healthy as your soil and root structure.
Get a soil test to learn about your lawn health. You’ll figure out your soil’s compactness, pH, and other nutrient deficiencies. With this knowledge, you can give your soil and grass the care and attention they need to be strong year-round.
Skipping Preventative Weed Control
Weeds are much easier to prevent than they are to eliminate. Once they start growing, they’re persistent and annoying. Apply the right pre-emergent weed control in the spring to keep weeds under control. Couple weed control with fertilization and you’re off to the races with a great looking lawn.
Give Your Lawn the Expert Care It Deserves
Don’t beat yourself up if you’re making these mistakes. Now that you know what to avoid, you can better strategize your lawn care. If that sounds like a lot of work to you, Turf Managers can help.
We’ve been keeping Nashville green for over 25 years with our proven strategies and personal lawn care.
Contact us today. Your best yard is only one call away.
