There are many tips and advice on keeping your lawn green, lush, and healthy floating around. Some of it’s true; some of it’s not. Nichols Reliable Lawn Care professionals have gathered some of the most popular lawn care myths to help you weed through them. Learn what you should stop believing about having the best lawn on the block.
Lawn Care Myths
Myth #1 You Should Water Your Lawn Every Day in the Evening
Watering your yard every day isn’t necessary. In truth, buying into this lawn care myth can be harmful. Your lawn can become dependent and needy if it has too much water.
Solution: Instead of watering your grass for fifteen minutes daily, water it once a week for an hour. Doing this instead waters your lawn deeply, making it healthier and more drought tolerant.
Speaking of watering, another lawn care myth to throw out is that it’s best to water in the evening. The morning is better! Watering in the evening can cause fungus to grow. Anytime between 4 am and 10 am is preferred.
Myth #2 Cutting the Grass Short Equals Mowing Less Often
It may seem like cutting the grass short is a logical answer to mowing less often. However, it is not the best option for your lawn health. Grass cut too short cause the roots to be overexposed to the hot sun, causing the lawn to turn brown. Also, it can encourage weed growth during dry, hot conditions.
Solution: Keep the mower blade raised during the hot summer months. It will provide the much-needed shade the roots need, and you’ll have a yard everyone will envy.
Myth #3 Aerating Your Lawn is Useless
Aerating your lawn is a lot like changing your car’s oil or brake pads; it’s more of a “behind-the-scenes” type of help. It makes our list of lawn care myths because of this. It’s often overlooked and deemed useless because many people do not understand the benefits it offers on the surface.
Aerating your lawn is important for two reasons:
- It stimulates root growth in the turf.
- It Softens the soil and introduces oxygen which allows the roots to spread.
The aeration process breaks up compacted soil, allowing water to pass through it more efficiently instead of sitting on top of the soil surface for long periods. Furthermore, it helps to protect the grass from diseases.
Solution: The solution is easy. Make aeration part of your maintenance plan and stick to it.
Myth #4 Control Moles with Chewing Gum
Have you heard this one before? If you have, you guessed it; it’s a myth. You can’t kill moles with chewing gum, castor oil, cod liver oil, or tobacco.
Solution: Trapping is the most effective way to control and eliminate moles. Read more here about how to get rid of moles.
Myth #5 A Garden Hose is Just as Good as a Sprinkler System
In theory, this common lawn care myth sounds plausible, but not in reality. If you’re using a water hose, you probably aren’t watering the yard evenly. Uneven watering leaves certain areas overwatered and others thirsty. It causes brown patches in your lawn and can increase your water bill.
Solution: Install a sprinkler system. Modern sprinkler systems help conserve water and ensure your grass drinks evenly.
If you have any questions or need help with lawn care, call Nichols Reliable Lawn Care at 479.502.2192.