Beginner-Friendly Lawn Care Tips

Your lawn is an outward extension of your home and should be given just as much care as the inside. However, it can be hard to tend to or sometimes neglected altogether. If it’s your first time having a yard of your own, lawn maintenance can feel like a daunting task, but learning how to take care of it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some beginner-friendly tips for taking care of your lawn!

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1. Get to know your yard

Whether you’ve lived in your house for a while or just moved in, it’s never too late to get to know your yard. There are many different types of grasses and soils that are usually simple to care for but differ in needs. Learning more about your area’s soil and grass will make it easier to keep the yard in good condition and help you troubleshoot any issues that may arise later on (Gecko Green Lawn & Pest Control, 2019). 

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One of the biggest indicators of grass types is the climate of your yard. Grass types are separated into two categories: cool-season and warm-season. In the northern states of the U.S., where the summers are mild and the winters are longer, cool-season grasses thrive. Cool-season grass types include Annual Ryegrass, Fine Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Tall Fescue (Purnell, 2022).

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Warm-season grasses thrive in southern states of the U.S. where the temperatures are warmer year-round. Warm-season grass types include Bahiagrass, Bermudagrass, Centipedegrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Zoysia Grass. These grass types grow during the summertime and become dormant during the fall season when temperatures drop below 65 degrees (Purnell, 2022). 

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Transition zones, situated in the heart of the country, are characterized by climates that undergo drastic seasonal changes, featuring cold winters and hot summers. These areas may support either type of grass; however, they will only exhibit lush, green growth during the season that aligns best with their ideal growing conditions. For example, warm-season grass types will be green in the summer and brown in the colder months. Cool-season grasses will be brown in the summer and green once the temperatures have cooled down (Purnell, 2022). If your efforts to maintain a green and healthy lawn seem futile, it's possible that the grass type you have in your yard is not suitable for your climate (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019).

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Additionally, the soil type can play a big role in the growth of your yard. Certain grass types exhibit better performance in specific soil types, while others may not be as well-suited for optimal grass growth due to variations in soil composition. Grass growth is significantly influenced by the soil texture, especially its water retention capacity. Clay soil, for instance, can retain more water compared to sandy soil, which implies that sandy soil types would need more frequent watering in comparison to clay soil. Conducting a soil test will help you better understand your soil type by revealing its fertility levels, organic matter percentage, pH levels, salt levels, and texture (Purnell, 2022).

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2. Overseeding your yard

If your lawn has patches of brown, especially during its peak, then you may want to consider overseeding. Overseeding involves planting new grass seed throughout the existing yard to stimulate growth. This practice is an excellent way to address those unsightly brown patches or rejuvenate a lawn that seems beyond repair. Moreover, it serves as a proactive measure to prevent the formation of bald spots before they become noticeable (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019; Purnell, 2022).

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The type of grass will determine when you should begin overseeding. Cool-season grass types should be overseeded in the fall with cooler temperatures, while warm-season grasses should be overseeded in the spring or early summer. The frequency of overseeding will depend on how susceptible your grass is to brown patches and thinning. If your lawn doesn’t experience issues with balding, you can plan to overseed every few years, but if your yard is easily affected, overseeding annually will be necessary for healthy yard maintenance (Purnell, 2022).

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3. How much should you water your lawn?

Similar to some of our previous tips, the frequency and amount of water for your lawn is dependent on your climate, grass type, soil type, and season. While having this information will be beneficial for watering your yard, there are still some general tips that can steer you in the right direction, regardless of your specific environmental factors.

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Finding the right balance between overwatering and underwatering is crucial for maintaining a healthy lawn. While various factors come into play, on average, your grass will require approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, reaching a depth of about 6 inches. Generally, this can be met by watering your lawn around three times a week for about 15 to 30 minutes evenly across the yard. Although not required, the best time of day to water your lawn will be in the early morning hours, between 5 A.M. and 10 A.M. (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019). This will prevent the water from evaporating once the sun comes up (Purnell, 2022). 

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When watering your yard, it's essential to take recent weather conditions into account. If the weather has been exceptionally dry and hot, your lawn may require extra attention and watering. On the other hand, during rainy and stormy conditions, your yard might not need any additional watering at all. A great way to test if your lawn is receiving adequate water is to place a screwdriver 6 inches into the ground. If you can do this without too much resistance, then no watering adjustments should be needed. Additionally, if you’d like to prevent pests and diseases, you’ll want to avoid watering your yard in the evening as this can become a breeding ground for unwanted problems (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019). 

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4. Mowing the lawn

Mowing the yard may seem like a straightforward task, but there are a few things you should keep in mind before starting. Extremely short grass can put a lot of stress on your grass. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to cut about ⅓ of your grass's length. You’ll also want to ensure your lawn mower is in good condition, as dull blades can damage the grass and give it a lopsided appearance (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019). To prevent pests, diseases, and mold growth during the winter months, it is advisable to give your grass a final mowing before the new season begins (Purnell, 2022).

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5. Fertilizing the soil

Regardless of the climate, grass, and soil type, using fertilizer is always a good idea to keep your lawn healthy (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019). Typically, healthy yards only need one application of fertilizer per year. However, if your yard is in poor health, it may require a few additional applications of fertilizer. If your lawn has a cool-season grass type, you’ll want to use fertilizer in the fall or spring. Warm-season grasses would prefer fertilizer in the mid-spring through the summer months (Purnell, 2022)

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6. Preventing weed growth

Controlling the weed growth in your yard can sometimes be a difficult task to accomplish. Weeds spread rapidly and are usually resilient, making them nearly impossible to completely remove. Opting to hire a professional for weed control is a good choice if you wish to save time and alleviate the stress associated with the task. However, if professional help is not an option or you prefer to handle weed control yourself, there are a few essential factors to consider.

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Where there is one weed above ground, there are multiple seedlings or roots ready to sprout. Excessive soil disturbance serves as a signal to weeds, prompting them to take advantage of available space and leading to accelerated new weed growth. Maintaining the soil intact while pulling out a weed can be challenging to achieve, but it's worth attempting to do so. Another tip for controlling weeds is adding mulch to your lawn. Mulch can encourage weed-eating insects to enter your yard and make managing weeds a little easier on you (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019).

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7. Combating pests in your yard

It’s important to remember that every yard will have insects. These insects are often beneficial for your grass and each plays an important role in the environment. Unfortunately, some insects can be damaging to your yard, and these insects are considered pests. 

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You can control or remove pests from your yard by purchasing specific pest control products or hiring a pest control specialist. For your safety, ensure the products used are free of toxic chemicals. Some products used to control pests may require all individuals and animals to abstain from the lawn for a certain period of time before it is safe to re-enter (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019).

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8. Taking care of plants in your yard

A comprehensive guide to lawn care would be incomplete without addressing the care required for other types of plants present in your yard. Gardens, bushes, and trees have unique plant care requirements, making it crucial to familiarize yourself with the specific needs of these other plants in your yard. Some can be left alone for most of the year, meanwhile, others may require additional maintenance and pruning. 

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If you have little interest in tending to high-maintenance plants, removing such plants can be a beneficial course of action. Additionally, if you’re interested in adding other plants to your lawn, then you’ll want to research the best plant species for your location and avoid plants on the invasive species list for your area (Gecko Green Lawn Care & Pest Control, 2019).

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Looking for more information on caring for a house and its outdoor spaces? Visit our blog for more!

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Sources

10 Lawn Care Tips for Beginners

Lawn care for beginners (in 13 easy steps)

Photo by Magic K: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-mowing-lawn-6728933/

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