There is a right and wrong way to care for your Iowa City, IA lawn.
If you’re looking to have a beautiful lawn this year, it’s important to know how to treat the lawn correctly and what things NOT to do. Even if you have your lawn professionally treated, you’ll find these tips helpful for maintaining a healthy lawn in between applications.
Improper Iowa City lawn care will only give you unsatisfactory results and unnecessary money spent “fixing” mistakes.
Here are a few Iowa City lawn care tips that you will find useful this summer:
Cutting the Grass in Iowa City
DO
Cut grass at the proper height. Iowa City, IA homeowners should try to keep their grass around 3 to 3 1/2 inches long. This helps the roots grow deeper and makes the lawn more resilient to weeds and drought.
DON’T
Many people want to cut their lawn short because then they won’t have to mow as often. However, what they don’t realize is that they’re inviting weeds to grow in their lawn. Short lawns have short root systems, making it more difficult for the roots to get the water they need during hot summer months. Also, grass that is too short provides no shade to the soil, making conditions optimal for weeds to thrive.
Watering the Lawn: Iowa City Lawn Care Tip
DO
Water your lawn between 6 and 10 in the morning. During this time the wind isn’t as strong and the sun isn’t too hot. This also allows a full day for the lawn to dry which prevents fungus and mildew. Also, water your lawn twice per week, giving the lawn approximately 1/2″ of water each time. This should take around 15-20 minutes, depending on your sprinkler or irrigation system. You can also use a rain gauge to determine how much water your lawn has received.
DONT
Avoid watering between 11am and 3pm, the hottest part of the day when watering becomes ineffective because of evaporation. Also, frequent watering makes the lawn less resilient. When you give the lawn constant water, the roots have no need to grow stronger by searching deeper in the soil for water.
Signs of Unhealthy Lawns in Iowa City
DO
Pay attention to new weeds or unhealthy looking areas in your lawn. Also, when it rains heavy, watch out for areas of standing water as this could indicate your soil is compacted and needs aeration.
DON’T
Do not ignore problems like ants and other insects, dandelions, clover, rodents, etc. These are all signs that your lawn is unhealthy and needs to be treated. Proper pest control, weed control, grub treatment, etc may be needed to bring your lawn back to health again. Ignoring potential problems with the lawn can cause the issues to spread quickly and ruin your whole lawn.
For help keeping your lawn healthy, contact our Iowa City lawn care experts at 319-310-1553 for a free diagnosis and estimate of your lawn. We’ll be glad to help with your needs.
