Taking care of your lawn is a big job. Though it seems like watering and weeding should be enough, there’s a delicate balance between too much and too little lawn care that can tip the scales and turn your best intentions against you. If this is your first time caring for a lawn, you may not know exactly how much or how often to water. Before you set up a lawn sprinkler system, here’s a brief look at some of the most common lawn care mistakes that can damage your lawn.

3 Common Lawn Care Mistakes

1. Cutting the Grass Too Short

It’s a common misconception that if you cut the grass shorter, you won’t have to mow again as often. This line of thinking is not only unhelpful, but it damages your lawn care efforts. Only cut your grass down to 2 ½ to 3 inches high. Any shorter than that weakens the root systems. Keeping your grass a little longer encourages deeper root growth, which promotes a stronger, healthier, and fuller lawn.

2. Overwatering

Lawn sprinkler systems are an asset when it comes to lawn care, but if you don’t know how much water your lawn needs, they can wind up doing more harm than good. Watering too often promotes shallow root systems. If your grass has shallow roots, it’s less likely to survive during dry periods. A residential lawn generally only needs an inch to an inch and a half of water each week. This amounts to watering your yard three times a week at 1/3 inch of water for each session. Keep this in mind as you preset your lawn sprinkler system. Adjust your sprinklers as needed to prevent overwatering. 

3. Using Too Much Fertilizer

Fertilizer is beneficial for your lawn, but too much fertilizer can create problems. Excessive fertilizer encourages too much growth, which leads to crowding and limits root growth. Fertilizer is like water in that less is more. You only need 0.9 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Each fertilizer is different when it comes to nitrogen content and added nutrients, so read the manufacturer’s specific recommendations for application.

Whether you have questions about proper fertilization requirements for your lawn or need a lawn sprinkler system installed to help keep the lawn hydrated, Oasis Landscapes & Irrigation in Columbia, MO, are resident experts. These lawn care professionals value not only a dedicated work ethic and a commitment to professionalism, but the cultivation of customer relationships. Learn more about their environmentally friendly techniques or check out their services on their website. If you’re ready to start transforming your lawn, give them a call at (573) 446-0858 for a free quote.