Winter conditions can cause lasting damage to your lawn, experts say - the key to a healthy renaissance lies in a few simple maintenance measures.
The first step is to clean up the debris left behind by winter conditions.
"The dirt needs to be removed before the grass starts growing in the spring," Paul Hope of Consumer Reports told CTV News Toronto. "If you have a thick bed of leaves anywhere on your lawn, it blocks sunlight and prevents the grass from growing properly."
According to Sara Stricker, a researcher at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute, overseeding is the best thing you can do for your lawn. You can use the seeds that best suit your lawn.
Hand weeding and proper fertilization would also help, he said.
No, cut May? Maybe not: expert
While a movement called "No Mow May" has gained popularity in recent years, Stricker advises against cutting more than a third of a plant's length at once because it can cause stress and damage. The idea arose from a desire to promote flower growth for pollinators, but there are alternative methods that can achieve similar results, he said.
"We're just saying, consider buying a pot," Stricker said. "Your lawn grows best when it is mowed regularly, depending on its growth rate."
According to Consumer Reports, you may want to raise the mower deck to allow the grass to grow longer, as taller grasses have deeper roots, and you can also set your mower to mulch, as the clippings provide nutrients to your lawn.
You should also remove any grass that is caught under the mower deck. Using silicone spray on the mower deck can help prevent clippings from sticking. If it's been a while since you've sharpened your lawnmower's blade, it may be worth doing so.
Consumer Reports' recent testing also found that battery-powered lawn mowers are getting better every year. Many now have runtimes of over an hour and you don't have to worry about oil and gas either, which is good for both the environment and your wallet.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire