Lawn Care Myths
Whether you’re a homeowner or an expert landscaper, you’ve probably heard some lawn care myths — and you might even believe some of them too. To set the record straight, we will debunk the 6 most common myths to ensure you know which lawn care rules are true and which should be ignored. So read on to find out which seemingly logical practices are anything but that.
1. You Need to Water Your Lawn Every Day
Since each lawn is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much water your lawn needs. There are numerous factors that determine how much water your lawn needs, including the age of the lawn, shade and sunlight, soil conditions, and grade of the land.
However, there is a general rule of thumb: 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, which means you definitely don’t have to water daily. Plus, you have to factor in the rain as well. If you over water your lawn, it will cause excessive weed growth and stress out the roots. So to sum up, don’t water your lawn every day.
2. Shorter Means Better
Many people believe the shorter the grass, the better. However, the opposite is true, as very short grass is less resilient than medium or tall grass.
So if you mow your lawn too short, the soil will be exposed to the sun, which will dry it out and leave more space for weeds that compete with grass for moisture and nutrients. As a rule of thumb, don’t remove more than one-third of the height of your lawn’s grass.
3. More Lime Equals Healthier Grass
Although lime is good for your lawn, too much of anything is bad. Since lawns only need lime at certain pH levels, adding too much will burn out your lawn and turn your grass brown instead of the lush green you want. So more lime does not equal healthier grass.
4. Herbicides Are the Only Answer to Weeds
This statement is a myth because weeds only thrive in areas of your lawn with holes large enough for them to get the sunlight they need to grow. So if you water, mow, and fertilize your lawn properly, it should be thick and healthy enough to stop weeds from growing on its own without help from any harsh chemicals.
5. Fertilize Only In Spring
There’s no logic behind this statement. You should avoid fertilizing your lawn is in mid-summer because of the intense heat unless you are dealing with a warm-season grass species (i/e zoysia). It is also near impossible to set one cookie-cutter set plan for an entire region or area in regards to fertilization amounts and timing. Each property must be assessed independently and a unique program created for each.
6. Beer Is an Effective Fertilizer
Sounds ridiculous, right?
Don’t be quick to judge as there is some science behind this statement: beer is an effective fertilizer because it can introduce yeast to the soil, which helps it grow. However, while beer does contain yeast, it also contains sugar, alcohol, and other harmful ingredients that will actually hinder the growth of healthy grass. So save the beer for yourself and keep it away from your lawn.
