6 Lawn Care Tips for Raleigh Homeowners
April is here and summer weather is picking up in the Triangle area. This month is National Lawn Care and that has turf care top-of-mind for many homeowners. Now is a crucial time of year to take care of your lawn and prepare for the upcoming summer growing season. Our team at Eastern Turf in Raleigh has compiled 6 of the most important turf care tips to tackle now!
Proper Lawn Maintenance in North Carolina
The Carolinas are considered to be in the transition zone, meaning the climate is favorable for both warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses to thrive. With the ability to have different turfgrasses in Raleigh, it’s important to know how to care for them. Lawn maintenance is not a simple task for one season and should be an ongoing focus if you want to maintain a healthy lawn in North Carolina.
Summer Turf Care Tips
By following these simple lawn care tips, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a beautiful lawn this season. Remember, consistency is key, so make lawn care a regular part of your routine year-round. With a little TLC, your Raleigh lawn will thrive and provide you with an outdoor space to make great memories!
Know Your Type of Grass
Raleigh lawns often feature warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass, Zoysia grass, and St. Augustine. These grasses thrive in our hot summers and mild winters, with the peak growing season being summer. But if you have cool-season grass like tall fescue or bluegrass, fear not! With proper care, they can still look amazing. Understanding your grass type helps you tailor your lawn care routine for the best results. Fescue lawns need more care and upkeep during early fall through spring, as that’s their active growing season. When the weather warms up in Raleigh, don’t let your cool-season lawn fall to the wayside. Keeping it healthy with water, nutrients, and mowing will help it survive the summer heat.
Mowing Like a Pro
When it comes to mowing, timing is everything. During the growing season, which stretches from late spring to early fall, aim to mow your lawn regularly, about once a week or every 7-10 days. Keep your lawn mower blades sharp to get a clean cut and avoid tearing the grass blades. And remember the one-third rule – never cut more than one-third of the grass blade length at a time. If you’re mowing often enough and following that rule, it’s safe to leave those clippings on the lawn as a natural mulch to nourish your soil! Ask our team how our new Plant Growth Regulators can change up your mowing game this summer!
Feed Your Lawn
Just like us, our lawns need nutrients to stay healthy and green. Consider doing a soil test in winter or early spring to see what nutrients your lawn needs. Choosing a lawn fertilizer with the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can be tricky but it’s an important part of turf care. If you want to skip the guesswork, Eastern Turf Maintenance can help with fertilization specific to your needs and type of grass.
Watering a Thirsty Lawn
Proper watering is key to a green lawn, especially during our hot summers in North Carolina. Aim to give your lawn about an inch of water per week, either through rainfall or irrigation. Water deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root systems and drought resistance. Watering early in the morning reduces evaporation and allows the grass blades to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of lawn disease.
The Battle of Weed Control
Nobody likes crabgrass or stubborn broadleaf weeds taking over their beautiful lawn! To keep them at bay, make sure you are using pre-emergent herbicides in early spring before the weeds have a chance to sprout. For existing weeds, choose herbicides that target specific types without harming your grass. As an important note, if you have a new lawn with new sod or grass seed, make sure you avoid weed control until your grass is fully established.
Healthy Soil for a Healthy Lawn
One of the best things you can do for your lawn’s overall health is core aeration. We use our lawns year-round and over time, thatch and soil compaction becomes a common problem. Thatch is a layer of dead grass and organic matter that builds up at the surface of your lawn, blocking important things from reaching the soil, like water, sunlight, and lawn fertilizer. Core aeration in late spring and early summer can help alleviate compacted soil and break down thatch, which will improve your lawn’s ability to absorb everything it needs. Healthy soil and strong root systems are the foundation of maintaining a healthy lawn in Raleigh.
Celebrate National Lawn Care Month with Eastern Turf Maintenance
April is National Lawn Care Month and what better way to treat your North Carolina lawn than calling the pros at Eastern Turf Maintenance! We offer lawn care services that are designed for our local weather and climate here in Raleigh. With years of experience, we’ve become a top choice for Triangle homeowners in need of professional lawn care. Our services include weed control and lawn fertilization programs, aeration and overseeding, grub control, mosquito control, and more. Contact us today to get a free quote!