Money, time, and effort are essential ingredients for establishing a lush lawn that will be the envy of the whole neighborhood. Also, if you want the work you put into your lawn to count, you must avoid doing things that could hurt your lawn.
Unfortunately, mistakes are bound to happen, mainly if you don’t know lawn care’s dos and don’ts. But fear not; we endeavor to pinpoint everything you shouldn’t do to your lawn.
So, keep reading to discover 20 things you shouldn’t do to your lawn; your grass will thank you.
20 Things You Should Never Do To Your Lawn
1. Never Mow The Grass Too Short
Mowing the lawn can be a real piece of work, but it must be done, and you must do it right. While you may be tempted to cut your grass extra short to avoid mowing frequently, this is a no-no. Mowing too short is extremely damaging to the lawn and can kill it.
What To Do
Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade’s height.
2. Never Use Dull Mower Blades
You risk putting your lawn at risk of rotting and pests by mowing using dull blades. There’s more: dull blades smash green grass, cause jagged and rugged edges, and turn the grass brown. Moreover, if you mow it with dull blades, your lawn will take longer to recover.
What To Do
Sharpen your mower blades every 20-25 hours of use. Clean the blades after every mowing session.
3. Do Not Water The Lawn Everyday
It may seem like watering your lawn every day is good for the grass, but that’s far from it. Water won’t penetrate deep if you water your lawn shallowly every day, thus creating shallow roots. Constant moisture also encourages pests, diseases, and weeds. Watering every day can also cause overwatering.
What To Do
Water your lawn infrequently and deeply. Ensure the water penetrates a minimum of 6 inches deep.
4. Never Water Your Lawn at the Wrong Time
There’s a right and wrong time for lawn irrigation. For instance, do not water the lawn at noon because this time is usually excessively hot; hence, the water will evaporate rapidly. Irrigating after 6 pm isn’t ideal either, as moisture will linger on the grass blades.
What To Do
Water your lawn during morning hours. If you miss these hours, do it late afternoon.
5. Don’t Grow The Wrong Grass Type
Your lawn will struggle to grow and thrive if you plant grass type or cultivar unsuitable for your area’s climate. The wrong grass will also easily succumb to diseases and weeds. Besides climate, taking the sunlight requirements is important.
What To Do
Grow cool-season grasses in places with moderate summers and cold winters and warm-season grasses in hot climates with mild winters.
6. Never Overlook Thatch
Although a thin thatch layer insulates the soil, too much accumulation hinders water, nutrients, and oxygen movement to the roots. It is also a good breeding ground for lawn pests and diseases. Thatch can also make the lawn surface spongy and uneven.
What To Do
Dethatch your lawn once the buildup reaches ¾ inches. The prime time for dethatching is early spring.
7. Do not Mow Wet Grass
Cutting wet grass causes uneven cuts and torn blades, which are more prone to diseases and pests. Moreover, wet grass clippings will stick together, forming clumps instead of spreading.
In addition, wet grass will stress the lawnmower motor and blades, potentially causing dull blades, clogging, and mechanical failure. You can also easily slip on wet grass.
What To Do
Give your lawn ample time to dry after rainfall before mowing it.
8. Avoid Removing Grass Clippings
Yes, a perfectly manicured lawn looks breathtaking, but there are benefits to leaving grass clippings on the lawn. Grass clippings provide nutrients to your lawn once they decompose. They also function as natural mulch.
As a bonus, leaving grass clippings means less work while mowing.
What To Do
Leave the clippings on your lawn unless the clippings clump or form a layer that’s too thick.
9. Never Skip Aeration
Your lawn soil will eventually get compacted, making air, nutrient, and water penetration into the grassroots difficult. Fortunately, you can keep the lawn soil loose and the grass lush and healthy through aeration.
Aeration also helps break down thatch and aid the movement of beneficial organisms.
What To Do
Aerate your lawn annually.
10. Don’t Rake The Leaves Excessively
Most of us instinctively rake our lawns in the fall, but removing all the leaves can be counterproductive. By raking the leaves, you remove biodegradable material that enriches the soil when it decomposes. Fallen leaves insulate and protect the grass from cold.
What To Do
Finely chop the leaves with a mulching mower or your lawnmower’s mulching blade and distribute them across your lawn.
11. Avoid Relying On Chemicals
Whether in the form of pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides, relying on these chemicals or using too much to address various issues can be detrimental. Chemicals can harm beneficial organisms, expose wildlife, pets, and humans to harmful substances, and chemical runoff contaminates water sources.
What To Do
Opt for organic fertilizers as well as natural ways to control weeds and pests. Use chemicals judiciously and only when necessary.
12. Avoid Melting Ice With Salt
Many use salt to keep snow and ice from stone or concrete walkways in winter. While salt effectively melts ice, it will also dissolve and flow to nearby areas, including your lawn. Salt makes the soil saline, which isn’t conducive to plant growth. It also dehydrates the grass and damages the roots.
What To Do
Keep your pathways walkable by shoveling and perhaps with cat litter or sand.
13. Do Not Water The Lawn With A Hose
Regardless of how thorough and meticulous you are, you’ll never water your lawn evenly with a basic garden hose. You’ll likely overwater certain parts of your lawn while depriving others.
Moreover, hose watering doesn’t offer the best water control— the hose might deliver too much water, leading to wastage.
What To Do
Use a sprinkler system, drip irrigation, or soaker hoses.
14. Do Not Leave Things On Your Lawn
Leaving things, whether furniture, toys, garden tools, junk, or even seasonal decorations, on your lawn blocks sunlight from reaching the grass, slowly killing them. Your lawn will eventually develop bald spots if you leave items sitting on your lawn for too long.
What To Dos
Inspect and clear your lawn daily. If you must keep certain things on your lawn, rotate their position regularly.
15. Do Not Skip Overseeding Your Lawn
Your lawn will become thin and develop bare spots, making it susceptible to pests, weeds, and diseases if you don’t reseed it. So, if your lawn becomes patchy, thin, and looks unhealthy, it is time to overseed to rejuvenate your lawn.
What To Do
Reseed cool-season grass in early fall or early spring. As for warm-season grass, do it in late spring to summer’s onset.
16. Avoid Mowing Your Lawn In One Direction All The Time
Cutting your grass repeatedly in the same pattern and direction will make the grass blades lean permanently in one direction. Also, passing the mower over the same tracks over and over will cause soil compaction. Moreover, it exerts too much stress on the grass blades, causing wear and tear.
What To Do
Change the mowing patterns and directions regularly.
17. Never Drive or Walk on Wet Grass
Avoid unnecessary movement on your lawn after rainfall or watering when the grass is still wet. Grass blades bend, break, and get bruised easily when wet. Moreover, wet soil is more susceptible to compaction as it is soft and easily compressed by weight.
Walking, or driving on a wet lawn also causes deep ruts.
What To Do
Postpone any lawn activities until the lawn dries.
18. Don’t Overfeed Your Lawn
Mow is not better when fertilizing your lawn, as this can scorch the leaves, damage the roots, and kill the lawn. Overfeeding your lawn also causes rapid thatch accumulation and weak, overgrown grass.
What To Do
Test the soil before fertilizing, use slow-release formulas, and avoid overlapping applications.
19. Don’t Ignore The Edges
While this is purely for aesthetic purposes, it is nonetheless important. Your landscape will look unkempt if you don’t edge the lawn, as overgrown grass will creep into your walkways, flower beds, driveway, and vegetable garden.
What To Do
Edge your lawn to make the landscape neat and prevent grass from overtaking other areas. You can edge the lawn after mowing to catch any overgrowth early.
20. Don’t Let Mushrooms Stress You
Mushrooms may unexpectedly appear on your lawn. While mushrooms can detract from your lawn’s aesthetics, they are generally harmless and even help break down decaying materials. Mushrooms also don’t damage grass.
What To Do
If you decide to remove them, do it by hand or mow over them. Also, water the lawn less and improve drainage.
Conclusion
Knowing how to care for your lawn doesn’t happen overnight; it’s a learning process with ups and downs. If you are doing any of the things we’ve discussed above, stop because it’s doing more damage to your lawn than benefiting it.
Hey there, I’m Derek Schew, a writer for Lawnholic.com, where we cover everything and anything related to lawns. As someone who’s spent countless hours tending to my own lawn, I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge and helping others achieve the perfect yard. From lawn care tips to product reviews, I’m committed to providing our readers with the most accurate and up-to-date information available. So whether you’re a seasoned lawn enthusiast or just getting started, I invite you to join our community and discover the joys of a lush, green lawn.