Yard Care Tips Brandon MB

Yard Care Tips

At Steve's Yard Care, we always put our customers first by providing extensive options for yard and lawn care maintenance. We understand that keeping your lawn care and garden beautiful can be challenging, which is why we are here to help.​​

 

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When should I cut my grass?

Grass should be cut at a minimum of once a week or every 7 days or so, during the early morning hours or later in the evening if possible. This ensures that the grass hasn't grown too much between mows, minimizes the build-up of thatch and protects freshly mowed lawn from the hot sun.

What is the best height to cut my grass?

Lawn height ultimately depends on grass type, soil type and moisture content, a recommended height is 2.5-3.5 inches. Do not cut your grass too short! Too often we see scalped lawns resulting in sun and root damage. We find that a slightly higher cut is more beneficial for lawns during the hot dry months, and a shorter cut in the cool damp months. For the last mow of the year, we recommend a height of 2 inches. This minimizes rodent and winter damage.

 

Always use sharp blades!

Keeping blades sharp allows the grass to have a clean professional look and cut. Dull blades can leave the grass ends frayed and damaged, resulting in a higher chance of disease, drought or sun damage. It never looks nice, we recommend you sharpen your blades every 4-6 weeks - the sharper the better!

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Mulching or Bagging?

Alternate between bagging and mulching your grass cutting. Mulching every mow will cause thatch to build-up and possibly choke out the lawn. Bagging every mow could rob your lawn from the much needed nutrients it requires. We recommend that you mulch your lawn once a month and bag the rest.

​Does laying stripes matter?

Simply put, yes, patterns do matter! Not only do they make your lawn look professional, clean and tidy. Alternating the patterns from week to week will increase root and blade strength.

​Machine maintenance is a must!

The lawn mower that cuts your lawn also has to have regular maintainence. Cleaning the mower is something most often forget. Grass cuttings build up under the mow deck resulting in poor bagging and mulching. Weeds can also be spread throughout your lawn or on to your neighbour's lawn from a dirty mower. It's also important to clean your air filter regularly and change the oil at least once a year. This ensures your lawn mower isn't underpowered and will continue to mow for many years.

Water in the Morning!

The morning is the best time to water the lawn because the air is cooler and there's usually not much wind to blow the droplets. In the middle of the day, water evaporates too quickly. And in the evenings, water can cling to the blades of grass overnight, which can cause lawn diseases. "My pet peeve is when people water at six o'clock or later in the evening. A wet lawn at night is the perfect condition for fungus to grow. Also, mowing the lawn too short and watering at night is the worst to promote a healthy lawn.

 

How much water?

Water lawn long enough to moisten the soil about 6-8 inches down, which is the depth that healthy grass roots will grow down into the soil. To see how far the moisture seeps down, check the soil every 15 minutes during the first watering. Time how long it takes the water to work its way that far into the ground, then water for that duration every time you turn on the hose. Every lawn has different soil. You can check by using a garden fork in a area of the lawn and remember to take note of roughly how much water was used.

How often?

Water clay soils once a week and sandy soils about every three days. Too much watering can lead to fungus and a shallow root system; fewer waterings encourage the roots to grow deeper. Traning the roots to go down deep into the soil will gow a much healthier lawn.

 

Fall Clean-Up removing dead leaves!

There are many reasons for having a fall clean and it's not just about the appearance of your property that should make you decide to have a cleanup in the Fall. There are several other factors you should think about before the snow arrives.​​
By removing the leaves from the lawn and yard, it helps to keep lawn fungus such as Gray and Pink Snow Mold paying an unwanted visit. Snow mold is caused when there is an time period of snow on ground that is not completely frozen. Snow mold can also occur under leaves that have not been removed from the lawn or among the long grass that should have been cut one more before winter. Leaves can choke the lawn and kill it, and when Spring comes it can get expensive seeding new grass. Also, wet leaves which have been compressed under snow for 3-5months are much harder to remove in the spring.

Mulching with dried leaves!

The best way to use leaves is to cut them up. Its best to let them dry first. Once dry, use a lawn mower to chop them into little pieces. Dried leaves as mulch break down much quicker and shred much easier. Using leaf shreds for mulch is an easy way to recycle the debris in your yard. To use the dried leaves as mulch, spread them at 3 to 4 inches around trees and shrubs and 2 to 3 inches over flower beds. Work leaf shreds into vegetable beds to increase valuable nutrients. The smaller the leaves are shredded, the quicker they will break down and the less likely they will mat and mold.

What is leaf mulch!

There are many types of mulch, and leaf mulch is exactly what it sounds like, leaves. This organic mulch will decompose and needs to be replaced eventually,  it improves the soil’s fertility and its organic content. Mulching with leaves in many situations where you want more rapid decomposition and is generally a free commodity to anyone and it is win/win.
The gardener spends quality time working on his or her soil and getting ready for the growing season. Some of us make our own compost, purchase manures or even buy soil additives. The cheaper solution, however, is to use what nature gives you for free. Using leaf litter for mulch enriches the soil and perpetuates the cycle of life by renewing plants.

Always remember to clean up once the yard work is complete!
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