yard care st louis, mo When done correctly, and at the appropriate time during the growing season, your DIY yard care will ensure a strong, healthy well-maintained lawn. With effective procedures you can make it more challenging for any type of weed or insect to invade your lawn.

1. Watering

While it might seem obvious, your lawn desperately needs water for growth. Because it gets most of its strength and nutrients from underground, a slow watering cycle is necessary to allow deep moisture penetration into the soil. Quick watering cycles tend to evaporate due to heat, temperature, wind and sunshine.

2. Seeding

Seeding is a simple DIY yard care procedure that is used on existing lawns in bare spots, or over an entire area to produce new growth over clean topsoil. Watering seeded areas requires only enough water to keep the seed continually moist without drowning it. Once the seeds germinate, you can continue watering as needed until they have become fully established.

3. Fertilizing

A well-maintained yard is one that has sufficient nutrients. Because of heat, insects, extreme cold, heavy use and drought yards often suffer from depleted nutrients. Applying a quality fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will encourage healthy growth, the formation of roots and a strong lawn and plants resistant to disease.

4. Aeration

Aeration is performed through the process of poking small holes into the soil to allow fertilizer, air and water to easily reach the roots of your yard. It allows each root to grow deeper into the soil resulting in strong vigorous growth. It will also eliminate the susceptibility to disease, heat stress and insects. Two types of aerating machines will either poke spaced out holes across the lawn, or pull up small plugs of soil known as plugs.

5. Mowing

Once you have established a healthy lawn, it is time to mow the grass correctly to keep it strong. It is essential to always mow your lawn using a sharp blade that will cleanly cut each blade of grass instead of just breaking it. Sharp clean cuts allow the grass to heal quicker than when damaged by a dull blade. It is important to always mow the lawn while it is dry to prevent clumping. Mow your lawn as needed, never cutting more than one third off the top of the grass blade. Never scalp the lawn short, as you will most likely send it into shock.

6. Weeding

It is essential to weed your lawn, flowerbeds and planted areas with a broadleaf killer. Untreated weeds can easily overtake the grass, flowers and plants to rob the essential nutrients they need to survive. Killing weeds in place before pulling them out is preferred, to minimize spreading weed seeds as you rip the roots from the ground.

There are many variables included in do-it-yourself landscaping including the climate in your region, personal design taste, and your skills, along with your affordable budget. However, taking a year-round interest in beautifying your home with effective DIY yard care, will allow you to enjoy a beautiful lawn, with flowering plants and shrubs all throughout the growing season.