You want your Grand Rapids lawn to look amazing this year, but you aren’t sure where to start. While you may think that it’s necessary to hire a professional lawn service, the fact is that you can drastically improve the appearance of your lawn by making a few simple changes. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your yard looking its best throughout the season.

Limit Watering
Watering the lawn frequently is inefficient and leads to problems. It’s healthier to give the grass one inch of water per week. Watering the grass deeply only once per week encourages the roots to go deeper, so you grass becomes more drought resistant. This also limits erosion, saves water and keeps the lawn healthy.

Taller Grass
Rather than cutting the grass extra short thinking that you’ll have more time between cuttings, it’s better to keep the grass at a higher level and cut it more frequently. Grass that is taller has deeper roots, and it also creates more shade for the root area were grass is growing. As the grass grows taller and spreads, it also becomes thicker. This helps choke out weeds and prevents them from taking root.

Frequent Trimmings
It’s important to remember that grass grows and takes nourishment from the roots, the weeds take nourishment from their leaves and flowers. Every time you cut the grass, it’s like giving your turf a haircut but lopping the heads off those ugly weeds. It’s a natural way to cut back on the weeds in your yard without using any pesticides.

Sharpen the Blades
Before you run your mower for the first time, have the blades sharpened. A sharp blade will cut the grass cleanly to help prevent shredding and diseases. When you cut, you should not reduce the height of the lawn by more than 30 percent to avoid shocking the grass and weakening it.

The Right Timing for Herbicides
If you choose to use an herbicide, apply it at the right time. Late April and May is a prime time for applying broad-spectrum herbicides to your lawn. You can also treat the yard for weeds in the fall. During this time, weeds are storing up nutrients for the long winter ahead, so they’ll readily absorb herbicides. Avoid applying them in the height of summer when your yard is the most heat-stressed.

Finally, invest in a good mulching system for your mower. You may have to get a special blade, but mulching down the clippings and allowing them to go back onto the ground is a natural form of fertilizer. It is not contribute to thatch, and your grass will benefit from the nutrients found in the clippings.