That’s right, no need to suffer from lawn envy from your neighbors this year. You can have your own green oasis with these five Phoenix lawn care tips:
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Get rid of thatch with a rake
Thatch is essentially dead or dying grass. A very small amount of thatch is good for your yard, but too much can prevent the grass from growing. The best way to remove it is with a rake or a power rake (depending on the intensity). This will allow your lawn to breathe a little better while also helping you find the bare spots of your lawn that may need more attention. Keep in mind that removing thatch may be rough on your yard, so make sure to do it at the start of spring to give your lawn time to recover and grow.
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Test soil’s acidity and pH
With a DIY soil pH test, you can determine the acidity of your lawn and what treatments it needs. For a great lawn, your pH level cannot be too high or too low—as Goldilocks would say, “The pH needs to be just right.” If the pH is too high, you can add sulfate; if too low, you can add lime. Once treated with sulfate or lime using a broadcast spreader, wait 30 days to retest the pH levels.
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Aerate your lawn
You do not need to aerate your lawn every year, but if you have compacted or poor soil, this is essential to your Phoenix lawn’s health. Aerating the lawn will loosen the soil to allow water to better absorb into the roots of the grass. You can aerate your lawn by using aeration shoes or a push spike aerator.
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Quench your grass’s thirst with h20
Feeding your lawn does not need to hurt the environment or your wallet. The best time to water your lawn is at night or early in the morning to avoid evaporation or wind. These can prevent your lawn from being sufficiently hydrated.
The amount of time you should water depends on how quickly your sprinklers disperse water on your lawn or the amount your grass needs to stay strong. You can test this by trying to stick an object, such as a small shovel or a screwdriver, into the ground. If the object breaks in easily, you may not need to water as much. However, if it is difficult to push the object into the soil, you may need to water a little more. For patches of the lawn that just won’t grow, try watering by hand.
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Prevent and attack the invasion of the weeds
The best way to treat weeds is to prevent having them in the first place! By using pre-emergents weed control, you can protect your lawn by preventing weeds. Pre-emergents stop the seeds from germinating, usually lasting between six months to a year. However, if you currently have weeds in your lawn, there’s still hope. You can get rid of existing weeds using sterilants. Warning: they can cause harm if applied too close to shrubs and trees, but Bug & Weed Mart’s expert staff can help advise you on which product is best to use to avoid this from happening.
If you have any questions on how to prevent or treat the weeds in your garden, contact your neighborhood Bug & Weed Mart store to speak with one of our experts. We will educate you on the best products for tending to your garden and provide step-by-step instructions to get rid of unsightly weeds and make your Phoenix lawn beautiful!