A well-manicured lawn is one of the things that can turn a house into a home. A lush and healthy lawn can make your home look more welcoming and boost its curb appeal and value.
Maintaining your lawn can be a lot of hard work. Make sure your efforts don’t go to waste by taking a few additional steps to protect your lawn when needed.
Protect Your Lawn With Construction Mats
Construction mats create a flat and even surface for walking or transporting heavy equipment. They can also protect your lawn and soil. Look for composite crane mats, which are more lightweight than any wood or wood-like options.
If you have hired a tree removal service or need to have some work done on your home, you should be aware that contractors could cause damage to your lawn.
They might walk on it with heavy boots, drive a truck over it and leave tire marks, or drag heavy equipment over your lawn.
Setting down some construction mats will protect your lawn and will provide contractors with a safe surface for walking or transporting equipment.
Construction mats are also a good option if you’re having a gathering and expect to have guests walk over your lawn.
Limit Traffic Over the Lawn
The good news is that walking on grass won’t kill it. The part that generates new growth is at the base of the blade, which means you’re not likely to damage it when walking or even driving on your lawn.
However, repeated foot traffic or driving a heavy vehicle over your lawn can condense the soil.
Compact soil doesn’t have good drainage, and it can be hard for the root system of your lawn to keep growing. Plus, it can be difficult for your lawn to get the water and nutrients it needs if the soil is compact.
And if you walk over the same path during the winter, you will end up packing snow over your lawn, which creates ideal conditions for snow mold to appear and damage your lawn.
Besides, any frozen blades of grass will break if you walk or drive over them.
A simple step you can take to protect your lawn is to build some paths around your yard. It doesn’t have to be an expensive project since you can use materials like gravel, wood chips, mulch, or stepping stones for a DIY path.
Keep Up with Routine Maintenance
Proper lawn maintenance can protect your grass from a number of issues, including fungal diseases.
You should mow the lawn once a week, but take care not to cut the grass too short since it can stress the blades. Ideally, you shouldn’t cut more than one-third of the length and always use sharp blades.
Keeping your grass a little longer will result in a strong root system that makes your lawn more resilient, especially in the summer when retaining moisture can be difficult.
Should you bag the grass cuttings after mowing? You should remove part of the cuttings or rake up longer clippings so they don’t form a thick mat over your lawn.
Leaving some of the grass cuttings can be beneficial since they contain nutrients and can help with trapping moisture.
You should also water your lawn twice a week. If possible, water in the morning to limit evaporation. It will also give the grass plenty of time to absorb water.
Minimize Heat Exposure
Sunlight is important for growth, but exposure to excessive heat can damage your lawn. Planting trees and bushes is a good way of creating a natural cover that will shield your lawn from the heat.
You can also use temporary solutions for the summer, such as a protective lawn cover that blocks the sunlight. Awnings, patio umbrellas, and canopies are other options to consider.
Prep for Winter
You can prevent damage in the winter by prepping your lawn. You should aerate the soil in the fall and seed spots that need it. Fertilizing your lawn before the first snowfall is also important.
Instead of discarding leaves in the fall, turn them into mulch to provide your lawn with additional nutrients before the winter. You should also prepare by getting rid of weeds and keeping the grass short to prevent matting.
If your lawn needs more protection, burlap covers are a good way of insulating your lawn from cold temperatures.
Protect It from Wildlife
Animals can get in your yard and damage your lawn by burrowing or nesting. Keeping the grass short will make it harder to hide in your yard and might keep some animals away.
You should also keep your yard clean by removing debris, weeds, and overgrown plants.
If there are a lot of animals in your area, you should consider a fence or chicken wire to keep them out.
Products like liquid sprays and granular repellents also work well. If you want a natural alternative, add some fragrant plants like lavender, thyme, or lilac.
Wrap Up
Combined with proper lawn care and maintenance, these tips will help you prevent damage and improve the appearance of your lawn.