Utah Weather
Lawn care in Utah can be an interesting nut to crack, thanks to our infamous climate inconsistency. In California, it is often said that you can surf in the morning and go skiing in the afternoon because the state is big enough to have summer and winter weather in different cities simultaneously. As Utahns, we empathize by experiencing all those different weather conditions in the same neighborhood over the course of a few hours.
As such, it can be difficult to know exactly what lawn care programs to do, as Utah grass can go from scorched to saturated and back again, all within a day. Luckily, our team of experienced professionals at Lawngevity has built their careers on knowing just what your lawn will need.
Common Mistakes
As in life, some of the biggest mistakes a homeowner makes regarding the health of their lawn are ones of commission as well as omission. Simply perusing our gallery will show the sheer amount of unique lawn-related problems we are often called in to fix. Let’s go over the most common — and therefore, the most harmful — behaviors that can put your yard at a disadvantage.
1 – Inconsistent Watering
What do you think is more dangerous to the health of your yard, overwatering or underwatering your yard? You may be surprised to learn that overwatering is much worse in the long run than underwatering.
How can this be? Underwatering ensures two things: your grass will dry out and it will eventually die. If you live in one of the more arid locales in Utah, extremely dry grass can also become a fire hazard, which brings with it its own set of dangers. Oversaturation, however, is responsible for a few things:
- Drowning the roots of your grass
- Killing off helpful microbes in the soil
- Creating an easier environment for disease and fungus to take hold
- Causing a mass exodus of helpful insects
Underwatering and then drenching your yard to make up for it is not a wise or sustainable method of getting a beautiful lawn. Instead, it is important to water regularly in times of low heat. This brings us to our next point…
2 – Watering at the Wrong Time
You may likely remember the surge in popularity of lawn care programs that promoted midnight watering of the yard. After all, it’s what the city was likely doing in the parks and so it certainly would be good for your yard. One thing was for certain: watering at high noon was the worst thing you could do.
Well, as it turns out, this line of thinking is both right and wrong. True, watering in the heat of the day is not good (being the main cause of water waste and scorched lawns), but so too is watering in the dead of night. This can cause:
- Infestations of mildew and fungus
- Without evaporation at night, lawns get oversaturated
- Water attracts swarms of bad insects like mosquitoes
- Damp grass will begin to rot
The best time of day to water is between 6-10 AM or dawn. This will allow a good soak for a few hours before the sun comes and evaporates the water. This is one of the best lawn care programs you can get in the habit of doing.
3 – Ignoring Lawn Fertilization
At Lawngevity, fertilization is the foundational service of our business. The benefits of getting on a fertilization schedule with us include:
- Keeping the soil rich in nutrients, including iron which is necessary for the health of your trees and shrubbery.
- Prevention of infectious diseases to your greenery
- Eliminating weeds before they have a chance to take root and grow strong
- Having your pesky Utah lawn care handled by a professional, insured applicator
Unfortunately, too many homeowners forget to have an expert come out and apply the best fertilizers in a safe and effective way.
4 – Problems with Mowing
It may sound silly but there is a right and a wrong way to mow your lawn. That isn’t to say that you must always mow in lines or circles or that you can never mulch your yard (in fact, many people don’t mulch enough), but this really has to do with the tools you use and the mindset going into your yard work.
It is good to avoid these behaviors while mowing:
- Mowing with a dull blade
- Cutting the grass too short
- Over-favoring bagging
The trick to mowing is making sure that the grass is still long enough to get all the sun it needs for photosynthesis but short enough that it still looks presentable and nice. Servicing your mower by sharpening the blade is also a necessity if you want to keep the grass from tearing in unhealthy ways.
5 – Not Aerating the Soil
Soil compaction can become a real problem as heavy foot and lawnmower traffic will cause the ground to become very hard and dense. This will result in your lawn’s inability to spread helpful nutrients and will also harm the roots of your grass.
Aerating allows fertilizer, water, and air to get back into the soil so that your grass bounces back greener than ever. It regulates the pH level of your soil, reduces runoff, and is a good way to winterize your yard.
At Lawngevity, Utah’s lawn care is our #1 priority. That means fighting diseases in your grass and trees, getting rid of pests and harmful bugs, and keeping your landscape looking healthy and green. If you believe your lawn could use a more professional touch, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re ready to help.