It’s common knowledge for any Calgary homeowners that the secret to a happy home is a happy lawn. If you’re planning on staying in your house for a long time, then having a lush green lawn gives your kids somewhere safe and fun to play, as well as giving you space for summer parties and get-togethers. If you’re planning on selling, having a lawn that looks well managed and cared for gives your house immediate curb appeal and gives any potential buyers a positive first impression before they even step in the door. However, maintaining the perfect grass lawn can be tricky, and it’s all about knowing the key tricks with mowing and feeding that will make the difference. Here are 5 key mowing tips for keeping your grass perfect this summer.
Mowing Tip #1: Know Your Frequency
The first thing you need to think about when you’re planning the perfect lawn is how frequently you need to mow it. It’s surprising how many Calgary homeowners see their lawn as a static green carpet, instead of a complex system of living plants who all need nurturing to get the best growth. With that in mind, mowing needs to be thought of in the same vein as pruning for your shrubs and trees: too little and the grass gets out of control and weeds start to proliferate, while too much stunts growth and deprives the plants of the ability to photosynthesise all the beautiful Calgary sunshine.
This is why you’ll want to create a mowing schedule and find a way to make sure that you stick with it. Creating the schedule is a great activity for when you’re trapped inside during the long winter months, and posting it somewhere that you’ll see daily (like the fridge or bathroom mirror) is a great way to make sure you do it. A good rule of thumb is that you want to get a good cut a couple of weeks after the last of the snow has melted, and then aim for weekly cuts during the warmer months. You’ll need to keep an eye on the weather, as mowing damp grass can spread disease as well as damaging your mower. You’ll then want to move to a monthly mow in the fall, trying to keep things in shape before the snow flies.
Mowing Tip #2: Get The Height Right
Once you’ve got your mowing schedule created, you then need to consider the height that you want to keep your grass at. Of course, this has a certain level of subjectivity; some Calgary residents prefer longer grass to help the local wildlife find a home in your garden, while others want to keep it way short for outdoor play. The climate in Calgary typically favors cool season grasses, such as bluegrass, ryegrass and fescue, and each of these performs best when they’re kept somewhere between 4 and 6 cm from the soil. However, on any particular mowing day, best practice suggests that you shouldn’t cut more than a third of the height of the grass in one setting. If you’ve left the mowing for too long, or you’ve been on vacation with no back up plan for your mowing, give your grass a few days before going back for the second cut.
Mowing Tip #3: Dealing With Clippings
There’s always a lot of miscommunication around what to do with your grass clippings. For many years, there’s been a firm belief that leaving your grass clippings out leads to thatching, where the cut grass clumps together and blocks sunlight and water from getting to the cut grass underneath. However, there is a bigger movement that says to leave your clippings on the lawn. They are a rich source of essential nutrients like potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus and as they break down during the warmer months, they act as a natural slow release fertiliser. If you mow frequently and keep your grass at the right height, you can simply leave your clippings on the ground and let Mother Nature take care of them for you.
Mowing Tip #4: Fertilising Is Key
Just like with any gardening job, there’s a lot of different thought processes about how and when to go about fertilising your lawn. Adding the right fertiliser at the right time will give your lawn the boost it needs to look and feel at its best all summer long. The key principle to remember when it comes to lawn fertilising is to only add it when your grass is actively growing. In Calgary, this means that you’ll want to get a first feed done once all the snow has melted and the soil temperature rises to the point where it’s pliable, usually around 10 degrees or more.
Next you’ll want to find a well balanced fertiliser that has a high combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as one that is slow release. These often include organic matter which will make your grass safer to play on for younger children. You’ll need a mechanical spreader to make sure that you get an even coating, even on well established plants, as too much fertiliser can burn your grass. Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re watering frequently (or letting the summer rains help you out!) so that the nutrients seep into the deeper soil where the grass roots are thickest.
Mowing Tip #5: Let The Experts Do It For You!
If like many Calgary homeowners, you love the idea of a perfect lawn, but lack either the time, money or the expertise to keep it looking pristine, then it’s time to get some professional help. Here at Scoop Cut N Shovel, we have a dedicated of lawncare experts who will work with you to set up a lawn maintenance schedule including fertilising and mowing throughout the summer. We offer a variety of subscription packages to help you save money as well as time, so you can truly relax on your perfect green lawn this summer.