Tips for a Better Garden in Red Deer & the Surrounding Areas

1. Regular yard clean-ups will encourage a healthier, greener lawn.

Unless you’re concerned about maintaining a spotless look, cleaning up your yard may not seem necessary at first glance. After all, can’t things like fallen leaves simply blow away or compost naturally?

However, clearing your lawn regularly will make it healthier. For example, if dead grass builds up into a layer of thatch, the thatch will impede the root growth, increase risk of disease, and encourage insects and pests to nest.

2. The grass is greener with the right fertilizer.

If your neighbour’s lawn is emerald-green and yours is a sad, drab brown, it’s time to brush up on your lawn maintenance! Your neighbour is likely using high-quality fertilizer at the right times.

Choosing the right fertilizer matters. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers will give lawns that lush, green look. Synthetic fertilizers and slow-release fertilizers deliver the best results. However, newcomers to lawn care can make common mistakes when applying fertilizer. That’s why some unevenly fertilized lawns look stripey! Contact your local professional gardeners at R & R Turf and Property Management to learn more about what fertilizer to use and when to use it to make your grass greener.

3. Aerate your lawn for healthier growth.

Over time, lawns may become hard-packed, impeding the flow of water and nutrients. This is why aerating your lawn is so important. Aeration enables oxygen, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil and promotes healthy root growth.

Aeration is especially important for lawns that receive heavy traffic, such as backyards frequented by playing children and pets. If you notice water running off your lawn and onto the sidewalk, your lawn may be too hard-packed to absorb water and fertilizer, and aeration might be in order.

4. Do an intensive watering once or twice a week.

How much and how often you water your lawn will depend on the time of year, weather, and precipitation. In general, however, lawns require a heavy dose of watering once or twice a week equal to about 1 inch of water. This usually equates to leaving the sprinkler on for 30-60 minutes. You can place an empty bucket at ground level near your sprinkler to see how much water your lawn is getting. Do note that frequent, light watering will not be as beneficial because lawns often cannot absorb so little water.

5. Power rake your lawn and get the experts to help.

Power raking is an efficient way to clean up dead grass on your lawn and prevent soil compaction and build-up of thatch. However, buying or renting a machine can be costly and if you are inexperienced with using this piece of equipment, you can accidentally damage your garden’s plants with the mower attachments.

That’s why it’s good to invest in professional lawn care services from R & R Turf and Property Management. We have been caring for residential and commercial lawns in the Red Deer area since 2000.

Contact us for a quote today! We always survey an area before coming up with a quote. This means we can understand what your lawn needs and you know what you’re paying for.