Many homeowners in the United States buy a new home and tend to start their lawn care immediately. But what about all the other plants, shrubs, and trees already planted in your yard before you moved? You’ll need to ensure that your yard is adequately watered and cleaned and eliminate unwanted plants or pests. Here are six key tasks you should do after buying a new home to improve the lawn.
1. Have the Lawn Treated for Insects
Insects are responsible for the majority of lawn damage. Having a lawn treated for insects and pests will help you avoid many problems down the road. It means you will have to keep the lawn in check by raking it out, removing trash and debris, and removing dead leaves from the trees and bushes.
2. Prune Your Trees
Suckers are branches that grow from a tree’s trunk or roots. You should remove these as soon as possible to avoid damaging the tree. Your trees should be pruned twice a year, during the spring and autumn seasons. The first time is to create a smaller tree that is easy to handle. The second time is for the actual pruning, in which you should remove all dead foliage and branches within the trees.
3. Rake the Grass
Raking or aerating your lawn will help the grass to establish itself better, allowing it to develop more evenly, leading to a healthier and better-looking lawn. Before you rake your lawn, you should water it and mix sawdust or sand into it so that the soil won’t settle back into any holes you make in mowing it down.
4. Fertilize the Soil
Fertilizing the soil will help you to create a healthier lawn that remains green and doesn’t fade. One way to fertilize the ground is by using slow-release fertilizers, which you should apply in the spring. This type of fertilizer is ideal for all grass types, and it will give your lawn the nutrients that it needs to thrive.
5. Apply a Weed Killer Spray
If your lawn already has weeds, you should kill them before they become widespread and hard to control. Pesticides are available in many forms like granules or sprays, or even as directed heat treatments for weeds like Bermuda grass that one can’t kill any other way.
6. Mow the Lawn
Mowing your lawn is one of the most effective ways to deal with pests and weeds in your lawn. You should mow the lawn at least once every week if possible. To ensure that you mow your lawn properly and evenly, you should use a push-mower set on a low setting so that it doesn’t damage, disrupt or injure the grass blades.
To ensure that you have a healthy, beautiful lawn free of pests, follow these simple steps. After moving into a new home, proper lawn maintenance will ensure that your lawn stays safe and beautiful for years to come.
