A healthy lawn provides a safe and enjoyable place for backyard barbecues and fun outdoor games. A lot goes into maintaining your lawn in a good state. From mowing to watering, your lawn needs good care to attain a lush look. You can hire professionals to take care of your lawn or do it yourself. Here are some valuable tips to help you maintain a stunning yard:

1. Leave yardwork to the professionals
Investing in professional services helps to avoid accidental damages to your lawn. For instance, you may not understand how frequently to water, mulch, and add fertilizer to your lawn. As a result, you may end up carrying out practices that lower your lawn’s physical appeal. Also, you may lack time from your busy schedule to take care of your lawn at the same time every week. On the other hand, professionals who have specialized in this line of work understand how to keep your lawn healthy and looking good. As a result, they will show up at the same time every week to provide consistent care.

2. Fertilize and mulch for more efficient growth
Adding fertilizer and adding nutrients to the soil allows your lawn to flourish. The available types of fertilizers include those that release nutrients slowly and those that release quickly. Quick-release fertilizers are water-soluble and release nutrients within two to four weeks.The results are instantaneous. However, you may need to add more after four weeks. Also, consider following the package instructions and diluting the fertilizer to avoid burning your lawn.On the other hand, slow-release fertilizers provide nutrients to the grass in six to eight weeks. It may take some time to notice the results, but you don’t have to apply the fertilizer frequently.You can use grass clippings and shredded leaves to mulch your lawn. These natural products offer inexpensive mulching alternatives. You can leave the grass clippings on your lawn to act as mulch after mowing your grass. Microbes and insects break down these clippings and release nitrogen into the soil.

3. Mow more effectively
While most people assume mowing the grass high makes the lawn look less appealing, the practice has several benefits. First, the longer blades increase the surface area for making more food through photosynthesis. The longer blades also help to provide cover for the ground to minimize evaporation, especially during summer. It is also easier to create lawn stripes with longer grass.

4. Water early in the mornings, several times per week
While you may assume watering your lawn any time of the day is okay, watering it in the morning produces the best results. Also, it is vital to use proper watering techniques to avoid destroying the grass. Providing insufficient water will cause your grass to dry up while overwatering is equally destructive. In addition, overwatering causes your lawn to be muddy. Putting an empty can of cat food or tuna on the lawn when your sprinkler starts helps you know how much water has gone into the ground. You can also use a timer with your sprinkler to ensure your lawn gets consistent water quantities every time. Consider watering your lawn approximately three times every week during warm months. Watering once or twice weekly in cooler months is okay because there is less evaporation during this period. Also, consider proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.

5. Aerate in spring to allow water and oxygen to penetrate soil
The grass roots may lack adequate oxygen due to soil compaction caused by snow and foot traffic. Inadequate oxygen inhibits proper growth. The aeration process involves making holes in the ground to allow unrestricted airflow. Simple yard tools such as a pitchfork can come in handy in this activity. However, a specific lawn aerator can perform this task more efficiently.