Yard Management

It may surprise many people, but proper yard management is a vital part of having a tidy and clean home. Yard management is also one of the easier things to do around the home. All you need to do is follow these simple guidelines to help create your own yard management routine.

• Watering. On average, your grass needs no more than one inch of water a week to look great. The easiest way to do this is water your lawn once heavily (say, about thirty minutes) every two days. Spacing out your watering like this will allow the grass to properly absorb the water and allow the lawn to dry out a bit as well. If you experience moderate to heavy rains during the week, count that as one of your lawn watering days and wait another two days. Keep in mind that the best time to water your lawn is not during the daylight hours, but in the evening or early morning.
• Feeding. For truly green, healthy looking lawns you need to fertilize your lawn four times a year. This helps avoid over feeding and allows the nutrients to work their way into the soil properly. Start your fertilizing in cool weather and avoid fertilizing in hot weather since your lawn can be damaged by the chemicals. Ask your local gardener for the proper fertilizer mix for your area.
• Mowing. Without proper mowing your lawn will quickly look overgrown and haphazard. So unless you are trying for the vacant lot or mountain meadow look, you need to mow your lawn at least once every two weeks. On average the best-looking yards come from mowing once a week, as regularly as possible.
• Raking. Raking your yard should be something that is done year round, at least during the warm weather months, as opposed to just once a year in the fall. Raking is more than just a method for picking up loose leaves. While they may look charming for a time, loose leaves can quickly lead to a cluttered, dead lawn. Raking also is great for picking up cut grass from mowing and helping to prevent thatching, which will also kill your lawn and create a messy yard.
• Periodic cleaning. Just as with the interior of your home, periodic yard cleaning will help keep it...well, clean. On average, you should go through your yard once a week to pick up anything that is out of place. This simple step can go a long way to creating a clean and tidy appearance for your yard.