A lot more goes into quality lawn care other than just regular mowing and irrigation.
To achieve superior results you have to know what products to add to the soil as well as what pests need to be eliminated.
Not only that, but throughout the various climates of the country the correct timing of product application is imperative to achieving a great looking yard.
Let's take a look at some general guidelines to consider when pursuing a healthy, beautiful landscape.
The first exercise that must be performed is to apply pre-emergent grassy weed control in either the late winter or early spring depending on where you live.
Generally, residents living in southern states will want to apply this product in late winter while those living in more temperate northern climates will want to wait until early spring to do so.
Pre-emergent grassy weed control is designed as a barrier that, once applied, will block weeds such as crabgrass, quack grass, and spurge from finding their way to the surface.
It is recommended that two applications of pre-emergent weed control be applied about six weeks apart for maximum protection.
Either at the same time or shortly after pre-emergent weed control is applied to your yard you will want to begin a feeding schedule for your turf.
Starting in late winter or early spring, grass needs to be consistently fed throughout the growing season.
Typically, early season feedings will include high amounts of nitrogen to promote deep green color despite cooler soil temperatures.
By late spring, it is wise to switch to a more balanced fertilizer that contains equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
This will encourage root development in your turf while maintaining its good color.
When summer hits most grass types no longer will benefit from nitrogen.
In fact, this mineral could easily burn your lawn when accompanied with sweltering heat.
Instead, to maintain good color, it is recommended that you apply iron.
Iron will not burn the turf, but its benefits typically do not last as long as nitrogen's.
During the summer you can also apply high potassium fertilizers as well as limestone, which will fortify your yard with needed calcium and magnesium while helping to balance your soil's pH level.
In the fall it is wise to return to a high nitrogen fertilizer to promote continued good color.
At this time it is also important to apply significant amounts of phosphorous, which encourages root development and also is a useful mineral for promoting seed germination.
For most grass types you will want to seed or over seed in the fall, so the phosphorous will assist in thickening your turf.
The final part of proper lawn care is eliminating pests that attempt to take over your yard through the course of the growing season.
Things such as weeds, diseases, bugs, and rodents can wreak terror on your yard if they are not eliminated.
This can be where lawn care gets extremely tricky, however.
Once again, timing is everything when applying products to eliminate pests.
Broad-leaf weed control, for example, can only be applied to your yard in the spring and fall months when soil temperatures are below 77 degrees.
Also, disease control products are only effective when soil temperatures are above 80 degrees.
Because of these issues it is wise to keep tabs on the current soil temperature in your yard.