How to Prepare Your Arizona Sod Lawn For Your Backyard Wedding Ceremony

April 16th, 2024

So you’ve decided to have your Arizona wedding ceremony in your backyard. That’s great! Choosing your backyard for your ceremony has many benefits. First of all, you don’t have to pay for an expensive venue or worry about security deposits or refunds. You can also decorate without restriction however you see fit without having some venue manager watching you’re every move or making sure it complies with building codes. Follow our tips for how to prepare your Arizona sod lawn for your backyard wedding ceremony.

Lay down temporary flooring to prevent any damage to your Arizona sod lawn. Get some large squares of carpet and lay it down in the area you are planning on having the ceremony. This will flatten your sod for a day or two but in the long run will prevent a lot of damage to your Arizona sod lawn. Remember that most ladies like to wear high-heels to weddings, and if you don’t lay down some sort of protective flooring you are going to have hundreds of holes in your grass due to high-heels. Plus you’ll be doing the ladies a favor since no one likes sinking into grass in their pretty shoes.

Make sure there is enough seating for all your guests. Count your RSVPs carefully before purchasing or renting your chairs for your wedding ceremony seating. You’ll also want to rent a few extra chairs just in case someone brings an extra guest that has not been accounted for.

Place your guest book at the entrance so everyone signs it right away. As a tip, keep large notecards or extra sheets of your guest book unattached to the main book so that many people can leave a note at the same time. You certainly don’t want to be running around during your big day making sure everyone has signed your guest book.

Prepare for bad weather. You always need to have a backup plan in case the weather turns sour. Since you are having it in Arizona, chances are the weather will be beautiful and sunny, but there’s always a possibility of a dust storm or lightning storm and you want to be sure an event such as this won’t ruin your wedding. Empty out the largest room in your house so that it’s ready to be transformed into the ceremony location in the event of bad weather.

For more tips on how to maintain your Arizona sod lawn during your wedding and all year round, visit Evergreen Turf.

Arizona Sod and Overseeding

April 16th, 2024

Are you looking for a way to add some green to your desert landscaping? Maybe you dream of a cool outdoor retreat to gather with friends and family. Or perhaps your kids are longing for a place to play barefoot outside. If you live in the Phoenix or Tucson area, consider adding an Arizona sod lawn to your landscape.

The best way to get a beautiful lawn is to purchase it as Arizona sod. Sod in Arizona is grown on a farm that specializes in the cultivation of grasses uniquely suited for Arizona. Once the grass is thick and green and has developed a dense root structure, it is harvested in rolls. It’s then ready to be installed directly on your prepared location, giving your home the instant beauty of a lush, easy-to-maintain Arizona lawn.

Arizona’s low desert climate is one of extremes. You want a grass that can stand up to our environment but is easy to establish and maintain. Arizona sod is made up of grasses that are proven performers in the heat and dry conditions of Phoenix and Tucson. These include bermuda, hybrid bermuda, St. Augustine and golf course varieties such as Tifway and Tifgreen. What type of Arizona lawn you choose depends on your lifestyle. Each Arizona grass type has a color and texture all its own. Some Arizona grass types perform better in shaded areas while others perform best in full sun. All of them are adapted to drought and salinity.

All sod in Arizona is made up of warm weather grasses. What does this mean for you as a homeowner? Warm weather grasses go dormant in the cool winter months in Phoenix and Tucson. If you want to maintain a green lawn, you’ll need to overseed your Arizona Grass with a cold hardy variety like ryegrass. Overseeding helps your Arizona sod too. Ryegrass’s extensive root system extends deep into the soil, helping to aerate it and making it easier for water to percolate deep into the soil structure. Once the weather warms up, your Arizona sod will take over again, providing you with a continuously green lawn. Evergreen Turf also sells overseeded versions of all its varieties during the winter months, so you can create your beutiful new lawn any time of year.

Installing sod in Arizona has other benefits as well. In both Phoenix and Tucson, low rainfall causes dust pollution. Both cities have ordinances to keep dust down for public health reasons. When we do get rain, it often can’t sink into our compacted soils so it simply runs across the landscape causing flooding and erosion. A sod lawn with its well-established roots can help minimize dust and prevent run-off.

A lawn also helps create a cooling envelope around your home. Homes with grass and trees hold moisture on the property making it look and feel cooler. While many homeowners install decomposed granite to conserve water, adding sod in Arizona can be a smarter choice. Gravel quickly heats up during the summer and radiates that heat back into the surrounding environment at night, keeping nighttime temperatures high and increasing your cooling costs. A waterwise Arizona lawn stays cool through transpiration, and doesn’t retain heat.

Choosing and maintaining Arizona sod is easy. We can help you choose the right grass for your application and advise you on the best way to maintain it. From the right mower, to the best organic fertilizers, we have what you’re looking for. And if you don’t want to spend all week-end installing your new lawn, we offer complete installation from site preparation to irrigation.

For more information about maintaining your Arizona sod, or installing new sod, feel free to contact us at Evergreen Turf, Arizona’s Premier Sod Supplier.

Select the perfect turf using our lawn selector. Once you’ve found the perfect type of grass, you can order online or by phone. Learn how to measure your lawn and how to install your new lawn with our helpful online guides.

How to Conserve Water in Desert Landscaping

April 15th, 2024

Did you know that over half of household water typically goes into our landscapes? There are several ways to reduce the amount of water you are using on your home landscaping. Here are some tips on how to conserve water in desert landscaping:

1. Determine how much water your plants need: Small shrubs need less water than big trees because they have a smaller root zone. A root zone refers to the area in which the feeder roots are most concentrated. It’s best if you make sure to wet the entire root zone on each water cycle to ensure you are maintaining the healthiest plants.

2. Determine how deep you should water: As a general rule of thumb, small plants (cacti, annuals, etc.) should be watered to a depth of one foot. Medium-sized plants and shrubs need to be watered to a depth of two feet and large trees and other large plants should be watered down to three feet in the soil. So how do you test how deep you have watered? Get a long screwdriver or soil probe and push the tool down into the soil approximately one hour after watering. You will know if you have not watered enough because the probe will be difficult or impossible to push into dry soil.

3. Determine how wide you should water: The roots that absorb water are located just beneath the outer edge of the plants canopy. This is called the dripline. Water is not absorbed close to the trunks or stems. This means you should place your emitters along the dripline of each plant so that the water spreads down and reaches the entire root zone as it soaks into the soil.

4. Determine how much water each part of your watering system applies: Whether you use a watering hose, bubbler, or drip emitter, it’s important to figure out how much water each of these systems is releasing. Remember that if you have more than one emitter on a plant or tree you need to total the output of all emitters. Once you have recorded the total outputs for your plants you can figure out run time for each watering line.

5. Make a worksheet which calculates the run time in hours for each area of your landscape. There are plenty of these worksheets available online or at your local garden supply store.

6. Determine your watering frequency: This can vary by season as the weather changes throughout the year. Run times should stay the same however your watering frequency will change. For example, plants can use 3 to 5 times as much water in the hot summer months as they do in the winter.

7. Make sure you are not over or under watering your plants: Signs of overwatering include excessive growth, change in color to yellow or light green, and algae on plants. Signs of under watering include leaves that curl, leaves that turn brown and dry up, and stems or branches that dry out and break.

For more information about maintaining your Arizona sod, or installing new sod, feel free to contact us at Evergreen Turf, Arizona’s Premier Sod Supplier.

Select the perfect turf using our lawn selector. Once you’ve found the perfect type of grass, you can order online or by phone. Learn how to measure your lawn and how to install your new lawn with our helpful online guides.

Desert Landscaping: A Great Way to Conserve Water

April 15th, 2024

Desert landscaping has become a popular trend in the Southwest in recent years due to the ever-present need to conserve water. Using native plants is a great way to create a beautiful, low-cost, low-maintenance lawn. No more worrying about wasteful habits and high water bills!

If you are designing your landscape right now, make sure you buy appropriate plant life for your part of the country. Most of the Southwest has poor soil and hot weather, so buy plants suitable to this climate. There is an endless variety of plants that are drought-tolerant and thrive in sandy soil. Most people know that cactus and yucca do well in this environment, but did you know that there are also tons of flowers that do best when exposed to sun for the majority of the day? For example, oleander, juniper, and bougainvillea are all native plants that should grow well in your desert lawn landscaping. Consult a lawn care professional for additional recommendations on flowers that can bloom and flourish in your environment.

desert landscaping

Another tip to conserve water is to buy small window planters and install them outside (as well as inside) your home. It’s best to put climate-sensitive plants indoors near a window so that you can control their environment, plus it never hurts to show them off to your neighbors!

It’s time to redefine the way people think of “Lawns” – Desert landscaping does not solely consist of concrete, rock lawns, and decaying driftwood. There are many other ways to arrange a desert yard. Consider adding a pool, spa, or wading pond to your lawn to add a different aesthetic quality to it. And if you do want grass in your lawn, just make sure you buy native species like Bermuda grass. Bermuda is built to withstand hot temperatures and dry climates. Evergreen Turf offers several different varieties of sod that are suited for the Arizona climate.

When planting, be sure to give roots time to anchor into the soil. In the Southwest, the wind can be just as harsh as the sun, so you may want to install fences or hedges around your property to block out some of the wind. Additionally, temporary tarps and cover-ups can be used to help with the wind issue. Talk to a professional landscaper to learn about the best watering timetable for your plants. Landscapers may even install a timed drip irrigation system to help you conserve water. They can also help you brainstorm other desert landscaping options, install pools, and create beautiful lighting around your lawn.

Here are some final tips to ensure you have the best desert landscape lawn out there:

  • Only water in the mornings or evenings to help conserve water.
  • Check your soil’s moisture-level from time to time to make sure it doesn’t get too dry.
  • In the fall and spring you may only need to water your landscape once a week, but check with a professional for tailored advice.
  • Late fall and winter allow for even more water conservation due to the increase in rain, snow, and water runoff.

For more information about maintaining your Arizona sod, or installing new sod, feel free to contact us at Evergreen Turf, Arizona’s Premier Sod Supplier.

Trust your Arizona Sod Needs to the Experts: Evergreen Turf

April 15th, 2024

As an Arizona home owner, you know that landscaping and maintaining your lawn can be an ordeal. The typical desert climate of Arizona in general can make having a luscious green yard nearly impossible without professional help. We are your premiere guide to achieving a perfectly manicured and healthy lawn that thrives in the harsh Arizona heat. We know the best types of sod in Arizona for your landscaping needs so you can have a beautiful yard despite the desert heat.

Arizona sod can be a tricky thing. Trying to get grass to grow in Arizona can be hard for the typical homeowner to do. If you have trouble getting your sod to stay green, give us a call and see how we can help your yard look its best. From helping you choose the right sod to teaching you how to fertilize and care for your grass, we can allow you to have a beautiful yard that is easier to care for. Let us teach you how to pick the best sod for the Arizona climate, and also how to take care of your new sod so it stays healthy.

When you make the choice to improve or create your new yard, count on us to help you choose the best type of sod. High quality sod in Arizona can be difficult to find, let alone survive in the harsh desert heat. Arizona sod that we specialize in includes bermuda, hybrid bermuda, and many varieties of hardy golf course sod, such as St. Augustine. Count on Evergreen Turf to supply and install your new sod, and provide you with the information needed to maintain, or help your existing sod become more lush and beautiful than ever before! With our help, you can be on your way to knowing how to keep your yard healthy, green, and happy for years to come, even as the Arizona heat beats down on you.

For more information about preparing for sod or maintaining your new sod lawn, take a look at our lawn care section.

The Benefits of Using Sod to Start Your Arizona Lawn

April 15th, 2024

Arizona is home to a wide breadth of rare and unusual native plants. To protect the health and well-being of the natural landscape, Arizona legislators have instituted extensive rules and regulations that control the amount and type of seeds and plants anyone may bring into the state. Grasses are no exception. Each blade of grass in your lawn is actually a plant. Every species has its own light, water and nutritional needs. To choose the best species for your lawn you need to take into account how you want to use your lawn, the properties of your soil and your willingness or ability to maintain the lawn.

You may start with seeds or sod to establish a new lawn or to rejuvenate an existing lawn. Typically, purchasing seed will cost you less money than sod. Arizona sod may prove to be more cost-effective because you stand a better chance of achieving a healthy lawn.

Sod is better able to compete against weeds that blow on to your lawn because there is little room for the weed seeds to contact the soil and establish themselves. When you cultivate the soil to prepare it for seed or sod, you risk disturbing dormant weed seeds. Covering these seeds with sod reduces the chance they will germinate. In contrast, the weeds will compete with grass seeds for water, space and nutrients. If you try to remove the weeds that emerge by pulling them out, you risk killing the young grass blades that you will walk on to reach the weeds. Chemicals, at that stage of development, are just as likely to harm your grass, as they will the weeds.

Laying sod in Arizona will improve your curb appeal almost instantaneously. You will also be able to use your grass sooner than if you started with seed. Sod also helps to alleviate specific conditions that you may find on your Arizona lawn. For example, trying to grow grass from seed on a slope is very difficult because water and wind will erode the soil before the seeds have time to germinate. Laying sod protects the soil and gives the grass roots time to work their way through the soil and hold it in place.

Managing your water use is important throughout Arizona, but in areas such as Phoenix or Tucson, it is a key element of caring for your Arizona grass. Some species require less water than other grass species. In particular, a warm weather variety such as a hybrid Bermuda grass provides green space that will do well with the region’s limited annual rainfall. Generally, warm season grasses are preferable in southern Arizona because they do not rely on spring rains and will grow in relatively dry soil. You will need to water your new sod or seeds frequently until they establish themselves. After the first few weeks of watering three or four times a week, you will be able to reduce the amount of water you provide and allow the root structure to expand and find moisture in the ground.

For more information about preparing for sod or maintaining your new sod lawn, take a look at our lawn care section.

Sod Grass Installation: A Step-By-Step Guide

April 5th, 2024

You may have many reasons for installing new sod grass on your property. Examples could include beautifying the property, improving its surface for specific usages (such as athletics), and conserving resources (as some types of grass require less watering than others).

New sod grass can also be a smart investment, as it may boost your property’s curb appeal. Strong curb appeal can attract customers to a business. According to a study from the University of Texas at Arlington, it can also boost a home’s value.

Ensure you thoroughly understand the process of installing sod grass before getting started on a project like this. Sod grass installation involves the following steps:

Research Your Options

Installing sod grass properly is important. However, if you install the wrong variety of grass, you’ll have wasted your time, money, and effort. Avoid this by thoroughly researching your options to find a variety that suits your needs.

Factors to consider when choosing sod grass include:

  • Whether a variety of sod grass thrives in your climate
  • The impact of the grass on your property’s curb appeal
  • How durable the grass is and how you use your property
  • How much maintenance your grass needs

You don’t have to choose a variety of sod grass alone. Suppliers can help you better understand the pros and cons of your options.

Measure the Area

You may already know the square footage of the area in which you’ll lay sod. Skip this step if so. If you don’t have this information on hand, you may have to measure the square footage.

Prep the Area

Prepping the area involves such steps as:

  • First, eradicate your existing lawn with a herbicide, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  •  Thoroughly removing old sod
  •  Removing weeds and any other leftover vegetation
  • Leveling the soil and applying compost or a similar product and leaving it in place for a certain period of time according to the manufacturer’s instructions
  • Dampening the soil in preparation for the new sod

Don’t make the mistake of trying to lay new sod over an existing sod or turf surface. You’ll only kill both your old grass and new sod in the process.

Lay the Sod

After watering an area of soil, you can lay a sod layer on it. Make sure the soil beneath is smooth. Rake away any footprints in the soil before laying the sod.

It’s best to start on the farthest edge, and work toward the closest edge, this way you are not walking over the top of the new sod you just laid. Make sure the sod is flush with the adjacent surface (such as concrete) and try to lay sod evenly so there are no gaps.

Tip: Lay sod vertically over any sloped areas of your property. Laying sod vertically instead of horizontally on slopes can boost water retention.

Check the Area

Check for gaps once you’ve installed sod across the entire area. If you find any gaps, use utility shears to cut out smaller pieces of sod that you can install to fill these gaps. In addition, check the edges, using a box cutter to straighten any that need it.

Practice Necessary Upkeep

Remember, learning about the upkeep and maintenance needs of a variety of sod before installing it is important. Adhere to a proper maintenance schedule to ensure your new sod grass stays in good condition for as long as possible.

If you need extra advice, be sure to ask questions of your sod grass suppliers. Their expertise can play a critical role in helping you feel confident you’ll install your sod properly.

Purchase Sod Grass for Your Property Now

At Evergreen Turf, in Chandler, Arizona, we offer numerous varieties of sod for both residential and commercial properties. Learn more about what we have to offer by contacting us online today.

Top 6 Types of Sod Grass for the Arizona Climate

April 5th, 2024

Sod grass comes in many varieties. Although aesthetics is one factor to consider when choosing a type of sod grass, it’s not the only factor to account for. You may also consider how certain varieties of sod grass are more likely to thrive in certain regional climates than in others.

The following are five of the most popular types of sod grass for various climates. Although one of them may be ideal for your property, you may need more information about an option before deciding to purchase it. Discuss this topic with a sod or turf supplier to learn more about the best variety for your needs.

Midiron

Midiron sod is a popular option in Arizona and parts of the country with a similar climate. Midiron sod is very drought-resistant and has low upkeep requirements.

Large families and families with pets sometimes opt for this form of sod because it can withstand heavy foot traffic relatively well. Thus, it’s also an option to consider for spaces on commercial properties that might get significant foot traffic.

Other benefits of Midiron sod to be aware of include:

  • Relatively long mowing intervals, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your property and less time maintaining it
  • An attractive deep blue-green color
  • The ability to remain in good condition despite direct sun exposure in a hot climate

Tifway 419

Tifway 419 is a versatile type of sod with numerous potential uses. It’s a style of Bermuda grass, which performs well in warm climates.

Tifway 419 remains among the most popular styles of sod grass for sports fields and golf courses. However, it’s also a common choice for residential lawns.

Benefits of this option include:

  • Versatility, as this form of sod tends to thrive in a range of soil types
  • It can self-repair after sustaining minor damage
  • Tifway 419 has a dense blade texture that many find results in an attractive and uniform look throughout a property

Tifway 328

Tifway 328 is a similar option to Tifway 419 that often appears on golf course greens. Some find it’s also the right choice for a property owner who desires a manicured appearance.

Additional benefits of Tifway 328 are:

  • Tifway 328 is fairly resistant to both disease and pets
  • This option is useful for public parks, where a clean appearance can make the right impression on visitors
  • Tifway 328 allows for low mowing, something you might prefer

TifGrand

Another factor to consider when choosing sod grass is shade. If your grass isn’t going to receive a lot of direct sunlight, you need to choose a variety that can grow in these conditions.

TifGrand is an option to be aware of. TifGrand is a warm-weather-friendly Bermuda grass that can thrive in up to 60% shade. Typically, it only requires four to five hours of direct sun exposure a day.

Reasons to consider TifGrand include:

  • It doesn’t require as much water or fertilizer as others, which could save you time and money
  • TifGrand may remain green later into the fall months than some other options
  • TifGrand is another sod that can double as sports turf, meaning it stands up to wear and tear

Palmetto St. Augustine

Palmetto St. Augustine is another type of sod that can remain in good condition despite minimal sun exposure. That said, it’s also very heat-tolerant, and can thus survive and grow in direct sunlight if you wish to install it in non-shady sections of your property.

Benefits Palmetto St. Augustine offers include:

  • An extensive root system allows this sod to tolerate drought very well
  • Palmetto St. Augustine offers a pleasing fine texture
  • Many consider the color of Palmetto St. Augustine to be even more impressive than that of other St. Augustine varieties

TifTuf

TifTuf’s name is no coincidence—this variety of hybrid bermudagrass is remarkably durable. Specifically, it’s an ideal option for drought-prone regions. Some have found that TifTuf is also an ideal replacement for TifWay. Additional benefits of this variety of sod include:

  • The capacity to become green again with the arrival of spring more quickly than similar varieties of hybrid bermudagrass
  • A dark green color with a uniquely fine texture
  • The ability to survive on 30% less water than other varieties of hybrid bermudagrass, helping conserve resources

Choosing a Style of Sod Grass: Factors to Keep in Mind

Ensuring your chosen variety of sod grass is right for your climate is essential. Other tips to remember when selecting a style include:

  • Confirm you have the resources and time necessary to maintain a particular style of grass before choosing it.
  • Check your soil’s pH, and find out if a variety of sod you’re considering for your property requires a certain type of soil to thrive.
  • If you have pets, choose a variety of sod that can withstand the damage pets may cause. Along with running around on a lawn, pets can damage some types of sod by urinating or defecating on it. Even if you don’t have pets, you may consider this factor if wild animals cross through your property.

Most importantly, feel free to ask questions of your sod grass supplier. Their expertise can help you select the right sod for your property much more easily and confidently.

Learn About Sod Grass Varieties

At Evergreen Turf, our team would be happy to answer your questions about what type of sod is best for your needs. Contact us online or call us at (480) 456-1199 for more information about what we offer.

When to Replace Turfgrass Sod and How to Extend Its Life

March 12th, 2024

Installing the right type of sod grass on your property can help it look attractive throughout the year. However, you may have to replace sod grass after some time. While you can take steps to optimize the lifespan of your grass, replacing it will eventually be necessary.

The best way to learn about when to replace sod grass is to discuss the topic with a supplier. An expert can provide recommendations specific to the variety of turfgrass sod you’ve chosen for your property. That said, the following overview will provide general advice to help you better understand this topic in the meantime.

Replacing your lawn: What You Need to Know

Deciding whether it’s time to install new sod requires accounting for various factors. They include the following:

  • Lawn condition: Many types of sod grass are quite durable. For example, sod for sports fields can stay in good shape for a relatively long stretch of time. That said, long-term wear-and-tear can have a negative impact on your sod’s condition and overall appearance over the years. You might want to replace your sod if this has occurred.
  • Choose a new and improved variety: Perhaps you’re unhappy with your current sod. Maybe you want to swap it out for a better choice, something that stays green longer, uses less water, or grows better in the shadow of that tree that is now 20 feet taller than when you first planted it. Discuss this topic with a supplier if so. They can explain your options and explain the process of replacing one variety of sod grass with another.
  • Weeds: If your lawn is overrun with weeds, you may need to lay down new sod to tackle the problem and prevent it from returning. However, you will also have to kill all the weeds first before doing so. Coordinate with an expert to ensure thorough results.

You can technically lay most varieties of sod during virtually any season, but it is best to select a variety that is most suited for the time of year and local conditions. A knowledgeable sod supplier can help you with this decision.

Tips for Extending the Life of your Lawn

Ways to keep sod grass in the best possible condition for as long as possible include:

  • Discuss proper maintenance and care with suppliers, and adhere to their suggestions. Purchase any maintenance equipment you may need ahead of time. Establish a lawn maintenance schedule so you don’t overlook this.
  • Make sure water reaches every spot on your lawn during the watering process.
  • Minimize foot traffic and other forms of traffic on your sod. True, you may have selected a particular variety of sod primarily because it can stand up to substantial foot traffic. However, no sod is completely invulnerable to harm. Don’t operate heavy vehicles on your sod when you can avoid doing so, and consider installing walking paths to guard against excessive foot traffic.
  • Wait at least two weeks to mow new sod. Mowing too soon can damage the root. Ask a professional the ideal time to start mowing your chosen sod variety.

That last point reiterates an essential truth: Discussing these topics with sod suppliers is the easiest way to learn about replacing old sod and extending your current sod’s life. Contact a professional if you’re not sure whether it’s time to replace your sod. Along with answering your basic questions, they can supply your new sod and may even suggest a different variety if you’d like to try another style.

Contact Turfgrass Sod Suppliers in Arizona

At Evergreen Turf, we offer numerous varieties of sod for properties ranging from homes to sports venues. Learn more about our products and services by contacting us online today!

5 Common Lawn Care Mistakes Every Homeowner Makes

March 7th, 2024

Lawn care isn’t as simple as it might seem. Many homeowners learn this fast.

Even if you attempt to stay on top of lawn maintenance, it’s possible your lawn doesn’t look the way you envisioned it. Perhaps this is happening because you’re making one of the following all-too-common (but equally understandable) lawn care errors:

Mowing Your Grass Too Low

Many homeowners assume it’s best to use the mower setting that will cut their grass the shortest. They may believe doing so will serve two purposes: ensuring their lawn looks neat and orderly while also increasing the length of time they can wait before mowing again.

However, mowing your grass too short can prevent it from absorbing nutrients in sunlight and air. The grass will simply have too little surface area. In addition, mowing too low can damage the roots, leaving them more vulnerable to harm.

For most home lawns, at best mowing height is between 1 to 3 inches.  The shorter you maintain your lawn, the more frequently you will need to mow it.  If you want it less than an inch, you will need to mow it twice per week, which can be a lot of work.  Mowing between 1 to 3 inches will be the optimum for sunlight, water, and nutrient use.

Not Sharpening Your Mower Blades

Don’t assume your mower’s blades are sharp enough to cut your grass effectively! Every season, inspect your mower’s blades to determine whether they’ve grown dull after repeated use.

A common sign of dull blades is grass that appears frayed or shredded. If your grass doesn’t look cleanly cut after a mowing session, visit your local hardware store to ask if they can sharpen your mower blades. If you’d prefer to save money, they may also provide the tools for you to sharpen the blades yourself.

Not Adjusting Lawn Care With the Seasons

The right approach to lawn care during one season may not be ideal during another. Naturally, you may know the grass needs more water during certain times of year than others. In addition, it can grow more rapidly during some seasons, which may impact your mowing schedule.

Depending on what type of grass you grow and if you overseed, as winter turns to spring, you might find your current grass can no longer thrive in the warmer weather. You might thus need to transition your lawn to a different type of grass as the seasons change. A lawn care professional can explain the nuances of this process in greater detail.

Making Common Watering Mistakes

More water isn’t always better for your grass. Overwatering can carry nutrients away from the grass, resulting in the same essential consequences as underwatering.

The average lawn needs about 1.5 inches of water per week during the summer, but only a half inch per week during the winter. A lawn care expert can explain how much water your specific lawn may need based on the type of grass you have.

However, providing your lawn with the right amount of water doesn’t always mean you’re watering it correctly. The water needs time to reach the roots. Water long enough to penetrate the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches.

Choosing the Wrong Type of Grass

An earlier point highlighted the importance of transitioning to a new type of grass as the seasons change. Some homeowners don’t realize they may be using the wrong type of grass for the time of year they’re in.

For example, a sod variety like Midiron may be best for the warmer  months of the year in a climate like Arizona’s. During the winter , you may want to consider overseeding with perennial ryegrass for a dark green color.  One of the new trends for saving water in the winter is to paint your lawn with one of the newly developed pigments that will give your lawn a “real grass” color, without having to mow or water as much.

Speak With a Professional for More Lawn Care Information

The right sod for your lawn, the right schedule for watering, and various other lawn care details can depend on such factors as where you live, what type of visual effect you wish to achieve, and more.

Don’t worry if you make any of these lawn care errors. Homeowners often don’t realize that lawn care is both an art and a science. Fortunately, by coordinating with professionals, you can learn to keep your lawn looking its best for years to come.