4 Resolutions to Stick To

As we look forward to spring’s awakening, why not make room among those tired New Year’s resolutions for four little somethings you can really dig into? This year, make some simple yard care promises that are easy to do (and so easy to keep) to achieve the lush, green landscape of your dreams.

1. Resolve to test your soil. Start the growing season confident that your grass and garden plantings will get the nutrients they need to flourish. For about $10 - $15, a basic soil test will analyze the physical and chemical makeup of your soil and help you determine if you need to modify your lawn care practices.
2. Resolve to feed your lawn. Fertilization isn’t a “treat” for your lawn – it’s essential feeding to keep your grass thick, healthy, and to ward off weeds and pests. With just three-to-four applications per year, and just taking minutes per application for an average yard, you’re taking one of the most important steps to keep your grass in peak growing condition. Plus, follow the holiday schedule (Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day), and it’s nearly impossible to forget lawn feeding time.
3. Resolve to resist the urge to over-water. Don’t be too sprinkler-happy. Not only will you be wasting a vital natural resource, you won’t be doing your landscape any favors by giving it a little (or a lot) extra to drink. That’s because overly-moist terrain can be a breeding ground for fungal diseases and insects. For sunnier results, restrict yourself only to optimal quenching: That’s no more than one inch of water per week, whether from your sprinkler or Mother Nature.
4. Resolve to mow to the right height.  Key to keeping this commitment: Remember that this doesn’t mean you’ll have to mow more often. Many people mow their grass extra short (or “scalp” their grass) because they think they’ll get by with less yard work. But if you do this, you’ll damage and weaken the grass, making your lawn vulnerable to weeds, pests and heat – and making you vulnerable to much more yard work later on. Instead, mow the right way and follow the one-third rule – only cutting off one-third the length of the grass blade during any single mowing. You’ll enjoy a thicker, healthier lawn with stronger defenses against unwelcome invaders and hot sun.