The Grass Is Always Green: Yard Maintenance for the Summer

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Yard maintenance is so much more than just mowing grass and blowing leaves. Lawn care is all about being proactive, and this year summer’s rolling in with unusually warmer days. Give your yard the TLC it needs with the following handy pointers: 

Ecoscaping 

Yard care using natural materials entails working with minimal resources to better manage a high-maintenance yard. This environmentally friendly and responsible yard care practice allows you to reduce waste and water use, and helps contribute to cleaner air and waterways! 

To ensure your lawn supports its biodiversity and continues to remain a drought-tolerant landscape, you can take the following steps to maintain your yard by working with nature:

Grasscycling: After you’re done mowing the lawn, don’t reach for the bag just yet! Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn after you mow allows the nutrients in the clippings to feed your lawn’s nitrogen levels. This organic matter acts as a natural fertilizer and contributes to your lawn’s nitrogen needs.

Pick the right plants: Pesticides can affect the health of you and your pets and eventually pollutes the local streams.  Planting drought-tolerant and pest-resistant plants eliminate the need for pesticides. Another added bonus is these plants typically use less water! 

Natural fertilizer: A thin layer of fully decomposed compost can act as a natural fertilizer that nourishes your lawn and garden. Plus, making your own compost is practically free. Using compost as fertilizer also ensures less usage of water since it helps the soil hold more moisture. You may even find a natural fertilizer at your local farmers market! 

 

Feeding your soil

Healthy soil supports the growth of healthy plants. Rich in important organisms, good soil keeps the earth loose and enables free movement for the roots, water, and air. Here’s how you can check if the soil in your front and backyard is healthy:

Colour: Dark brown or black soil is ideal. If it’s a light brown, it likely needs more organic matter like compost, leaves, or manure.

Texture: Some types of soil can be improved by digging in compost. Sandy and clay soil don’t hold nutrients well, so mixing them well with compost in the spring and fall can help improve lawns. 

Nutrients: The three main nutrients that plants need to stay healthy are nitrogen (N),  phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The more organic matter there is in your soil, the greater are the levels of N, P, and K!

General tips for lawn maintenance this summer to ready your lawn for new and healthy growth:

  • Top-dress with organic lawn food and fertilize twice a year
  • Improve drainage so that moss doesn’t form on your lawn
  • Consider growing native plants that are better resistant to pests
  • Make sure the soil contains a good amount of organic materials (and yes, that includes earthworms!)
  • Power raking to remove weeds 

 

Lawn Care for Pet Owners

Curate your lawn keeping your dogs in mind

Hardscape to avoid urine spots: If you’ve got a small yard space, it may be beneficial to convert parts of it into hardscape. Stone mulch, concrete pavers, bricks and masonry prove useful to dog owners and makes minimal mess when the pooch digs, urinates or runs around the yard.  

Grass that can handle paw traffic: Certain types of grass hold up better and withstands damage from foot traffic and dog chases. Summertime grass types such as Bermuda and tall fescue grass are usually good for landscaping. 

 

Looking To Curate Your Own Havn?

If you’re looking for your dream home in Vancouver, the North Shore, or the Sea to Sky, reach out to a  Stilhavn REALTOR® today. We’re here to help you find the space that suits your needs.