Five Common Lawn Care Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Five Common Lawn Care Mistakes

(And How to Avoid Them)

A beautiful lawn doesn’t happen by accident—it takes proper care and attention. However, many homeowners make simple lawn care mistakes that lead to patchy grass, brown spots, and unhealthy growth. Avoiding these errors will help your lawn stay green, strong, and resilient year-round.

1. Cutting the Grass Too Short

One of the biggest mistakes is mowing too low, often called “scalping.” Cutting too much of the grass weakens the root system and makes your lawn more vulnerable to weeds and drought.

✔️ How to Avoid It: Follow the one-third rule—never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Adjust your mower height based on your grass type:

• Cool-season grasses (Fescue, Bluegrass): 2.5-4 inches
• Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia): 1-2 inches

2. Watering Too Much or Too Little

Overwatering can lead to shallow roots and fungal diseases, while underwatering causes dry, stressed grass that turns brown.

✔️ How to Avoid It: Water deeply but less frequently—about 1 inch per week, including rainfall. The best time to water is early morning (6-10 AM) to allow absorption and prevent evaporation.

3. Using Dull Mower Blades

Dull mower blades tear the grass instead of cutting it cleanly, leading to jagged, brown-tipped edges that invite disease.

✔️ How to Avoid It: Sharpen your mower blades every 20-25 hours of use or at least once per mowing season. A sharp blade ensures a clean cut and healthier grass.

4. Ignoring Lawn Aeration

Compacted soil prevents water, air, and nutrients from reaching the roots, making it harder for grass to grow thick and strong.

✔️ How to Avoid It: Aerate your lawn at least once a year, preferably in early spring or fall. This process loosens soil and improves root development for a healthier lawn.

5. Neglecting Seasonal Lawn Care

Each season requires different lawn care strategies. Many homeowners don’t adjust their lawn maintenance, leading to stress during extreme weather.

✔️ How to Avoid It:

• Spring: Apply pre-emergent weed control and fertilize.
• Summer: Mow higher to retain moisture and water wisely.
• Fall: Overseed, fertilize, and remove fallen leaves.
• Winter: Avoid heavy foot traffic on dormant grass.

The Key to a Healthy Lawn

Avoiding these lawn care mistakes will keep your yard looking its best. By mowing properly, watering correctly, maintaining sharp blades, aerating, and following seasonal care, your lawn will stay lush and strong throughout the year. Need expert help? Let Jet Mow Lawn Care take care of it for you!

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