Advance to the big leagues! Follow our lawn care tips and turn your dream of making your lawn look like a ballpark into a reality.
There’s nothing quite like the beauty of a baseball field. The perfectly striped, vibrantly green grass is worth the price of admission alone. So, is there a way you can get your lawn to look as pristine as a big league field? The answer is yes! It turns out, you don’t have to be a professional MLB groundskeeper to achieve your very own backyard “field of dreams.” Here’s everything you need to know to boost your chances of winning the neighborhood pennant race for best lawn.
When there’s grass on the field, Let’s Play Ball!
Watering
You may be wondering, “How much should I be watering every week?” Grass generally needs an inch of water weekly for it to soak in and be absorbed by the root. Noticing water run-off? Stop watering! Resume once you are positive the water has been fully absorbed into the ground -- this will prevent your lawn from becoming waterlogged.
Pro tip - Water in the early morning around 6 or 7 a.m. for optimal absorption and growth.
Fertilizing
Next to watering, fertilizing is the most important practice when it comes to lawn care. You might be wondering, “How much do I fertilize and when do I do it?” While the process might sound easy, setting an effective fertilizing balance and schedule can be a challenge. Too much can leave fertilizer burn, and too little can leave a yard prone to weed problems and thin growth. Hit it out of the park by enlisting the help of a TruGreen specialist who understands everything about your lawn, including which nutrients your grass needs most, the best lawn fertilizer for your yard, and the proper time and method of fertilizer application. Click here to determine which lawn plan is best for you!
Aeration
Don’t make an error by not aerating. Aerating breaks up thatch, and allows more water, oxygen and fertilizer to get to your lawn’s roots, which means your lawn gets more of what it needs to grow stronger and healthier.
Not sure where to start? Our experts at TruGreen will ensure that your lawn gets the nutrients and moisture it needs in order for you to achieve that major league look. Click here to learn how aeration can increase the effectiveness of your lawn care.
Weeds
The best defense against weeds is your grass itself. The more aggressively the grass is growing, the less chance weeds will have to thrive and survive. Can’t seem to take the lead when it comes to those pesky visitors? Toughen your offense by bringing TruGreen to the plate. Click here to learn more about our pre-emergent weed control program that targets a variety of annual and broadleaf weeds, all while providing the essential nutrients your lawn needs to grow thick and lush, leaving little room for competing weeds to grow.
Mowing
So, what about the stripes?!
Now for the fun part! No lawn would be ballpark-complete without those clean, beautiful stripes of grass. To get started, pick your pattern! Choose from the classic, yet basic stripe, the checkerboard, or the diagonal.
To achieve the basic stripe look, mow around the perimeter of your lawn, then mow in alternating directions to create the stripes. Finish off the look by mowing over the perimeter again.
For the checkerboard, follow the basic stripe process, adding in a step mowing in the opposite direction. This will create perpendicular stripes and a checkerboard aesthetic.
Prefer the diagonal look? This is simply achieved by creating a checkerboard pattern but in diagonal directions.
Pro tip- Avoid striking out -- change up your mowing pattern every 3 weeks. This promotes a healthy lawn by keeping the grass from constantly bending in the same direction.
Need some more inspiration? Check out our video on how to mow the perfect lawn stripes.
Join the big leagues
Still missing the mark and not hitting it out of the park? Hit a grand slam and get your lawn looking ballpark-beautiful by making sure it’s serviced regularly by professionals who know which nutrients and care are best for it. Call us at 1-800-464-0171, or contact us by clicking here to achieve your field of dreams. Batter up!