You’re excited. And we’re excited too here at Lane’s Landscaping Supplies.
Spring is finally here and it’s time to start working outdoors again.
As you prepare to restore your lawn and landscaping from the winter, don’t make these common mistakes this spring.
1. Cutting your grass too short
Because of the mild winter, your grass is probably a little longer than it should be at this time of year.
As a result, you may be inclined to cut it a little shorter than usual.
- What could happen: You may end up scalping your lawn. If that happens, you’ll create a dead spot of grass which looks ugly and is prime spot for insects to gather and breed.
- What you should do: For the first few cuts of the year, raise your blades so only the top third of the grass gets trimmed. As summer approaches, let the grass grow a bit before cutting it.
2. Using too much or too little fertilizer
Your lawn is hungry for food and nutrients.
It’s a delicate balance to make sure it gets the right amount without starving or burning it.
- What could happen: Too much fertilizer can burn or kill the grass. While not enough will create thin spots throughout your lawn.
- What you should do: Ask a landscaping expert to recommend the right fertilizer. Use a spreader to evenly apply the fertilizer across your lawn and make sure you water afterwards.
3. Failing to protect topsoil
Many people assume topsoil is just dirt (it isn’t) that’s meant to be exposed to all weather elements.
In reality, topsoil needs to be cared for before, during and after application.
- What could happen: Topsoil can blow away, erode, compact or clump if it’s just thrown down. Your grass or plants will have a hard time growing if that happens.
- What you should do: Spread the topsoil in an even layer and use a shovel to break up any clumps. Let it settle a bit before adding any types of seed to it.
4. Forgetting about drainage for new interlock pavers
Drainage is an oft-overlooked (let’s face it, it’s not exciting) but important part of installing interlocking pavers.
Accounting for it now can save time and money later on.
- What could happen: If water has nowhere to go, it’ll pool underneath your interlocking patio stones. Eventually, the water will cause your stones to pop, dislodge or even crack from below.
- What you should do: Have a contractor visit your home and design safe channels for water to flow through. Only when a drainage system is in place should you then install your pavers.
5. Under- or over-estimating how much material you need
Aggregates, mulches and other materials are vital to creating a landscape that’s functional and good looking.
Knowing the right amount before you buy will help your project go smoothly.
- What could happen: Either you won’t have the right amount, at which point you’ll need to go back for more. Or you’ll have too much with nowhere to store it or no way to use it.
- What you should do: Take accurate measurements of the areas you want to fill. Then, use a mulch calculator to get a realistic estimate of how much you need.
Come see us for all your spring landscaping needs
Looking for the high-quality products you can rely on? We’ve got them.
Need expert landscaping advice? We’ve got that too.
Whatever you’re planning to do this spring, we’ve got the experience to help you do it right.
Your first step is to contact us for a FREE quote or to ask our landscape experts questions about your project.
