5 common lawn care mistakes you’re probably making right now

Whether you enjoy spending time outdoors or hosting backyard barbecues, you’ll want to make sure your grass is green and healthy this summer. And while cutting grass may seem easy enough, chances are, you’re probably making some common lawn care mistakes that could ruin your garden.

1. Planting grass in areas where it won’t grow

Holding grass seeds to plantHolding grass seeds to plant (Image credit: Shutterstock)
It’s always handy to learn how to plant grass seed to make your lawn greener, but a common mistake is to grow grass where it’s simply not meant to live. Grasses require full sun to thrive, so if you’re planting seeds in shady areas, these may not survive. Instead, it’s recommended to use ground cover plants that suit the soil and aspect of your garden. “It is important you understand the makeup of your garden from the soil to its position,” agrees Anna Hampshire from Marshalls, the landscaping experts. ”This will ensure you can prepare your garden effectively for the sunshine. From positioning garden furniture in shade or sun trapped areas to knowing whether or not to add mulch to planted areas, having knowledge of what’s required will be sure to make the heatwave a little kinder to your outdoor space.”

1. Mowing in the same direction all the time

We all have our mowing technique, but never cut grass in the same direction each time. This will prevent the ‘bending over’ of the grass blades to create that lush and healthier lawn. Ideally, you need the grass blades to stand up, but if you find that your grass is starting to bend over horizontally, run a light rake over the lawn before mowing. If you want to be fancy, you can also learn how to stripe your lawn to make it look bigger.

1. Overwatering the grass

Overwatering our lawn is a common mistake, especially during warmer weather. Quite often, we feel that the more water it gets, the greener it will become, but it can actually do the opposite. “Overwatering grass can lead to its demise,” agrees Anna from Marshalls, “therefore, grass should be watered during the cooler time periods and only once a week. When watering grass you are looking to water deeply to ensure there’s enough water to see through a drought.” If you want to upgrade your lawn, learn how to lay sod to upgrade your lawn all year round.

1. Cutting the grass too short

We all want a neat and tidy lawn, but cutting the grass too short can actually damage the grass. This makes the root systems too shallow and unable to soak up all the essential nutrients. Experts suggest cutting your lawn down to 2 ½ to 3 inches for a healthy height to thrive. In addition, always ensure your mower has sharp blades, as dull blades will tear, rather than cut the grass, which not only looks messy, but can cause damage to the grass.

1. Not watering plants properly
   Similar to overwatering grass in the summer, plants should only be watered once a day during the cooler periods. “A natural instinct during a heatwave is to water plants multiple times a day”, advises Anna from Marshalls, “Instead plants should be watered once a day during the cooler periods, in the morning or evening using a watering can.”