It’s not always easy to keep your lawn looking great, especially when you live in the Phoenix area where intense summer heat definitely plays a role. The size of your lawn as well as other plants and trees you may have planted will also impact how easy or difficult it is to maintain your lawn.
Since 1994, ABC Scapes has worked exclusively on Phoenix landscapes; both commercial and residential. We’ve learned quite a bit over the last 20+ years on how to care for lawns so they look great all year round. Here are 3 important steps to consider when maintaining a healthy lawn in Phoenix:
Proper & Timely Mowing
For most people, the first thing that pops in their head when we mention maintaining a healthy lawn is water and soil. While it’s true that these things are important, we wanted to start by talking about something that most people don’t often think of – mowing. Keeping your grass at an appropriate length is key for a great looking lawn.
The trick is keeping grass long enough, but not too long. The shorter your grass is, the more water it will use. On the other hand, if grass is too long, water cannot get to where it needs to go. It’s best to keep grass between 1” to 2” in length.
Know The Soil
You don’t have to be an expert geologist to understand some basics when it comes to the soil that your grass is planted in. In Arizona, soil has 3 layers – surface, subsurface and subsoil. The top 2 layers, the surface and subsurface soils are much more coarse than the finer subsoil layer. Because the subsoil layer is less dense, it is unable to hold the important organic matter that contains the nutrients your grass needs to grow.
It’s always a good idea to help build the organic material in your soil by adding fertilizer such as organic humus or manure. This will help your soil and grass retain water better and feed from the nutrients.
Water
Of course the obvious factor in a healthy and beautiful lawn is water. While most of us know and understand that all grass needs water to live, it is not always so obvious what the best way to provide ample water is. You want the water you provide your lawn to work efficiently, which has much to do with the time of day you water your lawn and how often. Not enough water or too much water can cause major trouble with your lawn, causing it to die or turn brown.
For help in keeping your lawn looking great, call the experts at ABC Scapes. 602-404-0568.