There are plenty of myths that most of us have grown up hearing…or maybe even still believe…like having wet hair outside will make you catch a cold, lightning never strikes the same place twice, or if you cross your eyes they’ll stay that way. Even though these myths have all been debunked, there are plenty of people that still believe and repeat them, keeping them alive.
The same is true for many Texas lawn care myths. Myths about lawn care are often repeated enough that people believe them. And even though we have the Internet at our fingertips these days, that doesn’t mean that misinformation can’t spread (even online).
In this article, we will dive into some of the most common lawn care misconceptions. While there are a lot of them, here are five that are often mistakenly believed:
#1: Cutting your lawn shorter saves time
#2: Spring fertilization is the most important
#3: It’s always best to bag your grass clippings
#4: Yellowing grass or brown spots means my lawn care company made a mistake
#5: DIY lawn care is the safest option
We will debunk these five Texas lawn care myths and for each one, share the truth about caring for your lawn.
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions around mowing but the idea that cutting the lawn extra short is going to be a big time saver is one of the most common. In reality, cutting your lawn too short can be highly detrimental to your grass and lead to more maintenance down the road.
When you cut the grass too short, you harm its ability to perform photosynthesis which is essential for healthy growth. If your lawn is starting to turn yellow, it could be the result of being repeatedly cut too short. While we know that people do tend to prefer a shorter lawn, the color is often the most important factor. And a slightly taller lawn is usually a greener lawn thanks to the photosynthesis process.
Grass that is repeatedly cut too short is also more prone to problems with disease, pests, and even weed pressure. All of these can lead to more maintenance headaches down to the road as opposed to saving you any time.
So, to what length should you mow the grass? The ideal mowing heights are going to vary depending upon what grass type you have in your lawn. Here are a few guidelines.
In addition to paying attention to cut height, it’s also important not to cut more than one third of the grass blade at a time. That means if you accidentally wait too long to mow, you shouldn’t make one drastic cut all at once.
Other lawn care mistakes that come back to mowing have to do with the equipment. Be sure to mow with a sharp mowing blade and a level deck. And inflate tires so that the mower is not leaving ruts.
There are also lawn care myths around lawn fertilization.
Fertilization is one of the best maintenance tasks that you can do for your lawn. This is because fertilizer provides essential nutrients that will help your lawn thrive. The reality is that our soil is not optimal for growing grass here in North Texas. That being said, it’s important that you’re doing it properly.
One of the common Texas lawn care myths is that spring is the most important season for fertilization. There is no question that spring is a really important time to fertilize the lawn but it’s certainly not the only time when it matters. And it could be argued that it’s not even the “most important time.”
It’s most important to fertilize your lawn throughout the active growing season. Fertilization can be backed off when the lawn goes dormant. Here in North Texas, that means fertilizing April through September.
At different times of the year, fertilization will be important for different reasons. The benefits will differ as well.
Again, there’s no doubt springtime is important. An early spring application of fertilizer will help to start your lawn off on the right foot. Sometimes this first application is considered a “wake-up fertilizer” for the lawn, which will help your lawn as it begins growing again. Fertilization rounds during the spring will be important as the lawn actively grows.
A late Summer application in the August-September timeframe will continue to promote healthy growth until early Fall.
This is arguably one of the most important fertilization applications because it helps to set a foundation for the winter months to come. It also helps set the lawn up for success in the spring. You’ll notice your lawn will “green up” before your first round of spring fertilization. This is due to the foundation set by fall fertilization.
A common lawn care mistake when people handle DIY fertilization is that they really only focus on the spring.
From an aesthetic standpoint alone, you could argue that it’s “best” to bag your grass clippings. But the idea that this is healthier for your lawn or even necessary is a lawn care myth.
The truth is, what’s best is not what’s always preferred. What’s truly best for your lawn is to mulch the clippings and allow them to naturally decompose on your lawn. This is giving your lawn a nice boost of natural fertilizer and is organically a great practice for the health of your lawn.
There’s also a lawn care misconception that leaving the grass clippings contributes significantly to thatch. But grass clippings do decompose rather quickly and turn into natural fertilizer.
Even so, we know that for aesthetic purposes, many homeowners do prefer to have their clippings bagged. At Grassperson, we can offer this service at an extra charge if desired.
We already talked about how cutting the lawn too short can lead to yellowing grass. But so often, when a homeowner’s lawn turns yellow or has other problems (like brown spots), homeowners automatically jump to the conclusion that their service provider made a lawn care mistake.
In reality, there are many possible reasons for discoloration (like yellowing or brown spots).
Just a few possibilities include:
Most of the time, a lawn care professional who is trained in applying products is not making an error that caused your lawn problems. We’re not saying that never happens, but more often than not, there’s another cause for discoloration.
A final Texas lawn care myth that we want to address is that DIY lawn care (including homemade concoctions or store-bought products) is the safest way to care for your lawn. People assume that just because it’s bought in a store it’s a lot safer than what a pro is applying.
In reality, lawn care professionals are required by law to apply products properly. The proper application is absolutely imperative to safety.
In addition, when people take lawn care into their own hands, they also have to store the products themselves. This is often where safety becomes most compromised.
In general, outdoor work can be risky in Texas. Not only are you working in intense heat, but you are exposed to potential dangers.
You might encounter bees, wasps, or even snakes, all of which are prevalent in our region. On top of all that, working on your lawn can take a toll on your back (or your body in general). It’s undeniable that lawn care is labor-intensive work—probably not the way that you want to spend your weekend.
Of course, most people choose DIY lawn care to try and save money. But the idea that professional lawn care is out of reach is also a misconception.
The cost difference is likely not as drastic as you may have originally thought plus it will save you the hassles and headaches associated with doing it on your own. That means that the value you get out of hiring a pro may far outweigh the actual cost investment. Plus, you’ll get superior results and avoid lawn care mistakes that can end up being more costly down the road.
If you want to avoid these lawn care mistakes, you want to make a wise choice in lawn care professionals. Unfortunately, there are some lawn care companies that continue to perpetuate these myths by failing to use the best lawn care practices in Texas.
Take this into consideration when hiring a lawn care company. It’s important that you put in the time to research your options and feel confident that you are choosing the best lawn care service.
At Grassperson, we’d love to help. We are committed to putting forth the best lawn care practices in Texas. If you have questions about lawn care practices that you aren’t sure are true or not, we’re also always here to help. We want to be your trusted partner in caring for your property.
Ready to get a professional-looking lawn at your Flower Mound, Highland Village, or Lewisville, TX home? Get a free quote and get ready to enjoy the best lawn on the block with no hassles on your end.