It’s that time of year again- grass is growing, flowers are blooming, and bugs and insects are starting to wake up after their long winter nap. With all of the rain, you can count on it being a difficult year to keep your yard luscious, green, and weed and insect free. Difficult doesn’t mean you have to do it yourself, by getting your lawn treated on a regular basis and paying attention to its daily needs, you can actually enjoy your yard for the rest of the year.

Want to keep your yard luscious and green throughout the year? Just follow the tips listed below:

Listen to your yard

We are not saying lay on your grass with one year to the ground (although we’re good at our lawn care, we’re no grass whisperers), but there is a way to listen to your yard to determine what it needs. The most important thing your yard will tell you is when it needs water.

With Houston weather being as volatile as it’s been, you never know if it is actually going to rain or not despite what the weather channel says. This makes it hard to get in a good habit of watering your lawn. a good rule of thumb to follow in order to know whether your grass needs more water or not starts by walking through your grass. If the blades spring back up after each step, then your grass is happy. If the blades stay down it could use some water.

Sharpen your tools

Just like a chef sharpens his knives, you should sharpen the blades on your lawn mower. And this is a task that many homeowners do not do. By using a dull blade to mow your lawn, you are ripping and pulling the grass blades instead of making a clean cut. Shattered blades of grass will weaken your yard and make your yard vulnerable to fungus and other diseases. And it will take you a lot longer to mow your lawn.

Sharpening your tools once or twice a season is recommended depending on the size of your yard and how often you mow it. This will give you the nice clean cut look, and instead of ripping your grass it will actually be cut. Thus, preventing any fungus or diseases.

Control the weeds and insects

As we mentioned earlier, insects, bugs, and weeds are going to be numerous this year, and it will happen very quickly. Yard destroyers like cinch bugs and armyworms are in their nymph stage right now, but as soon as the temperatures get a little warmer they will emerge and start to eat your lawn away.

Insects are only part of what you need to control. Controlling weeds in your lawn is another way to keep your lawn healthier. Broadleaf weeds are a common type of weed that we have in Houston. There are many different types but each typically has thick blades, some even grow flowers, and can easily take over your yard.

The solution for keeping broadleaf weeds, clover and insects out of your yard is continual lawn treatment. Having your yard treated on a regular basis with herbicides and pesticides will keep harmful elements out of your yard and will help your grass look its best.

Pay attention to what you plant

While you can keep certain bugs and insects away by continual treatment, there are some, like mosquitoes, that are nearly impossible to get rid of. Don’t fret, for there’s hope, mother nature provided us with some plants that you can place in your yard to help repel the mosquitos:

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). This plant is in the daisy family and is known for repelling mosquitoes and other flying insects. It grows well in our Houston climate and is ideal for planting near doors and windows to help keep flying insects out.
Planting lavender in your outdoor garden is great for repelling mosquitoes and gnats. It also has a long list of other health benefits.
Citronella grass. We have all heard of citronella candles, but did you know that citronella actually comes from a plant? Planting it in your garden or small planters around the patio will help keep mosquitoes away.

Keeping your yard in top shape during the spring and summer is no easy task, and by following the advice listed above, your job just got easier. But if you don’t have the time to do it yourself, call the lawn care experts at John Moore Services. We have professionals who will come evaluate your yard and determine a treatment plan designed specifically for you. Call now before the insects get really bad!