Having a beautiful, healthy lawn is one of the greatest pleasures in life for a homeowner. It beautifies your surroundings, provides good, clean-smelling air, and gives you and your family a place to relax, read a book, and rejuvenate while melting your stress away; where your kids can run and play around barefoot; and where you can host weekend picnics for friends.
Even with its aesthetic beauty and health benefits, there are some people who say that maintaining a healthy, beautiful lawn is too much of a luxury and that the whole community would be better of without them. Why? Here are three of their reasons:
- It puts a strain on the water supply. If you have a lawn, you have an idea about water consumption. If you are still planning to have one, get ready to use up lots of water. Your lawn would always be thirsty. To ensure that the grass would be healthy, it would need 1 to 1.5 inches of water every week. Of course, when it rains it would be a bonus, but it does not rain every day.
- Environmentalists are concerned about the equipment being used to care for lawns. The Environmental Protection Agency says that a lawnmower running for an hour emits the same amount of air pollutants as 40 brand new cars, releases hydrocarbons equivalent to that of an SUV that has run a total of 23,000 miles, and can contribute 90 times more than the smog-forming emissions of a 2006 model automobile.
- Gas lawn mowers are not only air pollutants, but it can also endanger a person’s hearing. It runs at 100 decibels, more than a human can safely tolerate.
Benefits Of Having A Lawn
There is a lot to gain from having a healthy lawn. If you can maintain it in a responsible manner, you can reap its benefits to your mental, physical, and environmental benefits.
- Lawns are your natural air conditioner. According to a study made by Mississippi State University, healthy lawns have the same cooling effect as an 8.5-ton air conditioning compressor. Rocks and cement do not have the same cooling effect, and sometimes even make matters worse as far as heat is concerned.
- A healthy lawn stabilizes the soil much better. It has a deep and wide-ranging root structure which reduces degradation and erosion of the soil that is caused by wind and water. Lawns also keep the soil alive and healthy because of the microbial activity underneath it.
- The grass on lawns can convert carbon dioxide to oxygen through the use of water, sunlight, and photosynthesis. That is why homes with lawns always have that fresh feel around them.
- Lawns purify water that enters the underground aquifers because it acts as huge filters that capture several types of pollutants. It also effectively absorbs rainwater, which prevents topsoil erosion. Lawns also trap dust and dirt, thus reducing the presence of such pollutants in the atmosphere.
- A healthy, beautiful lawn also increases the value of your property, thus making it desirable to buyers. Estate Agents have reported a 15% increase in property value for homes with a well-maintained lawn.
And of course, lawns create a relaxing environment that can melt all the stress away. It gives a home a serene space that can lift up one’s spirits. It is also reported that patients recover faster when their rooms have a view of a landscaped area.
How To Have A Healthy Lawn
Having a beautiful and healthy lawn takes a lot of hard work. It may even take up a lot of your time. All the effort would be well worth it though. Here is a guide on how you can have that healthy lawn.
- Developing healthy soil is the most important thing.A lawn needs soil that has a very good texture. Lawns favor soil that has a good mixture of clay, silt, and sand. You may also make periodic improvements like adding manure, compost, or grass clippings. Be sure to fertilize the soil. Lawns need more phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium than what is found in the soil. Fertilizing should be done twice in early spring. Then fertilize once in the fall. Checking the soil’s pH is also important. It should be slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.5 up to 7, so that the grass can absorb nutrients better.
- Choose the right type of grass, one that suits the weather in your location and of course your needs. Remember that not all grasses are created the same. They have varying requirements for water, climate, tolerance of pests, and the degree of wear it can withstand.
- Mow your lawn high and often. Make sure you use sharp blades. This produces stronger and healthier grass. Longer grass covers up the soil better, thus retaining moisture, making it cooler, and preventing weeds to grow. Longer grass can, of course, take in more sunlight, allowing it to grow thicker and develop a deeper root system. The ideal length would be 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches. Make sure you have sharp blades to prevent tearing and injuring the grass.
- Lawns need water. They need about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week. Properly watering the lawn helps grow deep roots. This, in turn, makes the lawn stronger. Water your lawn weekly. Be mindful of how much water you use so as to avoid water wastage. If you see the grass starting to wilt, then it is time to water the lawn.
- Control the weeds. Watering and fertilizing the grass properly helps to eliminate weeds. In the early spring, put herbicide, plus spot treatments as needed during the summer.
Pests Can Take Away The Beauty Of Your Lawn
Outdoor pests can take away the joy of having a beautiful lawn. Pests can cancel the beauty out. What are these pests, and how can you get rid of them?
Flies
Flies are more than just a nuisance. They can also cause illnesses. Cholera, salmonellosis, and food poisoning are among the illnesses that come from them. Flies eat almost anything; from rotten food, feces, dead animals, and trash. Due to this eating behavior, they carry with them bacteria and viruses which they transfer to us after landing on our food, which they also like, by the way.
Yellowjacket Wasps
Beware, as they are known to be the most dangerous type of wasps. They are also known to ruin outdoor picnics and barbecues, usually dropping by uninvited. They sting when they feel threatened and are highly territorial. They have a powerful sting and can be deadly for some people who might be allergic to their venom. They are black in color with yellow markings. Yellowjacket wasps look for food near garbage bins but do not travel far away from their nests. There are around 5,000 yellow jacket wasps in a colony. Wasps release pheromones, which signals to the other yellow jacket wasps that one of their comrades is in trouble and would soon come to its aid. That is why killing a wasp when you see them is not advisable.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes like to breed in standing water, that is why it is best to remove all things that can hold water. Mosquitoes can transfer diseases and are said to be the most dangerous creatures on earth. Among the diseases, they spread are dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, West Nile Fever, encephalitis, elephantiasis, and Zika virus. If you think you have mosquito problems, wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. You may also apply mosquito repellent. Make sure it is registered with the Environment Protection Agency and that it should contain the active ingredient DEET. This is for added protection. You do not have to put up with these pests on your lawn. You can always count on the best pest management control in North Carolina, Go-Forth Home Services.
Go-Forth Is Simply The Best
Go-Forth Home Services is a family-owned commercial service solutions provider of modern pest control services and techniques, using the latest and most advanced technology in the business, making our service to you more efficient, safer, and more convenient. We have a team of expert professionals who can provide the best pest control services to residents and business establishments all throughout North and South Carolina.
We bring in a new and fresh approach to the pest control industry, using family-friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination that caters to your specific needs. Our expert experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, wasps, weevils, mosquitoes, mice, flies, termites, ants, and spiders can really make you say goodbye to these pests in your home. You may check us on Facebook or Google us to see what our satisfied customers have to say about us.
Go-Forth Home Services has earned the trust of residents and businesses in North Carolina for more than 50 years. For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.