The Best Lawn Care for Beginners Guide

Lawn maintenance can be overwhelming, especially if you’re just getting started. There’s a lot to do, a lot to pay attention to, and a lot of mistakes to avoid. Understandably, most beginners don’t even know what the right path to follow is to achieve the beautiful lawn they envision.

You don’t have to begin on your own or get stressed about it, though. Our complete guide to lawn care for beginners walks you through everything you need to know to boast a healthy lawn all year. From tips, tricks, professional advice, and more–we’ve simplified yard maintenance for you!

Read more on the basics of lawn care below!

When it comes to lawn care for dummies, we always emphasize the importance of good soil as the foundation of a gorgeous landscape. So you can begin by assessing the pH level and nutrient content of the soil. You can purchase a simple soil testing kit or send a sample to your local extension office for a detailed analysis. Once you review the soil test results, you can know exactly what it needs to balance the pH, such as lime or sulfur, and boost soil health for green grass.

One of our preferred lawn care tips is to acknowledge that not all grasses are created equal. Identifying your grass type is crucial to achieving a green lawn. That’s because different grass species have various needs in terms of watering, mowing height, and fertilizing.

There are two main categories of grass: cool-season and warm-season. Cool-season grasses (fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and bentgrass) thrive in cooler temperatures, while warm-season grasses (Bermudagrass, bahiagrass, zoysiagrass, and centipedegrass) prefer warmer climates. Understanding your grass type will help you care for it and achieve a lush lawn.

Every yard is unique. Therefore, certain lawn treatments for one landscape might not necessarily work for another. This is why creating a personalized, regular lawn care routine is key to maintaining a striking yard. You must consider factors like the size of your garden, lawn mowing frequency, watering schedule, and fertilizing.

Plus, there are specific conditions, such as the amount of shade in each section of your landscape or the foot traffic. This custom yard maintenance schedule ensures that you stay on track throughout the seasons, keeping your lawn healthy.

Pro tip: Don’t hesitate to continuously tailor your yard care, depending on seasonal changes and your your lawn needs!

Part of lawn care 101 is knowing how to mow the grass the right way. Start by guaranteeing your lawn mower blades are always sharp, in order to avoid tearing the grass and get a clean cut. Most lawns should be mowed when the grass is about 3-4 inches tall, with the goal of removing no more than one-third of the blade height in a single mow. Cutting too short can stress the grass and make it more susceptible to weeds and diseases.

Extra tip: Vary your mowing pattern each time to prevent soil compaction and allow for more even grass growth!

Watering might seem like an easy step in our lawn maintenance for dummies guide, but it actually isn’t. It’s a balance game, that relies on consistency, timing, and watering just enough–not more, not less. As a rule of thumb, lawns need around 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, which can either be from rainfall or irrigation.

We recommend watering early in the morning, especially during summer when the heat is high, to reduce evaporation and allow the grass to absorb all the moisture before the sun reaches its peak. As tempting as it is, avoid watering in the evening, because it can promote diseases.

Reminder: Deep, infrequent watering is better than shallow, frequent watering, as it encourages deeper root growth.

Our lawn care experts always recommend paying close attention to weeds. More than an unsightly view, they are a huge threat to your plants and landscape in general. If not kept in check, they will compete with your grass and greenery for nutrients, sunlight, and water. The key to effective weed control is catching them early.

Apply pre-emergent herbicides in the spring to prevent weed seeds from germinating, and use post-emergent treatments for weeds that have already sprouted. Be cautious when using herbicides to avoid damaging your grass. Hand-pulling weeds is also a great option, especially for smaller patches.

Professional advice: Determine the most common weeds in your area so you don’t waste time when they start appearing in your garden. For North Carolina residents, some of the most popular ones are dandelions, crabgrass, poison ivy, white clover, etc.

A variety of diseases can affect your lawn, from brown patches to powdery mildew. One of our essential lawn care tips is to detect them early. So keep an eye out for discolored patches, dead grass, or mold. With proper lawn care techniques, such as watering in the morning, you can prevent most diseases. And if you spot a problem, treat it with a premium appropriate fungicide before it spreads.

Our last tip for beginners is to feed your lawn with the right nutrients through fertilization, overseeding, and aeration. We suggest fertilizing twice a year, in early spring and fall, to give the grass the nutrients it needs to grow strong.

Using premium grass seed helps fill in thin patches and ensures dense coverage, but remember to plan according to seasonal grass growth to maximize the results. Aerating your lawn every 1-3 years helps improve soil compaction, allowing water, nutrients, and oxygen to penetrate deep into the roots.