4 Lawn Care Considerations for Your Landscaping in Littleton
The beautiful weather of summertime is almost here, and you know what that means: between all the cookouts, get-togethers, and lazy afternoons, you'll spend a good deal of time in your yard. Before you fire up the grill and invite friends over, you need to focus on your lawn care first. At Enviroscapes, we're experts in all things related to landscaping in Littleton, CO and we're here to provide some key insights to support your lawn this spring and summer.
Keep these lawn care considerations in mind as you start to prepare your landscape and get excited for the next few months of sun and fun.
1. Be Mindful When Trimming Grass and Perennial Flowers
Whether your lawn has bluegrass, ryegrass, or even buffalo grass, it's a good idea to be intentional about the cultivation of your grass species. Your mowing and trimming behaviors directly influence the health of your grass, so to keep things looking beautiful and healthy all summer long, it's important to follow best practices in the landscaping industry.
In general, the preferred mowing height for all Colorado grass species is roughly 2.5 to 3 inches. It's not a good idea to trim your grass to below 2 inches because that can result in decreased tolerance for drought and may increase the incidence of insects, diseases, and weeds. Lawns should be mowed more regularly during the spring and summer (approximately every 4-7 days) because the grass is actively growing during these times.
Similarly, it's wise to be intentional about the maintenance and upkeep of any perennial plants. Perennials are plants that live for 2 years or longer, like columbines or poppy varieties. Over time, parts of these plants will fade and die, and as a gardener, you need to remove those spent plants and cut back on others that are growing out of control.
2. Consider Fire Resistance Factors
In recent years, Colorado has seen several bouts of extreme wildfires and intense weather conditions are contributing to increased fire risk across the state. As such, it's smart to think about the safety of your home and consider how you can mitigate fire risk through your landscape design.
For instance, you could integrate more xeriscaping elements to reduce the presence of flammable materials in your landscaping. Alternatively, you could replace many softscaping features with plants that offer superior fire resistance, like stonecrops, Oregon boxwoods, and Rocky Mountain maples.
3. Fertilizer Is Not Always Needed for Lawns
Pause before you apply any fertilizers to your grass or lawn. Why? Because your actions may have the opposite impacts. Applying a high-nitrogen fertilizer in spring months like April could cause your grass to grow too quickly before it can develop sufficient roots to support the entire lawn. This can make the lawn less tolerant of summer heat, leading to patchy and/or yellow grass areas.
In most cases, you do not need to fertilize cool-season grasses (e.g., Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, etc.) in the spring or summer. Those types of lawns should instead be fertilized in the fall, ideally in October or November. On the other hand, warm-season grasses (e.g., buffalo grass, blue grama, etc.) should be fertilized in June or July as this is when most growth occurs.
4. Pest Control is a Necessity
When you create a beautiful landscape with rich diversity, it's only a matter of time before you start to encounter some of the many pests of Colorado. Between billbugs, turfgrass mites, and Japanese beetles, there is an array of insects to look out for on your property.
To keep your landscaping in Littleton looking great, it's essential to stay on top of pest control. Be proactive in identifying and addressing any pest issues that may arise in your yard. Ask your landscaper for tips on how to properly identify specific pests and for safe mitigation methods for those species.
Consider incorporating natural pest control methods into your lawn care routine. For example, you could introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs or lacewings to help control pest populations. You may also consider using organic pesticides or insecticidal soaps to target specific pests without harming beneficial insects. Be sure to always carefully follow the application instructions to minimize harm inflicted on your plants and the environment.
Trust Enviroscapes to Optimize Your Landscaping in Littleton
At Enviroscapes, no landscape design project is too big or too small for our residential landscaping specialists. We can help upgrade your entire backyard with high-quality landscaping services, exceptional materials and products, and reliable customer service. With our team at your back, you can prepare your property for an exciting summer of fun with friends and family.
Contact Enviroscapes today to explore the upgrades and improvements we can make for your landscaping in Littleton, CO.