“There aren’t enough hours in the day.”

Chances are you’ve found yourself having this thought many times over. You struggle to squeeze in lunch during a busy workday. You rush from one of your children’s sports games to the next.

With the busy schedules people have these days, it’s no wonder why lawn maintenance can sometimes take a back seat to everything else. But what many homeowners don’t realize is that not all lawn maintenance is time-intensive. In fact, a little can go a long way.

Here are four lawn maintenance tasks that require little time but deliver significant results.

Sharpen Your Mower Blades

Does your grass feel like it’s pulling when you mow? If so, dull blades could be to blame. When lawnmower blades lose their sharpness, they can cause ragged tears in your grass (even sometimes turning the tips yellow or brown), promote fungal growth and increase mowing times.

That’s why it’s important to keep blades sharp. This enables you to cut through grass with ease (and save a lot of time) and ward off the potential for disease or discoloration in your lawn.

In terms of frequency, you should sharpen your mower blades at least once or twice every mowing season. For optimal results, sharpen blades every 8-10 hours spent mowing. Use the techniques highlighted in this how-to video.

Switch Up Your Mowing Patterns

Humans are creatures of habit, so it’s easy to see why homeowners settle on one mowing pattern and continue to follow that route. But change is a good thing in this case. Mowing in the same direction can make grass appear more horizontal and cause divots to develop from the constant weight of the lawnmower.

The better bet is to vary your mowing patterns. Weaker portions of your lawn can recoup after they encounter the weight of the lawnmower, and plant roots will have a natural impulse to grow when they sense the variety in activity happening above.

Clean Up Debris

Whether it’s leaves, toys or tools, debris that lingers on your lawn for too long has a similar end result. As debris smothers the grass, it can hinder plant growth and create a nesting place for pests that can harm your lawn and pose safety risks to your family and pets.

Then, there’s the curb appeal side of things. When a yard is littered with debris, it becomes far less attractive to potential buyers. Not to mention, they also perceive it’s value to be less.

By dedicating just a few minutes to cleaning up debris from your yard on a regular basis, you can ensure your lawn gets the sunlight it needs to thrive and is free of moisture traps. It’s also beneficial to spend a few minutes clearing out leaves and other debris from your gutters, as this can become a breeding ground for pests and potentially cause roof damage.

Water Your Lawn

Most homeowners have a tendency to overwater their lawns. When too much water fills the pores of soil, it can block out pockets that would otherwise allow oxygen to circulate through. And without air to breathe in, plant roots can suffocate and eventually die.

While it may come as a surprise, a deep watering of one inch per week is all you need to maintain a healthy lawn. This can either be added in one application or spread across two. (In summer months, your lawn may require closer to an inch and a half of water.)

In terms of time, make sure to water your lawn early in the morning so it has enough time to soak it up. Watering your lawn during warmer portions of the day will lead to more evaporation while watering at night can create an environment where lawn fungus thrives.

Looking to make maintaining your lawn even easier? Weed Pro offers services throughout the Ohio area. To learn more about what we can do for your lawn, contact your local provider.