Keeping Your Lawn Maintained in The Albuquerque Climate
A gorgeous lawn is possible in Albuquerque, but it does take some work to make it work. Homeowners who want a lush green lawn will want to make sure they’re not only installing the right sod from the beginning but that they’re taking care of it properly. This means making sure it’s growing well, without wasting water or inadvertently causing damage to the grass. With the tips below, you’ll know how to maintain your lawn correctly in the Albuquerque climate, so you have the green grass you were hoping for.
What’s Different About Albuquerque?
In much of the US, maintaining a gorgeous lawn is just a matter of watering as needed through the year, trimming the grass regularly, and fertilizing as needed. In Albuquerque, however, the hot weather makes growing a lush green lawn a little more difficult. Still, it’s not something that’s impossible to do. With the right knowledge, homeowners can have the green lawn they want, without worrying about wasting a ton of water or dealing with brown patches during the hottest parts of the summer.
Weed Frequently
Weeds are a big problem in Albuquerque, just like anywhere else. Left to their own devices, they’ll quickly take over a yard, choking out the grass. When weeds are noticed, they need to be pulled. If they’re left, even for a little bit, they can go to seed. This means their seeds spread throughout the yard, leading to more weeds. In the heat Albuquerque experiences, plants can go to seed quickly, especially weeds. It’s best to pull them when they’re as small as possible so they don’t get the chance to spread more seeds in the yard.
Know How to Prevent Weeds
While it’s difficult to prevent all weeds from growing, pre-emergent fertilizers do a fantastic job of preventing weeds from growing as much as possible. The key in Albuquerque is to know when to apply it so it’s as effective as possible. Spring is the best time to apply the pre-emergent, with the goal of applying it before mid-March. This way, it helps control even the first weeds that could pop up during the spring months, greatly reducing the number of weeds that will need to be pulled from the lawn.
Water the Lawn Properly
With the heat in Albuquerque, watering the right amount and at the right time makes all the difference. Experts typically recommend watering for 30 minutes three times a week in the area, so the lawn is completely covered but not soaked to the point it gets soggy. Too much water can attract pests or cause diseases that will damage the lawn. As for when to water, early in the morning is the best time. Later in the day means the water will evaporate too fast and the sun reflecting through the water can burn the grass. At night, the water won’t soak in as fast, so there’s a chance it will lead to pests or diseases.
Set the Mower to the Right Height
Best practices for mowing say to avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the blade of grass at a time. This can mean mowing a little more frequently, but it helps the grass stay thick and healthy. It’s also a good idea to look up the correct height for the grass used in the yard. Grass should not be cut as low as possible, so raise the mower before cutting. If the grass is cut too low, water evaporates faster, so the grass won’t get enough water and the roots can be burned because of the summer sun. Leaving the grass a little taller helps to shade the soil, protecting the roots and allowing the water to soak in before it evaporates.
Know When to Fertilize
As mentioned, pre-emergent fertilizers should be used in the Spring, ideally before mid-March. The other time to fertilize Albuquerque lawns is during the fall. In the fall, opt for a winter fertilizer that’s designed to help keep the lawn healthy throughout the winter months. Fertilizers do not need to be applied more than this and, in fact, if fertilizers are used too often, it could damage the grass.
Choose the Right Grass
Those who are starting from scratch or who want to resod the lawn and start over will have a plethora of grass types to choose from. In Albuquerque, due to the heat of the summer, it’s best to choose a type of grass that will thrive in the heat. These types of grass are commonly available, so it’s easy to find them in the area. For something that’s going to be green and grow well in the area, look into bermudagrass, bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass, and zoysia. These are going to grow well in the area, and they’re perfect for high-traffic areas, so they’ll work great in any Albuquerque lawn.
Take Quick Action When Needed
Even if a homeowner does everything right, things can go wrong. Pests, diseases, weeds, and other issues commonly occur in lawns, and they need to be dealt with quickly when they appear. Pests, diseases, and weeds will all spread fast if they’re not controlled right away, and it’s going to be difficult to recover from all of them. It’s a good idea to know more about the common issues in the area and look into ways to prevent or correct them so fast action can be taken if anything does go wrong.
When it comes to lush, green lawns in Albuquerque, a little bit of extra care is needed. Using the above tips, however, it is possible to have the gorgeous green yard you want. If you aren’t sure about any of the things to do or don’t feel you can keep up with it on your own, speak with a lawn care specialist today. They’ll be able to provide more assistance to help get your yard back into shape and keep it looking fantastic. Get started today to get the green lawn you want.
What’s Different About Albuquerque?
In much of the US, maintaining a gorgeous lawn is just a matter of watering as needed through the year, trimming the grass regularly, and fertilizing as needed. In Albuquerque, however, the hot weather makes growing a lush green lawn a little more difficult. Still, it’s not something that’s impossible to do. With the right knowledge, homeowners can have the green lawn they want, without worrying about wasting a ton of water or dealing with brown patches during the hottest parts of the summer.
Weed Frequently
Weeds are a big problem in Albuquerque, just like anywhere else. Left to their own devices, they’ll quickly take over a yard, choking out the grass. When weeds are noticed, they need to be pulled. If they’re left, even for a little bit, they can go to seed. This means their seeds spread throughout the yard, leading to more weeds. In the heat Albuquerque experiences, plants can go to seed quickly, especially weeds. It’s best to pull them when they’re as small as possible so they don’t get the chance to spread more seeds in the yard.
Know How to Prevent Weeds
While it’s difficult to prevent all weeds from growing, pre-emergent fertilizers do a fantastic job of preventing weeds from growing as much as possible. The key in Albuquerque is to know when to apply it so it’s as effective as possible. Spring is the best time to apply the pre-emergent, with the goal of applying it before mid-March. This way, it helps control even the first weeds that could pop up during the spring months, greatly reducing the number of weeds that will need to be pulled from the lawn.
Water the Lawn Properly
With the heat in Albuquerque, watering the right amount and at the right time makes all the difference. Experts typically recommend watering for 30 minutes three times a week in the area, so the lawn is completely covered but not soaked to the point it gets soggy. Too much water can attract pests or cause diseases that will damage the lawn. As for when to water, early in the morning is the best time. Later in the day means the water will evaporate too fast and the sun reflecting through the water can burn the grass. At night, the water won’t soak in as fast, so there’s a chance it will lead to pests or diseases.
Set the Mower to the Right Height
Best practices for mowing say to avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the blade of grass at a time. This can mean mowing a little more frequently, but it helps the grass stay thick and healthy. It’s also a good idea to look up the correct height for the grass used in the yard. Grass should not be cut as low as possible, so raise the mower before cutting. If the grass is cut too low, water evaporates faster, so the grass won’t get enough water and the roots can be burned because of the summer sun. Leaving the grass a little taller helps to shade the soil, protecting the roots and allowing the water to soak in before it evaporates.
Know When to Fertilize
As mentioned, pre-emergent fertilizers should be used in the Spring, ideally before mid-March. The other time to fertilize Albuquerque lawns is during the fall. In the fall, opt for a winter fertilizer that’s designed to help keep the lawn healthy throughout the winter months. Fertilizers do not need to be applied more than this and, in fact, if fertilizers are used too often, it could damage the grass.
Choose the Right Grass
Those who are starting from scratch or who want to resod the lawn and start over will have a plethora of grass types to choose from. In Albuquerque, due to the heat of the summer, it’s best to choose a type of grass that will thrive in the heat. These types of grass are commonly available, so it’s easy to find them in the area. For something that’s going to be green and grow well in the area, look into bermudagrass, bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass, and zoysia. These are going to grow well in the area, and they’re perfect for high-traffic areas, so they’ll work great in any Albuquerque lawn.
Take Quick Action When Needed
Even if a homeowner does everything right, things can go wrong. Pests, diseases, weeds, and other issues commonly occur in lawns, and they need to be dealt with quickly when they appear. Pests, diseases, and weeds will all spread fast if they’re not controlled right away, and it’s going to be difficult to recover from all of them. It’s a good idea to know more about the common issues in the area and look into ways to prevent or correct them so fast action can be taken if anything does go wrong.
When it comes to lush, green lawns in Albuquerque, a little bit of extra care is needed. Using the above tips, however, it is possible to have the gorgeous green yard you want. If you aren’t sure about any of the things to do or don’t feel you can keep up with it on your own, speak with a lawn care specialist today. They’ll be able to provide more assistance to help get your yard back into shape and keep it looking fantastic. Get started today to get the green lawn you want.