Being a parent and pet owner can make simple landscaping decisions more complicated. With your little ones and furry friends depending on you for their health and safety, buying the cheapest fertilisers and weed killers from the local garden centre is no longer an option. In this blog, we have written basic tips for creating healthy lawn for kids and pets of your home.
The good news is that there are natural ways to improve the look and feel of your lawn without compromising the health and safety of your loved ones. Providers of landscaping maintenance services say these include using natural weed killers, fertilisers, and environmentally friendly pest control products and techniques.
By using these products and employing these methods, you can have a beautiful, healthy and safe outdoor space your kids and pets can enjoy.
Tips for Creating a Healthy Lawn for Kids and Pets
Below are some of the best tips for creating and keeping a healthy and beautiful lawn for both your children and pets:
01. Choose the Right Kind of Grass
Selecting the right variety of grass for your lawn goes a long way in creating a beautiful outdoor space that’s safe for your children and pets.
In general, Kentucky bluegrass is the best option for lawns frequented by children and pets. It is hardy and can handle both drought and cold.
Zoysia grass is another good option since it can withstand diseases, insects, shade, and dryness. However, it does not like the cold – the blades turn brown when the temperatures drop.
If you want to take on the task of growing grass, have experts conduct a pH test on your soil first. This will inform you of the current health condition of your soil and whether it needs additional nourishment.
If you’re not sure about which grass to use, get help from providers of landscaping services. They can go to your property, examine the ground conditions, and suggest the best-suited grass for your lawn.
02. Avoid Scalping Your Lawn
When it comes to growing grass, strictly follow the 1/3 rule. This means avoiding cutting more than 1/3 of the blade height.
Let your grass grow to at least three to 3½ inches to reduce evaporation and prevent weeds from germinating. When fall comes, cut your lawn short since weeds become less of a concern. However, you still must avoid cutting the grass too short.
While mowing your lawn, examine the grass closely to check for any signs of pests and diseases.
03. Keep Your Lawnmower in Tip-Top Condition
Dull or blunt mower blades tear the grass instead of cutting it evenly and cleanly. This leaves your grasses with ragged edges that invite diseases. Because of this, sharpen your mower blade regularly.
While mowing, be aware if you hit anything in the process as well. If you do, sharpen the blades immediately.
When sharpening the blades, always disconnect the spark plug first to prevent the mower from suddenly starting.
Also, monitor the lawnmower oil level and change the oil whenever necessary. Additionally, inspect the air filter to make sure it isn’t dirty or clogged. Remember that dirty air filters will put stress on your mower, causing it to burn gas less efficiently.
04. Use Natural Weed Killers
Synthetic herbicides can effectively kill weeds. However, they damage the soil and are also dangerous to both your kids and pets.
Vinegar is one of the most commonly used natural weed killers you can consider for your lawn. It works well for unwanted plants that have long taproots, like dandelions. Adding dish soap to the vinegar makes it stick better to the weeds.
Be cautious when using vinegar because it is non-selective, which means it will kill both weeds and good plants.
Corn gluten meal is an effective pre-emergent herbicide and works well for all weeds. However, avoid using it near your garden or other healthy plants since it works as a preventive measure against weed growth, meaning it won’t work on weeds that have already sprouted.
05. Use Natural Fertilisers
Synthetic chemicals in commercial fertilisers are dangerous to your children, pets, and the environment, and compromises soil health. Using these products also comes with the risk of having these harmful substances contaminating nearby water sources.
In terms of safety and health, natural fertilisers are the best. Though they won’t provide instant results like synthetic ones, they can improve the quality of your grass over time.
More importantly, organic fertilisers are sustainable and eco-friendly and do not pose any health risks to you and your loved ones.
In the end, keeping your lawn beautiful and healthy might seem like a daunting task if you have children and pets. But with the right products and methods, and regular maintenance, your yard can flourish and be a functional, safe outdoor place you and your family can enjoy.
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