FAQs
Why is it necessary to mow grass regularly?
Regular mowing isn't just about keeping your lawn looking crisp—it’s a core part of its health and performance. Here's why it's worth making a routine of it.
1. The Health Benefits: cutting grass tips regularly encourages lateral growth which will give you stronger, thicker growth, and the roots will become more resilient making your lawn more drought- and stress tolerant.
2. Weed and Pest Control: Mowing regularly will suppress weeds keeping them from going to seed and spreading and discourage pests because a tidy lawn removes their hideouts and a non tidy lawn invites insects, rodents, and fungal problems.
Stick to the one-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the grass height at once. It reduces stress on the plant and prevents scalping.
How can I make my garden low maintenance?
A low-maintenance garden is all about smart design and choosing the right materials and plants upfront so it practically runs itself. Here's some tips for turning your space into a more self-sufficient patch of paradise:
1. Design harder not smarter. Start with hardscaping, use gravel, pavers, or mulch to reduce the amount of turf or planting space you have to maintain. Group plants by needs by placing plants with similar water, light, and soil preferences together so you’re not catering to each one like a picky guest. Choose Perennials Over Annuals: Perennials come back year after year without replanting. Think hostas, daylilies, black-eyed Susans, and ornamental grasses.
2. Weed & Water Wisely. Mulch deeply, a 2–3 inch layer of organic mulch suppresses weeds and holds moisture like a sponge. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses, these systems save water and time—and your back. And ditch the lawn or shrink it, replace high-maintenance grass with native groundcovers or clover.
3. Plant Strategically. Go native, plants adapted to your local environment need less babying. In Ohio, think purple coneflower, bee balm, or wild geranium. Slow-Growers Rule: Avoid fast-growing shrubs and trees unless you’re okay with frequent pruning.
4. Maintenance Plan on Cruise Control. Install edging, metal, plastic, or stone edging keeps mulch and weeds in check.
Seasonal cleanup, one tidy-up in spring and another in fall may be all it takes if you plan smart.
Why do I have weeds in my garden and how can I prevent them?
Weeds are nature’s opportunists—wherever there’s a gap in your soil or a bit of neglect, they swoop in like uninvited guests at a backyard barbecue. Here’s what’s likely going on in your garden:
1. Why Weeds Appear: Open soil, bare patches are like real estate ads for weeds. Water and sunlight, they thrive on the same essentials your plants need. Disturbed soil, every time you dig or till, you might be bringing dormant weed seeds to the surface. Seed dispersal, wind, birds, pets, or even your shoes can introduce new seeds.
2. How To Prevent Them: Mulch like a pro, lay down organic mulch (like bark or straw) or landscape fabric to smother weed seeds and keep light from reaching them. Crowd them out, plant densely to leave little room for weeds to sneak in. Stay ahead with hand-pulling, catch weeds early—preferably when the soil is moist and the invaders are young. Use a pre-emergent herbicide, products like corn gluten meal can prevent seeds from germinating, though timing is key.
Maintain a regular mow and trim schedule, for grassy areas or lawn borders, keep growth neat to prevent encroachment from invasive types. Avoid overwatering, many weeds flourish in overly wet conditions—be strategic with irrigation.
