Like most homeowners, there is a good chance you have sunk a lot of money and time into lawn maintenance. It makes perfect sense because who would not want to achieve the ideal lawn to match their beautiful home? Lawn maintenance takes a lot of time and a ridiculous amount of money. It involves a mix of straightforward daily and weekly tasks you must accomplish religiously. There are two ways to do these necessary lawn care tasks, and each has its trade-offs.
The first way is to do all the repetitive tasks yourself. However, that takes up a lot of time and is not ideal if you have a busy schedule. The second way is to hire landscaping and lawn care professionals to do the work for you. The major drawback is it could cost you as much as or more than the upkeep of your house.
What is the average cost of lawn care and landscaping?
In Toronto, the average cost for lawn care is about $449, with the highest reported price at $10,000. Landscaping has an average cost of $13,980, with the most increased record cost at $50,000. To put that into context, experts suggest budgeting equal to 1-3% of your home’s value for home maintenance and repairs. That means if the value of your house were $500,000, your budget for upkeep would range from $5,000 to $15,000.
To the inexperienced homeowner, lawn maintenance can be a daunting and expensive task. That is why some people poorly maintain or neglect their lawns entirely.
However, that need doesn’t have to be the case when you know the proper steps. Here are the top three tips for achieving the perfect lawn for beginners.
1. Acquire Customized Grass for Performance
An exciting part about acquiring new areas and properties is when you must completely overhaul the lawn. As the new property owner, you can customize the grass type to optimize performance.
Similar to potted plants, grass comes in many unique varieties. Each variety grows differently depending on the soil, climate, and rainfall. The most popular and recommended types for lawns in Toronto are Fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial Rye, and Grass Bent Grass. Kentucky bluegrass, in particular, is popular due to its low maintenance requirements.
2. Invest in a Lawn Irrigation System
Another essential part of a thriving lawn is the adequate supply of water. It is overkill to water your property every day. Unless you are trying to grow new grass seeds, you are just wasting water. Ideally, you want to water your lawn up to three times a week on a regular schedule. In Toronto, when winter comes in late December, you can continue watering your yard until the ground is frozen solid.
You will want to invest in a sprinkler system to accomplish most of your watering routine. A good sprinkler system is inexpensive, as you only need to arrange sprinkler servicing in Toronto every five years.
Do not use the sprinklers during the afternoon or night because they may not produce the best results. The ideal schedule for turning the sprinklers on is early morning, from 6 AM to 10 AM.
3. Mow the Grass Once a Week
The first step to an ideal and healthy lawn is regularly mowing the grass. Doing this at least once a week is perfect during the spring and summer seasons. However, that is not set in stone. Sometimes you will need to adjust when you cut more or less frequently depending on the weather and climate conditions.
What time you mow during the day is also a vital part of your lawn care routine. Experts recommend mowing the lawn early in the evening because it moistens the grass.
The height of the grass is another crucial detail to keep in mind. The recommendation is to cut only one-third of the grass height every time you mow the lawn. Cutting more than a third of the leaf tissue can cause scalping and affect turf health and growth rate.
Maintain Your Lawn in Toronto with Ease
Lawn maintenance can be a nightmare for beginners and experts alike. Many people give up on achieving the perfect lawn in Toronto because they believe it is too much trouble. By following these three tips, it won’t be as much of an ordeal to achieve and maintain.
Also read: Lawn Aerator: When to Aerate Your Lawn? All The Details
