Knowing what’s right and wrong for your New England lawn can be challenging enough on its own. But when you add in the fact that there are various lawn care myths out there that are completely untrue (but are still believed by many homeowners), it can be really hard to know what to do.
Over the years, we’ve heard all sorts of myths about lawn care. We’ve been in business long enough to know which myths have gained enough attention that homeowners ask us about them. But it’s important to be able to separate lawn care facts from fiction.
In this article, we’re going to debunk some of the more common lawn care myths in New England. While some myths are completely harmless, others can actually cause trouble for your lawn so we want to help you avoid them. We also never want to see homeowners waste time, money, or effort on gimmicks or solutions that will never work.
That’s why we’re here to help!
Top Lawn Care Myths in New England
While there are plenty of different lawn care myths out there, we hear these four most often.
1. DIY lawn care will save you money
2. It doesn’t matter when you water your lawn
3. You should keep your lawn mowed short
4. You need that gimmicky product you saw online
Let’s break down each of these myths about lawn care and explain why they’re not true.
#1: DIY Lawn Care Will Save You Money
The main reason why people tackle DIY lawn care is that they assume it’s going to save them money. But that’s not usually the case, especially if you’re going to try and perform all of the different services that would be included in a professional lawn care program.
Purchasing these products from the local big box store will still add up, plus there’s your time and expense in running out to get them (and then apply them).
But what often makes this a lawn care myth is the fact that DIY mistakes are so costly (and that’s something that homeowners usually don’t consider before they get started).
For instance, if you put down the wrong amount of product and burn your lawn, you’ve now got dead spots that are going to have to be filled in. Sometimes, DIY lawn care can be a setback to making progress. If you end up making mistakes, it will cost you a lot more than if you had just paid for professional services.
It’s also not uncommon for homeowners to purchase the wrong products and waste money.
We’ve had enough people hire us after tackling DIY lawn care to know that it often doesn’t end well. Even homeowners who do not make significant errors are generally under-impressed with their DIY results. That’s because store-bought products simply aren’t as effective as what a professional would use.
While the grass might look greener on the DIY route, it often ends in disappointment.
#2: It Doesn’t Matter When You Water Your Lawn
Another myth about lawn care has to do with watering. People are often shocked to learn that there is a right and wrong time to water the lawn.
Watering at night can be problematic for your lawn because it increases the likelihood of fungal growth. That’s because when the water just sits on your lawn all night, without the possibility of evaporation, it creates optimal conditions for fungal spores to grow and spread. This can lead to lawn disease.
The best time to water your lawn is actually in the morning. This will give your lawn plenty of time to soak in a good drink with any excess being left for evaporation. It gives the water ample time to soak down into the root zone where it’s needed.
We also advise homeowners to avoid watering for two hours after we visit and treat. That’s because our liquid products require time to dry before watering.
Homeowners are often surprised to learn that their watering habits could make that much of a difference in the health of their lawns, but they absolutely can.
We know that many people water at night, after work. It’s hard to get up early and to make watering a morning chore. But you could always get a sprinkler and set a timer. It’s important to take proper care of your lawn.
#3: You Should Keep Your Lawn Mowed Short
Just as people are surprised to learn that their watering habits can make a difference in the health of their turf, so can their mowing habits.
And as far as myths about lawn care go, this is a really common one. People love short lawns and they assume that it’s a “best practice” to keep it mowed really short. However, this is actually a really bad habit that can harm the health of your lawn.
While we know that you like a short lawn, it’s always better for your lawn to be a little longer than it is for it to be too short. Every time that you cut the lawn it puts stress on the grass. But when you cut too much at a time, it can be too much for your lawn to handle.
We recommend mowing the lawn to a height of about 2 or 3 inches.
When you cut too much, you limit your lawn’s ability to absorb sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. This is why a lawn that is too short will often turn yellow. Homeowners sometimes think this yellowing is some sort of lawn care mistake when in reality, it’s the result of their mowing habits.
You should also be careful to never remove more than one-third of the grass blades each time that you mow. That means trying to avoid going too long in between mows. But if you do, you might need several mows to “catch up” rather than trying to do it all at once. The latter simply puts way too much stress on the lawn.
#4: You Need that Gimmicky Product You Saw Online
These days it seems like we are constantly bombarded by ads on social media. There’s always some “latest and greatest” lawn care product out there that is going to solve all your problems. But these types of products often fall in the “too good to be true” category.
It goes back to our first point about DIY lawn care. A product that you’re using on your own is unlikely to be as effective as those purchased and used by licensed, trained, and qualified professionals.
More than ever, we know that people are looking for “quick fixes.” But these tend to lead to disappointment. Lawn care is a process and it takes time and expertise. There simply aren’t any products out there that are going to magically fix an issue or give you the perfect lawn.
Along with this point, we also hear a lot of lawn care myths about homemade concoctions and solutions used in place of professional lawn care products. For instance, we’ve heard of people spraying vinegar or dumping salt on weeds, or applying sugary solutions to try and make their grass greener.
While we understand the sentiment behind these homemade remedies (they “appear” to be safer or more environmentally friendly), they can actually cause problems for your lawn.
For instance, spraying a weed with vinegar is going to harm the lawn, too. Plus, adding salt to the turf can harm your lawn’s soil health. Salty soil is not a healthy state for grass to grow in. And finally, spreading sugar around your lawn isn’t going to do anything for your lawn’s color but it might cause fungi to grow!
At the end of the day, you need to put your trust in a lawn care professional who can help you stick to the lawn care facts.
Let Our Science-Based Lawn Care Help You Avoid Lawn Care Myths
Those were just four of the lawn care myths that we have heard over the years, and we know there are plenty of others out there. While there are a lot of things that won’t work for your lawn (or might even harm it), the good news is that there’s plenty that DOES work.
When you partner with a lawn care professional, they can help keep you focused on lawn care facts.
At Seacoast Turf Care, we use science-based lawn care that is rooted in best practices.
But we’re also here to help debunk myths and guide you toward the best decisions for your lawn. That means providing recommendations related to watering and mowing your lawn that will set you up for success.
While it can be a process, you’ll start to see greener, thicker grass over time. While lawn care myths can be a distraction, we’re here to be your expert guides. With your focus in the right place, you will finally get the lawn care results you’ve been craving.
Want to learn more about what makes us a great choice for your lawn care needs? At Seacoast Turf Care, we service NH towns near Stratham, North Hampton, Exeter and many more. Get lawn care pricing for your Southern NH, Southern Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts property.
Ready to get the lawn you've been wishing for?
