Summer Lawn Maintenance Tips

Taking care of the yard is one of summer’s great pleasures. Another is using sunny days to renovate the landscape, add a flower bed, put in a fire pit, or replace the driveway. Anything to freshen the place up!

Summer is a good time to tackle a major landscape renovation. If this is on your list, make sure you dispose of the yard waste you generate properly. Composting is a great way to recycle grass clippings, trimmings from trees and bushes, and other organic yard waste.

If composting isn’t your thing, consider getting a small dumpster rental for the duration of your project. Dumpsters make yard cleanup easy at the end of each day. And many Kansas City dumpster rental companies dispose of yard waste in local organic waste facilities where it can be converted to compost, topsoil, or mulch.

Small Haul Containers is one of the area’s most responsible roll-off dumpster rental companies. When it’s time to haul away your waste, we take it to the appropriate place for disposal or recycling, whether it’s a yard waste facility, an appliance recycling center, or the county landfill. We believe in taking care of the environment, disposing of items in the most ecological way possible. And we do all this so you don’t have to!

Major projects aside, here are a few tips to help you create the best-looking lawn in the neighborhood this summer. If you decide you need a residential dumpster rental once you get started, visit the Small Haul website to rent a dumpster online. It just takes a few minutes!

Mow regularly. Once the weather warms up, the grass starts growing. During spring months, it may seem like all you do is mow the yard. It eventually slows down as temperatures rise, and soon you can establish a regular mowing pattern.

For your lawn’s health, it’s important to keep grass cut to the right height. In the hottest months, grass should be left a little longer so that it can shade the soil and reduce water evaporation — critical during hot Kansas City summers! This tactic also keeps the grass from burning up and allows it to grow a deeper root system, which helps keep weeds out.

The ideal grass height varies depending on the type of grass you have in your yard. Lawn experts recommend that you time your mowing so you never cut off more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.

Bag the clippings — or not. If you’re more concerned about the health of the lawn than the look of it, consider leaving the grass clippings on the lawn when you mow. Grass clippings are actually good for the yard and help keep it healthy. It doesn’t look as neat, but it acts as instant mulch.

If you’re bagging grass clippings during a large landscaping project, you can add them to the roll-off dumpster rental with the other yard waste you’ve generated. Keep in mind that all organic material must be put in a separate dumpster from other household waste. Otherwise you may incur extra fees.

Pick up pet waste. Pet waste left on the lawn can kill the grass or create unsightly brown spots. To get the best-looking yard possible, clean up after the pooch frequently. If you see brown patches from pet urination, water the spot to flush the area and dilute the urine so it’s not so hard on the grass. Cleaning up after your pet makes the yard look better, and it’s also courteous to those who may be walking through the yard. No one wants to step in that!

Water properly. Most well-established yards in Kansas City don’t need to be watered often. When you do water, however, you should give the lawn a good soaking. If you’re cutting the grass to the right height, the yard will maintain some moisture on its own. When the weather’s excessively hot for several days running, your yard will appreciate a good drink.

Keep weeds under control. Nothing ruins a gorgeous lawn quicker than that one dandelion in the middle! Keep weeds under control with products designed for this purpose. Always follow the label directions, and try to purchase the least toxic weed killer possible if you’re concerned about the environment. In fact, you may want to research chemical-free alternatives for weed control.

Treat for grubs. A few grubs in the yard won’t do much harm but if you see a lot of them, you have a problem. Peel back some of the turf in a corner of the yard to get a good view of what’s going on underneath. If you have a grub problem, treat the yard using grub control products. The key is to catch them and treat them early in the season — before they have a chance to destroy the lawn.

Don’t drive on the grass. Driving or parking on the lawn breaks down the soil, compacting it and making it more difficult for the grass to send down strong roots. Avoid driving over or parking on the grass at all costs. It does more damage than you think.

If you’re working on taking your yard to a new level this summer, visit our website to learn more about our small dumpster rentals. They make any home improvement job easier, including landscaping projects. If you have questions, visit our FAQ page or give us a call at (913) 991-1595 for more information. We love helping area neighbors beautify their properties, and look forward to working with you!

The post Summer Lawn Maintenance Tips appeared first on Small Haul Containers.