Ask a Lawn Care Expert: How To Fix Your Patchy Lawn
Got a needy lawn? Plans for some backyard improvement? It’s time to stop winging it. Now that summer’s around the corner, PopularMechanics.com turned to the lawn and garden experts at Techtronic Industries to answer some of our most pressing gardening, landscaping, and yard maintenance questions.
Q. I have uneven patches on my lawn. How do I fix this?
A. The problem might be your soil’s moisture
The solution: a little homework, and an adjustment in your deck height. Research your grass type to find the ideal length for healthy growth. Mowers with single-point height adjustment, like the RYOBI 40v 20 in. Lawn Mower, let you switch heights with one motion, compared to mowers with two- and four-point height-adjusts, which can be time-consuming. As the grass blades in your patches are allowed to grow longer, they’ll collect more sunlight and promote healthier growth.
Once you’ve got this fix-it step down, work in these smart, general best practices for mowing your way to a super healthy lawn:
During Season
Mow frequently and leave a generous amount of the grass intact. It’s tempting to let the grass grow long between mowings and then go crazy on chopping blades’ height (hey, we understand lazy lawn-care as well as the next person). But removing large portions of the grass’s blades at once can put unnecessary stress on the plant—and make it harder for your patches to recoup.
Extreme Conditions
During a drought, or in areas that get a ton of sun or too much shade, allow the grass to grow a little taller. A long, healthy blade helps protect the grass in less-than-ideal environments. Read more at popularmechanics.com