A lush, green lawn doesn’t happen by accident — but even the most well-meaning homeowners can make simple mistakes that hurt their turf. Here are five common lawn care slip-ups and how to fix them the right way.
1. Mowing Too Short
Scalping your lawn stresses the grass and exposes it to weeds and sun damage. Set your mower blade higher (around 3 inches) to promote deep roots and shade the soil.
2. Overwatering
More water isn’t always better. Too much watering can drown your roots and invite fungus. Stick to deep, infrequent watering — about 1 inch per week, ideally in the morning.
3. Skipping Aeration
Over time, soil becomes compacted, suffocating roots. Aerating once a year (especially in the fall) opens up space for air, nutrients, and water to reach the roots.
4. Feeding at the Wrong Time
Feeding your lawn when it’s stressed or dormant does more harm than good. In Massachusetts, the best time to fertilize cool-season grasses is early spring and fall.
5. Ignoring Lawn Pests
Brown patches? Uneven growth? You might have grubs or chinch bugs. Catching pest problems early can save your lawn (and your wallet) from major damage.
Pro tip: Want to avoid these mistakes? Let Turf Lovers handle it — we’re just a call away!