DIY Lawn Care: Where to Start

There are lots of great reasons to manage your own lawn care. While our primary focus as a company has been in freeing customers up from the challenge of lawn management, we also know well that there are perfectly understandable reasons why people might want to do their own. Maybe you enjoy the activity of managing your own lawn, or a NaturaLawn of America provider isn’t available in your area but you still want the best lawn care products. Those are among the reasons we created Natural Alternative. 


Whatever reasons you might have for managing your own DIY lawn care, these tips will help you get a good start.


Get the Lay of the Land


You have to start somewhere, and there’s no better way to make that start than by measuring the things that need to be measured or noted before you get going, like the Ph balance of the turf, what species of grass it is (there are several), the chemical composition of the turf, environmental factors like estimated precipitation levels, and the predictable effects of seasons on the ongoing health of your lawn.


Make Big Changes First


Just how you don’t want to edge the lawn before you mow, you’re going to want to solve the big problems first. If your lawn’s pH is off, you’ll want to address that first. Big brown patches, unwanted plants, insect pests -- all of these are big issues you’ll want to make sure are taken care of before you get into a maintenance schedule that works for you.


Feed It Right, At the Right Time

You need to make sure you’re using the right feed with the right ingredients for your lawn. This is a great opportunity to supplement some of the chemicals your lawn needs that it isn’t naturally getting from the environment. We all know that plants love carbon dioxide, but they also crave nitrogen. Lots of fertilizers include a little extra, so make sure you’re not overdoing it. 


Weed Regularly


The bad thing about creating a great environment for grass to grow is that you’ll be making a tempting home for other plants that aren’t as lush and beautiful as grass. It might seem like an obvious rule, but that doesn’t make it any less true: weed early, weed often, and you won’t have to weed as much in the long run. 


Don’t Hibernate


Just because it’s winter where you are doesn’t mean you don’t have to care about lawn maintenance. Your lawn might not be growing as much, but rest assured it’s still there under the snow and ice. There’s a lot more to maintaining a lawn than cutting the grass when it gets high and watering the brown spots. If you use salt or de-icer on your sidewalks, use the kind that won’t do damage. You’ll thank yourself in the spring when the growth starts again. 


Don’t Be Afraid to Modify Your Approach


If you find something isn’t working to your satisfaction, then you shouldn’t be afraid to change your approach. It can be as simple as picking a different day of the week to cut your grass, or overseeding and aerating at the right time of year. Maybe the conventional wisdom for your area just isn’t working for your particular lawn. Whatever the reason, be open to changing how you handle the maintenance of your lawn. 


About Natural Alternative


Our parent company, NaturaLawn of America, has been breaking new ground in the industry since 1986, when founder Phil Catron made it his mission to raise the bar for safety standards from the first lawn he serviced. 


When the government banned certain pesticides, NaturaLawn of America had already surpassed their guidelines by implementing our own Integrated Pest Management practices years prior. And years ahead of other states passing zero-phosphorus laws, we developed zero-phosphorus programs and materials to protect our waterways.


Having pioneered the first-ever zero-phosphorus lawn care program, we knew it was time to offer our products directly to homeowners. We proudly launched NaturaLawn® of America’s retail brand, Natural Alternative®.


As a homeowner choosing to “do it yourself,” Natural Alternative® products will give your lawn enviable curb appeal without the unnecessary chemicals that cause concern. Our products work with nature, not against it—providing you with a healthier, greener lawn.

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