Calgary lawn care giving your wallet less time to catch up? If yes, then budget-friendly Calgary lawn care tips are just right for you.
Most of Canada’s residential homes invest on lawns to add aesthetics on an otherwise sloppy front yard. But maintaining bright-green and fully-manicured lawns is no joke; you need time, money, tools and whatnot to make it something worth bragging.
Use of high-maintenance lawns is the best reason why people spend more money on maintenance than they should. Canadian homes, for example, have a natural affinity for Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)- – a species of fine turf grass widely known to make an excellent ground cover. Sadly, this variety requires more tender loving care – -frequent watering, fertilizing and mowing.
It might not be distressing for now but bear in mind that high-maintenance lawns are often linked to increased water consumption and even to certain forms of air, water and noise pollution.
So what can you do to save money and protect the environment without ruining your lawn’s classic look?
One option is to go for low-maintenance Calgary lawn care.
A CMHC study (1998 and 1999) revealed that Canadian residents who chose low-maintenance lawns over the conventional type spent 50% less fuel, 85% less money, 50 % less time, 100% less water and 100% less pesticides annually.
Without a doubt, it is the frugal man’s way to keep a high-quality lawn.
But how should you get started? Here are some Calgary lawn care tips to make maintenance less troubling for you:
1. Choose the right grass variety.
Kentucky bluegrass is a bit hard to keep so why not give some excellent grass varieties a try?
Zoysia grass, for example, blossoms during the summer season and can survive even with a moderate amount of water. And unlike other species of turf grass, Zoysia grass doesn’t require too much mowing; an advantage especially if you’re saving on maintenance costs for mower and other trimming equipment.
Seed mixes like the No Mow Lawn Mix from Prairie Nursery are also great alternatives though planting them can be a lot more demanding than simply installing sods.
In addition to that, the term “no mow” is actually a misnomer because low-maintenance grasses also require some trimming both when they start to reach 10 centimeters and every month thereafter.
2. Love the endophytes.
Watering is an essential way to nourish your lawn but if the turf grass is withering, it’s either you’re not giving enough or the water supply is overflowing yet, for some reason, can’t reach the root tips.
Perhaps it’s time to seek help from a fungus.
No, I’m not talking about plant scavengers; just the healthy ones. Mycorrhizal fungi, for example, are usually applied before sodding to help the turf grass develop root extensions which can further boost the rate of water absorption.
Another alternative to prevent water wastage is the use of lawn grasses enriched with endophytes. These fungi share something in common with mycorrhizes – they both improve how the grasses in the lawn absorb water and fertilizer. But what makes endophytes special is the fact that they also release bitter alkaloids proven to work as a natural pesticide against bill bugs, webworms and other lawn pests.
3. Add some clovers.
White clovers are not classified as turf grasses yet they make up 15% of most seed mixes.
So how can clovers help in building a lawn that stands out?
Well, aside from being ‘fillers’, they are also scientifically proven to increase nitrogen content of soil. Clovers also require less mowing and usually remain green even during hot seasons.
4. Invest on good drainage.
Most Calgary lawn care services focus more on aesthetics rather than ergonomics.
The need for a precision-quality drainage system, for example, is one of the most overlooked aspects of Calgary lawn care.
A drip drainage system helps to avoid excessive watering that floods driveways and sidewalks. Install this in a low-maintenance lawn and you’ll surely save a serious amount of money usually spent for water and electric bills. Put one or two downspouts and you can say goodbye to wasted water supply.
In a nutshell
In addition to the money- and time-saving Calgary lawn care tips mentioned above, another suggestion is to reduce your lawn’s size.
If your lawn takes too much space or situated in a hidden area outside your house, consider other practical alternatives. You can either reduce the size of the lawn or replace some spots with wildflower prairies or woodland gardens.
Remember, you don’t have to be extravagant!
