5 Lawn Care Mistakes That Could Be Ruining Your Yard in Oklahoma City

Introduction

A lush, green lawn is a homeowner’s dream, but many people unknowingly harm their grass with bad lawn care habits. Whether it’s mowing too short, overwatering, or using the wrong fertilizer, small mistakes can lead to thin, patchy, or weed-infested grass.

At Hughes Lawn and Landscape, we’ve seen it all—and we’re here to help! Avoid these five common lawn care mistakes to keep your yard looking its best in Oklahoma City.

1. Mowing Too Short ("Scalping" Your Lawn)

🚫 The Mistake: Many homeowners believe cutting grass extra short means less mowing—but this can severely damage your lawn.

✅ The Right Way: Keep grass at an ideal height:

• Bermudagrass & Zoysia: 1.5 - 2.5 inches

• Fescue & Kentucky Bluegrass: 2.5 - 4 inches

✂️ Why It Matters: Taller grass shades the soil, reducing weed growth and moisture loss. Scalping weakens roots, making your lawn more vulnerable to heat, drought, and disease.

🌱 Pro Tip: Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade in a single mowing session!

2. Overwatering or Underwatering Your Lawn

🚫 The Mistake: Watering too often or too little can stress your lawn, leading to weak roots and disease.

✅ The Right Way:

• Water deeply (1-1.5 inches per week) rather than frequent, shallow watering.

• Best time to water? Early morning (before 10 AM) to prevent evaporation and fungus.

• Reduce watering in fall and winter to prevent soggy soil and root rot.

💧 Why It Matters: Overwatering encourages fungus and shallow roots, while underwatering makes your lawn dry, brittle, and yellow.

🌱 Pro Tip: Use a screwdriver test—if a screwdriver easily pushes into the soil, your lawn is properly hydrated!

3. Using the Wrong Fertilizer (or Skipping It!)

🚫 The Mistake: Many people use the wrong fertilizer or don’t fertilize at all, leaving their lawn weak and pale.

✅ The Right Way:

• Spring & Summer: Use a balanced fertilizer with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for growth.

• Fall: Switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer to strengthen roots for winter.

• Avoid fertilizing in extreme heat—it can burn your grass!

🌱 Why It Matters: Proper fertilization thickens your lawn, helping it resist weeds and recover from stress.

🔥 Pro Tip: Always read the fertilizer label and follow instructions to prevent over-fertilization!

4. Ignoring Weeds Until It's Too Late

🚫 The Mistake: If you wait until weeds take over your lawn, you’re already losing the battle.

✅ The Right Way:

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide in early spring to prevent weeds like crabgrass and dandelions.

• Use a post-emergent herbicide in fall for broadleaf weeds.

• Keep your grass thick and healthy—a strong lawn naturally chokes out weeds.

🌱 Why It Matters: Weeds compete for water, sunlight, and nutrients, leaving your lawn thin and unhealthy.

🛑 Pro Tip: Don’t mow weeds before applying herbicide—it reduces effectiveness!

5. Forgetting to Aerate Your Lawn

🚫 The Mistake: Many homeowners never aerate their lawn, leading to compacted soil and poor root growth.

✅ The Right Way:

• Aerate once a year (fall or spring) to loosen soil and improve water & nutrient absorption.

• Focus on high-traffic areas, where soil compaction is most severe.

🌱 Why It Matters: Aeration creates pathways for air, water, and nutrients, leading to a healthier, greener lawn.

🔧 Pro Tip: After aeration, overseed your lawn to fill in bare spots and prevent weeds!

Final Thoughts: Avoid These Mistakes for a Perfect Lawn

By avoiding these five common mistakes, you’ll keep your Oklahoma City lawn lush, healthy, and weed-free.

Want professional help? Hughes Lawn and Landscape offers expert lawn mowing, fertilization, aeration, and weed control services to give your yard the care it deserves!

📞 Call us today at (405)421-6127 to schedule your lawn care service and enjoy a beautiful, thriving lawn all year long!