Everyone wants a lush, green lawn that's the envy of the neighborhood. Here are five quick tips for making the most of your lawn this year. Regardless of the type of lawn you have, the tenets of great lawn care remain the same. Test your soil, fertilize as required, keep it weed-free and the right length, and keep bugs and disease at bay. Start in the fall with testing levels so you're ready when the spring comes around. Also, look up specific instructions for your type of grass. If you have a special blend you may want to ensure you cater to its needs. Follow these guidelines and get ready for a great lawn this summer!
Soil Testing: Grass needs the right combination of nutrients and pH to thrive. Testing your soil is key to understanding your lawns needs. You can obtain a cheap kit at any garden store than can tell you pH levels and nutrient levels. Unfortunately, these kits give poor, ballpark results. Also, they do not help at all to remedy your problems. Instead, try a university in your area that provides soil testing. These testing facilities use equipment that not only tells you whats wrong but how to fix them with exact amounts of additives for your specific need.
Mowing: Every type of grass has different needs and grows at different rates. In general, however, mowing your lawn too short is a bad idea. It weakens the plant itself as it struggles to grab capture sunlight for photosynthesis. It also allows weeds to take purchase by allowing sunlight to penetrate to the soil. Try to keep your lawn at a height of three to four inches during peak growing season. Also ensure your lawnmower blade is sharp. A dull blade will damage grass rather than cut it, slows growth and invites disease by weakening the plant.
Fertilizing Your Lawn: Feeding your lawn is important for great color and lush growth. Make sure you follow a feeding schedule to avoid over-feeding. Overfeeding can be more damaging to plants than not feeding at all and can lead to sudden death or severe grass burn. During the winter months grasses still need nutrients to survive. "In fact, providing the right levels of phosphorus can help grass roots overwinter better and emerge stronger in the spring," says Nate Merchant who performs Morristown Landscaping.
Watering: Different grasses require different levels of water. Cooler season grasses go dormant later than their warm weather counterparts and require more frequent watering. Generally, most grass requires water around once a week. Long, infrequent watering is better for grass since the roots will penetrate deeper into the soil. Do not water at the hottest part of the day to avoid burning your lawn. Also, avoid watering late in the day as the grass may remain wet overnight allowing fungus to take hold. Early morning is the best time of day to water if the need arises.
Keeping Disease and Pests Away: The sad truth is that nobody is safe from pests and disease effecting their lawn. Disease and fungus can spread very quickly and be devastating to lawns if not identified and treated quickly. Keep and eye out for any strange patches or changes to your lawns color. Call an expert or visit a garden store at the first sign of a problem. You can reduce the incidence of these problems by keeping weeds at bay with a herbicide applied in the spring and fall.
Soil Testing: Grass needs the right combination of nutrients and pH to thrive. Testing your soil is key to understanding your lawns needs. You can obtain a cheap kit at any garden store than can tell you pH levels and nutrient levels. Unfortunately, these kits give poor, ballpark results. Also, they do not help at all to remedy your problems. Instead, try a university in your area that provides soil testing. These testing facilities use equipment that not only tells you whats wrong but how to fix them with exact amounts of additives for your specific need.
Mowing: Every type of grass has different needs and grows at different rates. In general, however, mowing your lawn too short is a bad idea. It weakens the plant itself as it struggles to grab capture sunlight for photosynthesis. It also allows weeds to take purchase by allowing sunlight to penetrate to the soil. Try to keep your lawn at a height of three to four inches during peak growing season. Also ensure your lawnmower blade is sharp. A dull blade will damage grass rather than cut it, slows growth and invites disease by weakening the plant.
Fertilizing Your Lawn: Feeding your lawn is important for great color and lush growth. Make sure you follow a feeding schedule to avoid over-feeding. Overfeeding can be more damaging to plants than not feeding at all and can lead to sudden death or severe grass burn. During the winter months grasses still need nutrients to survive. "In fact, providing the right levels of phosphorus can help grass roots overwinter better and emerge stronger in the spring," says Nate Merchant who performs Morristown Landscaping.
Watering: Different grasses require different levels of water. Cooler season grasses go dormant later than their warm weather counterparts and require more frequent watering. Generally, most grass requires water around once a week. Long, infrequent watering is better for grass since the roots will penetrate deeper into the soil. Do not water at the hottest part of the day to avoid burning your lawn. Also, avoid watering late in the day as the grass may remain wet overnight allowing fungus to take hold. Early morning is the best time of day to water if the need arises.
Keeping Disease and Pests Away: The sad truth is that nobody is safe from pests and disease effecting their lawn. Disease and fungus can spread very quickly and be devastating to lawns if not identified and treated quickly. Keep and eye out for any strange patches or changes to your lawns color. Call an expert or visit a garden store at the first sign of a problem. You can reduce the incidence of these problems by keeping weeds at bay with a herbicide applied in the spring and fall.
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