What type of lawn care works best for you depends on the time and money you
decide to put into your lawn. If your lawn is your hobby, you can spend
thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of time on it.
On the other side of the fence, if what you want is a low-maintenance green
expanse that you can enjoy with family and friends, you've come to the right
page!
|
 . |
Perfect Lawn
|
The best lawn care tip you can get is to start with a solid plan.
1. Do you need to plant grass? Do some research on the best seed for your area,
where to buy it cheap, and when it's available. Depending on where you live,
you'll plant either cool season or warm season grass.
Cool season grass, planted in northern areas, is usually best planted in early
fall, but if you missed planting then, plant it in the spring when soil
temperatures reach 50 F.
Warm season grass needs soil temps of 70F to thrive and is the choice for
southern plantings. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can plant warm season
grass in the upper Midwest. Warm season grasses are bred to thrive in southern
climates and are not winter hardy in the north.
2. Of course, you'll keep new grass plantings moist, but once grass reaches a
height of three inches, water it deeply once a week.
A healthy lawn needs about an inch of water a week. When watering, remember to
consider recent rainfalls. Shallow watering techniques keep grass from sinking
the deep roots that your lawn needs to compete with deep-rooted weeds.
3. Do you already have a lawn? Aerate it in the spring while it's still moist
and before the spring rains are done.
Aerating your lawn in the springtime gives microbes and other small life forms a
breath of fresh air after winter. Aeration also makes new paths for drainage and
keeps your lawn from becoming saturated.
4. A lot is written about lawn fertilizer and the big question is why? Grass is
the most efficient user of nitrogen on earth!
Feed your soil with nutrient rich compost and let your lawn get its nutrients
the natural way. The more chemicals you use, the more you disturb the natural
biological processes that convert organic matter into nutrients and the microbes
and other small organisms that take natural care of your lawn.
5. Mow your grass high. A 2 ½ to 3-inch high cut makes your lawn look fuller,
feel softer, and helps keep it healthy. Taller grass shades pesky weed seeds and
keeps them from getting established. In addition, a taller lawn is better able
to absorb sunshine and better able to retain moisture, the two main contributors
to a healthy lawn.
6. Enjoy your lawn. After all, isn't that your main reason for having a yard?
About the Author: Hans is an avid
Gardener and author of
http://www.gardening-guides.com and
http://www.lawnmower-guide.com Our sites are packet with gardening and lawn
care