You know a beautiful lawn when you see it, but what goes on behind the scenes is not always as obvious. If you want a lawn that is perfect for cartwheels and croquet alike, you need to follow some basic lawn maintenance steps. However, before you can even get that far, you need to know what kind of grass works best for you and how to plant it! There are actually a few hidden complexities in the art of lawn care. Despite this, with a little education beginner’s lawn care is easy. You just need to be able to put in the necessary time or hire somebody else to!
Where to Start
To begin, you need to figure out what kind of grass seed or sod you will be using and where it should go. Whatever types you decide, you will need to prepare the ground before planting. Be sure to get rid of all the weeds and roots in the immediate area, or the soil may get crusty or lumpy. This may mean going as deep as six inches into the ground. You should then add compost or fertilizer to promote healthy growth. After this, you should use a roller to compact the soil back down.
The next most important thing you should do is test the pH level of the soil. This will affect the rate of growth and types of grass you can plant. You can buy an easy do-it-yourself kit from a nursery.
Types of Grass
Some lawns have more delicate, fine features, such as golf courses, while others are a lot rougher. This is because of the many different types of grass. If you want a delicate lawn but have a thicker breed, there is not a whole lot you can do to alter it, so choose carefully!
The local climate is a crucial factor in deciding what type of grass will work best for you. The soil type (pH level), annual rainfall, and average temperature all play into the health of the lawn. Usually, cool-season grass is less healthy during warm-weather and warm-season grasses are dormant during the winter months. In some areas, it is possible to have a green lawn year round. For this case, you would want a mixed grass type.
How to Properly Mow the Lawn
One of the most common mistakes in lawn maintenance is mowing the grass too short. Doing this stresses out the grass, resulting in a less healthy lawn. Experts recommend a little neglect, allowing it to grow in peace and only trim it when necessary. Try moving your mower to the highest notch and only remove the top third of the grass at the very most. As an additional benefit, taller grass blocks out the sun for the weeds, meaning less crabgrass.
How Often You Should Water the Lawn
Contrary to popular belief, a lawn only need watering once a week. This is dependent on choosing a grass that is meant for your climate. On this one weekly watering day, make sure you are watering deeply. Soaking the lawn helps promote healthy roots and green, soft grass. More frequent, shallow watering actually lead to thatch, which is the unsightly brown runners that exist just above the soil. Deep watering also prevent lawn-killing bugs.
If you lawn is newly-seeded, you will need to water every day for a short period of time. You just need to dampen the seeds without allowing them to runoff and be disturbed. After the seeds sprout, continue with the regular weekly watering plan.
Safe Fertilizing Methods
Your grass needs to be fed! Like all living things, it gets hungry too. Lawns need bi-annual fertilization to keep them in top shape. The type of fertilizer you choose depends on the type of grass, but avoid anything with NPK (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) in it. These types of fertilizers do not have all the nutrients that your lawn needs. Find one that also has micronutrients like copper, iron, and sulfur.
You can also add an application of dolomitic lime every couple of years. This restores the acidity to the proper level, ensuring that your grass is living in the best of conditions. Check the pH level of the soil again before applying it.
Getting Rid of Weeds Naturally
Weeds are absolutely every gardener’s nightmare. Crabgrass especially can ruin the look of even a healthy lawn! However, this does not mean that you should be using herbicides. Unsurprisingly, this can easily deteriorate the health of the grass. The safest way to get rid of weeds is to prevent them completely; healthy, long grass keeps the weeds out naturally. Regular mowing is another way to prevent weeds by chopping off the heads of the weeds before they can release their seeds.
If it is too late for preventive measures, you still should avoid herbicides. Try using a natural weed deterrent that is made of potent corn gluten, non-chemical sources, or fatty acid salts.