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Grass is one of the most widely available plants in its species. It's classified as a member of the Graminea plant family, made up of 9,000 different varieties. Other plants in this family are rice, corn and oats, all of which are vital to our way of life.
The three most common types of grasses are summer annuals, winter annuals, and perennials. Perennial-type grasses come back each year(just like the flowers). Annual-type grasses, like annual flowers, live for the year, and then have to be replanted; however, frequent mowing will re-pollinate the area so the grass will grow back the next year.
Sunlight, water and quality of soil are the three variables that determine how healthy your grass is, and how well it grows. Grassy areas, with moderately healthy soil, will create their own self-sustaining ecosystems if given half a chance.
The amount of water your grass needs will be determined by the intensity of sunlight your grass receives. Heavily shaded areas are not conducive to healthy grass as sunlight plays a major role in the photosynthesis process. Photosynthesis provides the energy needed for grass to draw water and nutrients up from the soil. Without it, grass will die. -
The soil is the home that grass "lives in" so the health of the soil carries much weight in terms of the health of your lawn. A balanced pH level, as well as any natural debris left to settle--grass, branches, leaves--helps to maintain a healthy living environment for the grass.
A pH level measures acid to alkaline, or base, levels in the soil. Optimal pH levels for grass are between 6.5 and 7.0 with 14.0 being the highest alkaline level, and 1.0 being the highest acid level. Typically, overly wet soil will carry a high acid composition, whereas too dry a soil will carry a high alkaline level.
A good indicator of how dry or wet your soil is can be seen in its sand-silt-clay make-up. Too sandy a soil will promote overly dry conditions, whereas too much clay will hold water and thereby soak the soil. Silt drains well, and allows for a comfortable root system when wet, but turns hard when dry. A mix of all three types of soil is best when growing grass. -
Pesticides, chemical fertilizers and herbicides not only accomplish their intended purposes but destroy vital bacteria and fungi needed by the soil to sustain your grass. Natural fertilizer materials such as compost, manure, or topsoil are preferable as they do not disrupt the soil's natural ecosystem.
Compost is a natural conglomerate of minerals, bacteria and fungi that promotes healthy grass, as well as cultivates a thicker grass layering. A varied combination of organic garbage (vegetable skins, seeds, corncobs, coffee grounds, etc), yard waste, sawdust, and newspaper, rotated on a regular schedule will produce a rich source of nutrients for your grass, trees and plants.
