How to Take Care of Your Lawn Year-Round
A beautifully maintained lawn is an asset to any homeowner and a relief to any close neighbors. Lawns require care throughout the year. Aerating, fertilizing, seeding, mowing and watering are all part of the care cycle needed to keep your lawn lush and green. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Rake the entire lawn in the spring with a metal rake to remove any remaining leaves and get rid of built-up thatch. Thatch is the layer of dead grass that lies below the individual blades of grass. When this layer becomes thick, it can prevent new grass from growing. Follow up the raking session with a fertilizer and weed-killer combo -- a product typically referred to as "weed and feed."
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Spread a mixture of fertilized starter soil and grass seed to patch any area of the lawn that has been damaged. Mow the lawn short around the patch so the grass seedlings can grow. If the lawn is thin, broadcast a light layer of grass seed over the entire area. Whenever you plant grass seed, water the area lightly twice a day for a couple of weeks.
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Water the lawn in the early morning every other day or as needed based on the weather in your region.
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Mow the lawn for the first time of the year in the spring. Wait until the grass grows longer that normal to begin -- about 4.5 inches. The longer grass chokes out weeds.
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Mow the lawn weekly and keep it at around 3.5 inches tall. Mowing the lawn much shorter than this, as many people do, damages it.
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Fertilize throughout the summer using a product formulated for grass. Follow the manufacturer's instructions closely. Too much fertilizer kills grass. Be alert for weeds and apply a weed killer if necessary.
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Continue to mow and water as necessary into the fall as needed. The cooler weather soon stops the grass from growing.
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Aerate in the fall. In particular, use an aerator on those areas of your lawn that have poor growth or poor water drainage, although the entire lawn benefits from aeration.
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Apply a winterizing fertilizer in the fall to keep the grass fed during the slow, no-growth months of winter. This also helps the grass build a deeper root system. Apply grass seed to any problem areas or broadcast a light layer of seed throughout the lawn.
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Tips & Warnings
No weed killer is as effective as taking the time to pull the weed along with its root.
Some hardware stores and most lawn centers rent aerators to homeowners.
Choose grass seed known to grow well in your region.
Over fertilizing can destroy your lawn.
Steer clear of sprinkler systems and any shallow piping or wires when using an aerator.
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
