Secrets to a Green Lawn
Obtaining a perfectly green lawn takes work. The basics are fairly simple, but it's the way you do those things that can make a difference. While undermaintenance will most-definitely prevent your lawn from being its greenest, overmaintenance in certain areas can also be counterproductive. It's important to know the type of grass you have on your lawn for proper maintenance. Warm-season grasses are green in the spring and summer months, turning dormant in the fall and winter, while cold-season grasses are green in the spring and fall, and may go dormant in hot, dry summers as well as freezing winters. Begin your lawn care regimen in the fall for a green lawn the following spring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Soil thermometer
- Fertilizer
- Fertilizer spreader
- Lawn mower
- Sprinkler
- Weeding tool
- Herbicide
Instructions
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Test your soil to determine how much fertilizer you need to use and what nutrients your lawn may be lacking. Find a university lab or agricultural organization that will run a test for a small fee.
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Aerate your lawn once a year, before fertilizing in the fall. The soil temperature should be above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. A lawn aerator is a machine that creates holes into your lawn, allowing water, air and fertilizer to the roots. Aerators can be rented or purchased, or you can hire a professional to do it. Your lawn should be freshly mowed and watered before aerating.
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Fertilize your lawn according to the needs of your soil, determined by the soil testing. Apply fertilizer in the fall, after aerating, when the soil temperature is still above 65 F. Use a manual spreader with a spinner plate to sprinkle the fertilizer pellets evenly. Do not overfertilize. Grass seed may be added to any sparse patches in the early spring, if necessary, but don't fertilize again until mid- to late summer. The fall application will promote healthy -- and early -- grass growth in the spring.
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Water regularly, but don't water too often. Water when the soil feels dry, which usually won't be every day. Use a sprinkler to evenly distribute 1 inch of water over the entire lawn, moving the sprinkler if necessary. Measure the amount of water with an empty container on the grass.
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Mow your lawn regularly, but don't mow it too short. Set the lawn mower blade to cut the grass at no less than 2 inches for warm-season grass, or 3 1/2 inches for cold-season grasses. The amount cut from the top should not exceed one-third of the length of the grass. Adjust the blade height as necessary every time you mow. Allow the nutrient-rich grass clippings to stay on the lawn, as long as they're not large clumps; avoid clumps by using a self-mulching lawn mower. Keep your lawn mower well maintained and keep the blades sharp and clean.
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Weed your lawn regularly, using a handheld weeding tool. Herbicides are usually not necessary if you pull the weeds every time you water and mow. For extensive weeds, treat with a post-emergent herbicide.
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Tips & Warnings
Soil thermometers and lawn aerators are available at home and garden centers.
Avoid using a drop spreader for fertilizing. A spreader with a spinner plate will give a much more even distribution.
High-cut grass gives it a thicker appearance and discourages weeds.
References
- MSN Real Estate: 10 Secrets to a Perfect Lawn
- Stock Seed Farms: Warm Season Grass Vs. Cool Season Grass
- University of Delaware: Soil Testing Program
- The Columbia News-Times: Fertilizing at the Right Time and in the Right Amount Helps Lawn Along
- University of Missouri: Don't Bag It Lawn Care
- University of Minnesota: Lawn Fertilizing
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
