Get The Lawn Of Your Dreams

| Wednesday, October 3, 2012
By Leonard Ewing


We all want the perfect lawn. It is not as difficult as you think. The right planning and these five tips can help you get the lawn you want. All grasses need the same things; fertilizer, water, sunlight and a weed-free environment. Start in the fall or early spring with proper testing. Also make sure to check your specific type of grass for special growing requirements and use these tips and get ready for a great lawn.

Soil Testing: Grass needs the right combination of nutrients and pH to thrive. Testing your soil is key to understanding your lawns needs. You can obtain a cheap kit at any garden store than can tell you pH levels and nutrient levels. Unfortunately, these kits give poor, ballpark results. Also, they do not help at all to remedy your problems. Instead, try a university in your area that provides soil testing. These testing facilities use equipment that not only tells you whats wrong but how to fix them with exact amounts of additives for your specific need.

Proper Mowing: A sharp blade and the right lawn length are also key to a healthy lawn. Each type of grass has slightly different requirements but, in general, you want to keep your grass about 3"-4" in length. Any shorter and you may damage the grass by cutting too much and allow weeds to take root. Keeping the blade sharp minimizes damage to the plants and can reduce the incidence of disease and pests.

Fertilizing: Proper fertilization is key to consistent growth and color. Ensure you do some soil testing and follow a fertilization schedule. Too much fertilizer can be as bad as too little and can end with severe burning of your lawn. During periods of slow growth grass still requires nutrients. Grass will go dormant during the winter months with warm season grasses entering this stage sooner than the cooler season varieties. "Prior to this period of dormancy its vital to provide the proper levels of potassium," says Nate Merchant, with a Morristown Landscaping company. This will strengthen the grass and its roots for the winter months. The grass will emerge much stronger when spring arrives.

Watering: Different grasses require different levels of water. Cooler season grasses go dormant later than their warm weather counterparts and require more frequent watering. Generally, most grass requires water around once a week. Long, infrequent watering is better for grass since the roots will penetrate deeper into the soil. Do not water at the hottest part of the day to avoid burning your lawn. Also, avoid watering late in the day as the grass may remain wet overnight allowing fungus to take hold. Early morning is the best time of day to water if the need arises.

Bugs and Disease: Even well maintained lawns can become victim to pests or disease. Monitor your lawn for any discoloration or other obvious problems. At the first sign of a problem take action. Disease can spread very quickly. Visit a garden store or talk to a landscaper at the first notice of any issues. Keeping weeds at bay is an easy way to reduce the likelihood of pest infestation. Try an organic herbicide if possible which can be applied in the spring or fall to kill emerging weeds.




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