By taking a few easy steps, you can end up with the greenest, healthiest lawn on your block. A green lawn is possible to maintain for the entire year as long as you know the right steps. We would like to give you a little advice about those right steps in this article.
Aeration
Over time, especially if you have kids and pets, the soil beneath your grass can become very compacted. Even the weekly chore of mowing your lawn can cause soil compaction. Lawn aeration simply means punching holes throughout your lawn to about 3 inches deep. With regular lawn aeration, you can help give your grass a proper medium to grow in, which loosens soil for better air circulation. Your grass will also make better use of water and nutrients. Additionally, micro-organisms will establish themselves in your soil and help break down any thatch that builds up. Aeration also promotes new, stronger grass growth. You should aerate your lawn about once a year.
Overseeding
Overseeding is the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf, or the soil. It’s an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass varieties, and enhance your lawn’s color. The best time to overseed is the spring because the soil is not as stressed from foot traffic, drought or pests. Make sure the area you overseed receives plenty of water to support the new growth.
Soil Testing
Your lawn is highly dependent on the soil it is growing in. A soil test is important for several reasons: to have a green healthy-looking lawn, to protect the environment from contamination by runoff and leaching of excess fertilizers, to aid in the diagnosis of plant culture problems, to improve the nutritional balance, to save money, and to conserve energy. Knowing the soil composition gives you some insight into what your lawn needs and what you may be lacking. It is a good idea to have your soil tested regularly.
Fertilizer
Have you heard of the 4R’s to deal with nutrients for your lawn?? The 4R’s of nutrient management, are commonly referred to when talking about proper nutrient application. The 4R’s stand for right source, right rate, right time, and the right place and serve in the management practices that help keep nutrients on and in the lawn. Implementation of the 4R’s helps to align the economic, environmental, and social components of nutrient management.
- Right source: The right source refers to which nutrients are needed based on soil tests. It is impossible to know what fertilizer to purchase without first doing a soil test for pH and nutrient content. If you don’t have soil test results, look for a fertilizer that has a 2:1 or 1:1 ratio of nitrogen to potassium — the first and third numbers on the bag. The middle number, phosphorous, should be 2 or less
- Right rate: Right rate refers to what nutrient levels are needed. For lawns, it’s important to know what type of lawn is in your landscape including the pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Lower amounts of nitrogen are for lower maintenance lawns versus larger amounts for a higher maintenance lawn. Higher maintenance lawns require more frequent mowing and are often more susceptible to diseases and pest problems.
Right Placement: Right placement for lawns is over the top of the plants. Most individuals use a cyclone spreader versus a drop spreader because it’s more forgiving. Once the fertilizer is applied, irrigate to apply ¼” of water to wash it off the leaves. In some cases, liquid applications are applied to the leaf blades — this occurs if there is a root disease because the roots are not present to take up the fertilizer.
Right Timing: Right timing is very important, especially with lawns. Based on current research, the first fertilizer application should be in mid-April. By then, lawns are actively growing so fertilizers are utilized more efficiently by the plants. This also benefits the environment because there is less runoff or leaching of fertilizers.
Watering
How much water is too much? A few things to consider. Most lawns need 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week—either from rain or watering—to soak the soil that deeply. That amount of water can either be applied during a single watering or divided into two watering’s during the week. Just be sure not to overwater your lawn. The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning, before 10 a.m. Although it might seem smart to wait until night, when temperatures are cooler, watering in the evening keeps lawns wet overnight, which can make the grass susceptible to disease.
Pets
Now you have a gorgeous, lush, green lawn that will impress your neighbors all summer long. But by the end of the week, you notice your lawn is looking a little worse for wear. And you know exactly who the culprit is: your dog. Dogs love fresh grass, but they don’t understand how to keep it looking nice. To them, the yard is a playground where they can run, dig, and go to the bathroom wherever they’d like. The task of removing pet poop from your lawn is essential as leaving the waste on your lawn is a sure way to created brown spots. After removing the waste, hose down the area to dilute the remaining waste.
If you want a beautifully landscaped home with lush green grass that adds to the beauty and the value of your home but hate to spend all that time maintaining your landscaping think about hiring a pro. Remember when you are hiring someone, lawn service differs from lawn care in that a lawn service company maintains your lawn and landscape by mowing, edging, line trimming, and pruning. In order to perform lawn care, the company must be properly licensed in their state to apply fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides.
Contact us (859-314-LAWN) for more information or a free instant quote!
About Green & Grow
About Green & GrowGreen & Grow is a full-service lawn care company specializing in lawn mowing, fertilization & weed control, aeration & seeding, insect control, and more!
Serving Central Kentucky
Lexington | Richmond | London
Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Jessamine, Laurel, Madison, Scott, Whitley & Woodford Counties