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Do you dream of a green, healthy lawn that is the envy of all your neighbors? Maybe you have a problem with crab grass or unsightly weeds. If you aren't sure where to start, check out the information on this page to learn how to care for a lawn.
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Step 1: Water
- Water is one of the most essential proponents for a healthy lawn. Rain is not always enough to moisten the soil and feed the roots of your grass, so during the summer you may need to water your lawn with a hose to keep grass moist. Moist grass will resist drying out in the heat and intensity of the summer sun. You can tell if you need to water your lawn by looking for these signs:
- Footsteps that don't fade from the lawn
- Folded leaf blades
- Wilting
- Approximately 3/4 to one inch of water is required to keep grass lush and healthy.
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Step 2: Fertilizer
- Most lawns will thrive with one application of fertilizer, either in the early spring for warm season grass or in the fall for cool season grass. For even more lustrous grass, three to four fertilizer applications each year should do the trick.
- It is best to apply fertilizer when the earth is dry.
- After applying fertilizer, water the lawn.
- Irrigation will spread fertilizer to all areas of the lawn.
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Step 3: Mowing
- Mowing is an important part of lawn maintenance, as you don't want your grass to grow out of control. You also don't want to damage the grass by mowing with a blade that is too low. It is best to cut grass 1/3 of an inch at a time. If you mow too low, not only will it damage the blades of grass but it can also promote weed growth. You should also leave mulched grass clippings on the lawn, as they will break down and provide nutrients for the soil.
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Step 4: Weed Maintenance
- Weeds are actually encouraged by conditions that are unfavorable for healthy grass, so if you are starting out with an unhealthy lawn, you may have a problem with weeds. There are a number of techniques you can employ to control weeds, from chemical sprays to physically weeding by hand.
- You can cut down on weeds by following these techniques:
- Proper mowing
- Proper moisture
- Enough sunlight
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Step 5: Aerating and Dehatching
- While aerating and dehatching are not necessary, both techniques will help increase lawn health.
- Aerating is a technique that punctures holes into the soil, allowing roots to develop healthily. It is a technique used on golf courses to keep the grass lush as carpet.
- Dehatching is a powerful tool that removes the debris and build-up of organic matter between the soil and the grass.
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Conclusion
- A green and healthy lawn will get positive attention (and maybe even a little neighborly envy). To keep your grass healthy, you will want to make sure it gets adequate water and a healthy dose of fertilizer. Mowing is also important, but you don't want to overdo it; just clip 1/3 of an inch off of your lawn at a time.
- A properly maintained lawn will have less weeds, but if you do find that you have a weed problem, chemical treatments will do the trick. You may also wish to aerate the soil, and dehatch debris and build-up for healthy grass. Constant maintenance makes for easy maintenance.
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