Secret Ways to Make Your Lawn Always Green and Healthy

Many homeowners are striving to give their lawns that perfect, emerald-green look. But it requires more than just regular mowing. Caring for your lawn involves carrying out regular maintenance, applying fertilization and fixing issues whenever they arise.

Don’t cut the grass too low

Although it might seem like a good idea to mow too low, it is recommended to let it grow longer and mow it more frequently. Therefore, you will want to avoid the buzz cut.

You will want to set your mower blade about 3 inches tall since tall grass will shade out weed seeds. When you mow your lawn too low limits deep root growth, puts stress on the grass, thus reducing its ability to resist pests, weeds and drought conditions.

Fertilize to promote growth and improve the health of your lawn

Apply synthetic and organic lawn fertilizer to promote lush growth, prevent invasive pests and weeds, and strengthen roots. There are many different types of fertilizers, but most of them contain three main nutrients, namely nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. For leafy growth, you need nitrogen, but too much of it can cause yard burn, discoloration and excessive growth.

The most common forms of fertilizers for lawns include liquid and granule, which can come in organic and synthetic blends. It is also slow- and fast-release fertilizer and blends containing pre-emergent control for eliminating weeds and crabgrass.

Use a broadcast spreader to apply granule fertilizer. You only need to push and pull this device around the yard to distribute the fertilizer evenly. You need a spreader because applying more than the required quantity of fertilizer in one area will kill the grass

Apply the fertilizer during the month of April because crabgrass usual begins to emerge in the month of May. The Nitrogen in the fertilizer should be 50/50 split of slow- and fast-release forms.

Using too much fast-release fertilizer during spring rains will create too much lush growth. This will increase fungus and turf problems.

Repair and maintenance of the lawn

Some of the most common problems affecting lawns include dead patches, bare spots, and areas infested by weeds, crabgrass and dandelions. The most noticeable problem is bare spots, but you can repair them with a little persistence and patience.

Although sod is a great option for large patches, it may not blend with the lawn. If your lawn gets six or more hours of full sun in the area, then sod can be a great option. However, depending on the overall quality of your lawn, it can give it a patchwork look. For small areas of patches that receive less sun, you will have to sow grass seeds.

Can I find a green option for lawn care?

Organic fertilizers for lawns are made of living organisms such as animal and plant matter. In addition, it releases nutrients slowly, but over a long period of time when compared to synthetic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers don’t provide immediate results as synthetic fertilizers would, but over time, it improves the quality of the lawn, thus reducing the number of applications in the future.

Synthetic fertilizers provider quick nutrients to the grass, but whatever can’t be used quickly runs off and can cause water pollution. Slow-release nutrients in organic sources like alfalfa meal, corn gluten, compost and fish emulsion become available as the plants need them.

If you don’t want to use fertilizer, leave the grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. This way, they will be able to recycle some nitrogen back into the grass.

Rough up the soil in your lawn and pre-mix it with some compost. Throw the mixture down and run the back of the rake over it to ensure that the seed is in contact with the soil and water the area.

For bare spots that receive little sun or are around flowerbeds, the best way is to expand the existing bed o make a new one. This helps to fix the problem and add new landscaping to the yard.

Dead spots can result from the concentration of pet urine, lack of water or fertilizer misuse. To repair such unsightly brown spots, you will want to remove the dead grass and seed the area. If the wrongdoer was granule fertilizer, you will have to remove remaining granules first before you can start sowing the grass seeds.

Weed control

Since dandelions are perennial, it means that they usually survive winter and come back next spring. They also come back in fall, but not as bad as in spring. The best way to handle this problem is to attack the dandelions as soon as you see them.

But the most effective way, although time-consuming, is to remove the whole root. You can also use a garden sprayer with a synthetic or organic herbicide to spray weeds or dandelions as they appear. It is essential to limit the use of these products and follow the instructions highlighted on the label of the fertilizer.

Conclusion

It is important to care for your lawn so that it can maintain its green healthy look. You simply need to make sure that you are using the right tools, seeds, apply the right fertilizer and repair the lawn where necessary.