Lawn Care Tips
Want your lawn to be the envy of your neighbors? Well, with some simple planning this article can help you get the lawn you deserve this summer. Plants need nutrients, sun and water to thrive and grass is no different. Provide it with the right environment and it will become the perfect lawn. If you know your type of lawn you can look for additional specific needs beyond typical care and maintenance.
Test Your Soil: All grasses need food to live. They also need the right conditions. Performing the proper testing and fertilization are keys to a lush lawn. The right pH levels and levels of nitrogen and other trace elements are the most crucial. All garden stores carry an inexpensive testing kit that gives you a basic measure of these nutrients. However, these are generally inaccurate and provide little in the way of help fixing any deficiencies. Instead try a local university. Most provide a detailed analysis of soil, highlight deficiencies with exactly how to fix them.
Mowing: Every type of grass has different needs and grows at different rates. In general, however, mowing your lawn too short is a bad idea. It weakens the plant itself as it struggles to grab capture sunlight for photosynthesis. It also allows weeds to take purchase by allowing sunlight to penetrate to the soil. Try to keep your lawn at a height of three to four inches during peak growing season. Also ensure your lawnmower blade is sharp. A dull blade will damage grass rather than cut it, slows growth and invites disease by weakening the plant.
Fertilizing Your Lawn: Feeding your lawn is important for great color and lush growth. Make sure you follow a feeding schedule to avoid over-feeding. Overfeeding can be more damaging to plants than not feeding at all and can lead to sudden death or severe grass burn. During the winter months grasses still need nutrients to survive. “In fact, providing the right levels of phosphorus can help grass roots overwinter better and emerge stronger in the spring,” says Nate Merchant.
Watering Your Lawn: All grasses need water but different types have different requirements. Warmer season grasses go dormant earlier than the cooler varieties and require less water. Generally most grasses need water about once a week. Long, infrequent watering is preferable since it requires roots to travel deeper in the soil between watering which strengthen the plant. The time of day is important as well. Try watering in the early part of the day. This prevents burning your lawn in the hot sun and allows the grass to dry before the evening when fungus can set in.
Keeping Disease and Pests Away: The sad truth is that nobody is safe from pests and disease effecting their lawn. Disease and fungus can spread very quickly and be devastating to lawns if not identified and treated quickly. Keep and eye out for any strange patches or changes to your lawns color. Call an expert or visit a garden store at the first sign of a problem. You can reduce the incidence of these problems by keeping weeds at bay with a herbicide applied in the spring and fall.
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For more home owner tips visit Barrie House Inspections for valuable advice.