Wouldn't it be great to have a lush, green, healthy lawn?It doesn't have to be a struggle against the elements if you take good care of your lawn.Simple changes to lawn care can make a big difference.The best things to do for your lawn can be found in the tips below.
Step 1: In the evening or early morning.
Cool, humid, low-wind conditions distribute water evenly.Between 10pm and midnight and between 8am and 9am are ideal times for ideal conditions.Night watering is not allowed by some local water departments.
Step 2: Take a look at your lawn's water needs.
Grass species, lawn health, heat, and soil conditions should be considered when setting your watering schedule.In hot, dry weather, cool season grasses need 1– 1.5 inches ( 2.5– 3.8 cm) per week.Thebuffalo grass, blue grama, can last for weeks without being watered.If you have a good idea of how much water your lawn needs each week, you can divide it among watering sessions.You can find out how much watering your grass needs on a local university website.You can track the amount of water you use by leaving cans or containers on your lawn.If shaded grass is competing with tree and shrub roots, this may not be true.
Step 3: There is water frequently and deeply.
This approach encourages root growth, which increases resistance to disease.The soil should be moistened to the depth of the lowest roots, which is at least six inches (15 cm) for a healthy lawn.The rate of drainage depends on the soil.Sandy soil may only need a small amount of water after 30 minutes after watering.To reach a depth of 15 cm, you need 1.25 cm of water.The lawn has less time to absorb the water.The amount of water needed to reach a 6 inch depth is roughly 0.75 inch.It takes 1– 1.5 inches of water to reach 6 inch (15 cm) depth in dense clay soil.
Step 4: There are signs of drying.
If your lawn is brown, give it more water.Check for wilting, a change in color, and footprints that stay visible for an hour or more.If you let your lawn reach this state, it will increase long term health, but you will have to water it before it turns brown.You can dig into the soil to see how dry it is.The top two inches of soil have dried out.Water those areas if the lawn dries out.
Step 5: Let the grass stay cool.
When cool weather returns, cool seasons grasses turn brown but are ready to revive.It is possible to prevent this with heavy watering, but do not try to revive it until the weather warms up.The grass is vulnerable and weak if it goes dormant more than once a year, because it spends a lot of energy on revival.Give the grass 0.25–0.5 inches of water per week.
Step 6: Outside of the growing season, water is rare.
Late fall to early spring is when your grass doesn't need as much water.You may still need to water if the weather is dry.The ground is frozen so don't water it.The exposed slopes and shallow soil are more likely to dry out.South and west facing slopes are important in the southern hemisphere.
Step 7: The grass needs to be cut high.
The taller the grass, the healthier the lawn.If you can stand it, keep your lawn at 2.5–3.5 inches.For different seasons, older lawn care guides may recommend different heights.Most experts agree that grass should be tall all the time.
Step 8: Don't remove more than 13 of the grass blade.
Your grass is damaged if you cut away more than 13 of it.If you miss a mowing session and the grass is too tall, remove 13 of it and wait a few days before cutting it down.It is possible to cut fast-growing species every three or four days.Don't let the grass grow taller than 3 in if the goal is 2 inches.Before mowing.Don't let it get above 4.5 in if the goal is 3 inches.
Step 9: The lawn needs to be mowed when it's cool and dry.
Grass is vulnerable during the hottest part of the day.The grass is wet.Wet clippings clump on the lawn instead of getting evenly distributed, some mowers are less efficient, and the slippery grass can be dangerous for the mower operator.
Step 10: Grass clippings can be left on the lawn.
Grass clippings help the lawn.You can use them elsewhere in your garden, but they should not be used on flowers or vegetables.Grass clippings don't contribute to thatch.
Step 11: Sharpen mower blades.
The grass blades are vulnerable to further damage because the mower blades shred them.If the mower is used a lot, sharpening several times a season is best.
Step 12: The grass needs to be cut at the end of the season.
After your lawn stops growing, you should remove an extra 0.5–1 inch on the final mow.Over the winter, matted grass and snow mold can be a problem.
Step 13: Slow release or fast release is the choice.
Choose a slow release product.If you can't find a mix, use a slow-releasefertilizer.The less dramatic effect has less risk of burning your lawn or causing excessive growth.Slow release fertilizers are called timed release or insoluble fertilizers.Urea foam, IBDU, and WIN are included.Urea, Ammonia nitrate, and Ammonium sulfate are fast releasefertilizers.
Step 14: There is a nitrogen-heavyfertilizer.
You can add Nitrogen to your lawn.The percentage of nitrogen is shown by the first of the three numbers.The ideal ratio is 3:1:2 or 4:1:2.A 9-3-6fertilizer has a 3:1:2 ratio.
Step 15: If possible, choose an organic fertilization.
Composted animal or plant products feed earthworms and microbes on your lawn.The well-aerated soil and fast decomposition of grass clippings is ensured by keeping these healthy populations.Synthetic products are more likely to damage your lawn.
Step 16: Decide on a plan.
All lawns need to be fertilized at least once a year.It's up to you how much effort you want to put in.Fertilize once a year with 1 lbs of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.It is ideal to have late fall, but never during frost, snowy or soaked ground.Nitrogen is used every 8–10 weeks from spring to fall.If you leave grass clippings on your lawn, skip one of these.A guide that matches your grass species and climate can be found on a local university agriculture extension website.
Step 17: Measure how much is used.
The easiest way to adjust your spreader is to get the instructions.The setting for 1lb nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is listed.If you want to use a more accurate measure, find the nitrogen percentage on your packaging and convert it to decimals.A fertilization rate of 24% nitrogen is 0.24.To get the pounds of nitrogen per bag, divide the number of pounds by the bag's weight.Divide your lawn size by 1,000 to get the nitrogen per bag.Will fertilize your lawn is 2,880 sq ft.Put that amount in your spreader and set it to a light setting.When the lawn runs out, walk around it evenly.
Step 18: The spreader needs to be operated.
The main goal is to prevent spread outside the lawn.Accidentally fertilized flowerbeds and vegetable beds can damage the plants and cause environmental damage.Drop spreaders are more precise and spread lessfertilizer outside the lawn.Set to half strength and cross the lawn in two paths at 90o angles.For large lawns, broadcast spreaders must be kept at least 10 feet from water sources and lawn edges.30% of the spreader range overlaps when space applications are applied evenly.
Step 19: You can aerate your yard once or twice a year.
A lawn aerator can remove plugs of soil from your lawn to improve aeration and drainage.One aeration is usually enough for a home lawn.If the ground is soft enough to penetrate, aerate on the dry side.The machine should be able to remove plugs of about 2 inches in diameter.If there are eight or nine plugs per square foot, then pass over the lawn once or twice.The plugs should be left on the lawn.If they're taking too long, break them up by dragging metal objects over the grass or collecting them to compost.
Step 20: Remove thatch.
There is a mat of roots and stems on the lawn.When it reaches 0.25 cm thick, it will grow rapidly and prevent drainage and aeration.Additional core aeration is the best way to remove thatch.Renting a dethatching machine will remove thatch less than 1 cm thick.Only when the weather is cool and there are several weeks of growth left can you do this.Run a power rake over the lawn.Damage can be caused by deep power raking.
Step 21: It's a good idea to prevent future thatch.
If thatch grows quickly, try these fixes: Topdress the lawn with a 18 in (3mm) sprinkle of soil.You can conduct a soil test and adjust the pH for your grass species.Adding calcium carbonate lime will raise the lawn pH.Reduce use of pesticides because they may be killing earthworms.
Step 22: It's a good idea to prevent surface runoff.
If your lawn gets flooded, give it half the amount of water you use per session.Give the lawn the rest of the water after one hour.This is a problem for slopes and dense clay soil.Commercial agents added to the water won't fix a serious problem.If your lawn has a thick layer of thatch, aerate it.
Step 23: Water droplets from the grass.
Dew won't hurt your grass, but "guttation" will.The formation of water droplets along the blade edge attracts disease and pests.To get rid of them, drag a hose or pole over the surface, or spray them with a spray.
Step 24: Poor grass can be improved in shady areas.
Water less frequently but very deeply if your grass does poorly in shade.The amount of fertilization should be the same as the sunny areas.Mow to 3 inches or higher.Foot traffic should be reduced.
Step 25: In winter, care for lawns.
When the lawn is vulnerable, minimize lawn use.Use as little salt as possible to break up ice.Salt-laden snow is safer than calcium chloride products.Don't usefertilizer to break up ice as they will run off along with snowmelt and ruin water sources.Light use in the early spring until the grass dries out.If there are bare spots, seed them early.