Everybody likes to have a green and luscious lawn at home. These improve the aesthetic value of the home. They also provide a comfortable spot where you can set up an Alps tent or a portable hammock and rest. However, if you have decided to keep a lawn at home, you must keep it clean and tidy. Weed it often. You should also fertilize it to boost growth and mow to a good height. While these might seem daunting to most people, it is not. We review the care practices below to help you do a good job.
Maintaining a clean and lush lawn starts with choosing the best grass for your region. Do you reside in a cold or warm region or a transition zone in the USA, Canada, or any other country? While a cold season lawn grass such as annual ryegrass or fine fescue will do well in the cold upper states of America, it might do well in California or Miami, which are warm. If you live in such an area, warm-season lawn grass such as buffalo, Bermuda, or zoysia grass will work great. GCF Turf Services covers this in detail in their video.
Fertilizing
Lawns require micronutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and potash to grow healthy roots and leaves. While these are readily available in most soils, they cannot sustain the growth of new grasses for long. As such, you should top dress your lawn with fertilizers frequently to keep grasses and other beneficial plants looking healthy. There is a science to this, though. Any random fertilizer might not work. For the best results, look for an organic fertilizer for lawns with all essential micronutrients and use it correctly. For instance, while fertilizing a lawn, pay attention to the rates/volume. How much fertilizer should you use? Check the manufacturer’s instructions to have an idea of what to use in different types of lawns. Applying a lot of fertilizer than needed will be counterintuitive as it promotes weed growth. Use a garden hose to water the lawn to prevent scorching. Finally, the timing of fertilizer application. Check if you should fertilize all year round or at a specific duration and do that.
Aeration
Thatch buildup, pH modification, and/or water runoff of puddling are a few problems that lower lawn health. As a homeowner, you should prevent such issues by doing the following. First, use a rake or a dethatcher to clean thatch buildup from your lawn. Depending on the size of your lawn, you can do this in a day or two or hire a professional to do it for you. Second, aerating the lawn can prevent such issues long term and help you to maintain a clean and well-manicured lawn. This is not as hard as it sounds.
If you can afford a pair of garden shoes, you can aerate a large lawn in a day or two. The best garden weasels need a bit of effort to use but are also effective. Use a garden cart to haul material to prevent back injury.
Mowing
Nobody wants an untidy and poorly manicured lawn at home. To improve your home’s curb appeal on a budget, mowing should for part of your weekly routine. Here are some tips that can help you to do a commendable job at home without hiring a professional. First, you will need a lawnmower to do a professional job quicker. They come on battery-powered, corded, and manual designs for people of all cadres. After use, protect yours with a lawnmower cover to boost its longevity. Electric string trimmers also do a decent job but require a bit of effort and skill to do an excellent job. While mowing, always maintain the ideal height for different grasses (3.5-4-inches for Bahiagrass, for instance). Finally, do not cut more than 1/3 of leaf blades for most cultivars.
Irrigation
Your lawn will need water to grow quickly, healthy, and thick. As such, this should form part of your lawn care routine as well if you want to maintain a stunning front yard or back yard. However, overwatering can also stimulate the growth of weeds, which outcompete grasses and damage the lawn. Always use a garden hose to get good coverage. Use a garden trellis to support climbing plants before watering. Finally, always irrigate at sunrise or in the morning to protect your plants from fully drying out during the day. Irrigating in the evening keeps the leaves of grasses wet for long, which increases the risk of bacterial/ fungal infections.
If you can follow these tips religiously, you will maintain a healthy lawn all year long and improve a home’s curb appeal.