Having a healthy, green, and ready-to-impress lawn is truly bliss. However, if taking care of lawn was as easy as snapping your fingers, everyone would have a beautiful backyard worthy of magazine covers. But, it is not that easy. The good thing is, it isn’t that tough either!
If you are struggling to have a picture-perfect backyard, you don't need to search further. Here, we are going to tell you seven simple lawn care tips to help you achieve the yard you’ve always wanted!
Get Rid Of The Weeds, Thatch And Moss
Weeds, thatch, and moss prevent the growth of the lawn by blocking air, moisture, and nutrients from reaching the roots. Here is how you can get rid of these pesky items-
Weeds
There are many ways weeds can be brought into the garden by pets, birds flying over, or the animals roaming across the area. They can grow anywhere as either seed heads or flowers.
The best way to get rid of weeds is to pull it out as a whole, including roots. You can do it manually or using a tool. If it is present in large quantities, spraying a low toxicity herbicide is a great option.
Spring is the right time to apply pre-emergent weed control to control the growth of weeds, such as crabgrass.
Thatch
Thatch is a layer of organic matter that builds up between the leaves and soil. This buildup blocks and prevents the nutrients from penetrating the roots. As a result, the lawn becomes mossy and spongy.
The easiest solution to this problem is scarification. It is the process of removing mulch from the lawn and should be added to your lawn maintenance routine.
Make neat and tidy planting beds. Rake the debris or old leaves from the plant beds.
Moss
Moss is a type of non-flowering plan that can cause the worst problems to your lawn. They grow up in the areas with excess moisture, turf, and shade. If it is left untreated, it reduces the grass’s ability to grow. Other factors contributing to the growth of moss are poor drainage, drought, clay in the soil, etc.
To remove the moss, it is important to identify the cause first. Once you know the cause, it is easy to monitor, maintain with scarifying and feeding.
Mow Your Lawn To The Ideal Height
Every type of grass has an ideal cutting height. It is important to mow your lawn so that you can expose the base of the grass, allowing more sunlight to reach it. But, make sure not to go too short.
Also, how often you should mow depends upon the weather conditions and time of the year. If the weather is cold, reduce the amount of mowing. When the weather gets warmer, mowing becomes frequent as the grass begins to grow quicker.
A Pro Tip: Avoid mowing the lawn when the soil or grass is wet, as it can restrict the healthy growth. Further, if you use a mower with a roller, the mowing direction needs to be alternated each time. You can hire a professional lawn mowing service to maintain the borders and edges of your lawn.
Feed Your Lawn When Required
There are times when the lawn needs nutrients to continue looking healthy. Regardless of what time of the year it is, consider feeding organic fertilizers to boost the nutrient level. You must feed the lawn before it hibernates for the colder season. Compost or cow manure is the best organic choice rich in Nitrogen, and far better than using chemical fertilizers.
Keep The Lawn Well-Hydrated
Like all other living things, grass also needs water to survive. A less frequently watered lawn begins to change its color, and change its spring. It causes the grass to stay flat if someone walks on it. Therefore, it is necessary to water the lawn regularly.
Remember, wetting and watering the grass are two different things. After watering, you need to soak the lawn, allowing the moisture goes down to several inches. Early morning is the best time to water as the sun helps to dry the grass. Nighttime watering allows prolonged moisture on the blades that may cause lawn diseases.
So, it’s good to water less often but for long periods.
Improve The Drainage System
Lawns with poor drainage remain waterlogged for hours or days. If not improved, it may cause other complications. Soil permeability and garden topography are the two main causes.
If the soil is compact, or rich in clay, thatch, or layers of roots, its ability to absorb water decreases. Aeration can help improve the water and airflow to reduce surface buildup. In addition to this, changing the nature of soil can help you get the desired drainage level.
Your garden should have a slope to drive away the water naturally. If there are any dips, it causes the water to pool in one spot, while damaging the roots.
To prevent waterlogging, you can add wet plants in your garden that can thrive in water. Or, you can consider reshaping the area to improve the drainage.
Rejuvenate The Sparse Lawn
If your lawn is a little thin or looks dull, lifeless, over-seeding is a great way to rejuvenate it. Covering the space with seeds mixed with fertilizers fills in the damaged areas while improving the appearance and reducing the risk of moss invasion.
Before seeding, the lawn must be aerated, mowed, and watered well. Once seeded, the lawn needs to be kept moist to allow germination for proper nutrition. You can add this practice to your annual lawn care routine.
Top Dressing Improves The Quality Of Soil
It is another useful tip to improve the quality of existing soil while evening out any imperfections. It also offers drought resistance and drainage control. While creating top dressing, you need to check the soil type of your garden to know which materials will work the best.
Incorporate these simple practices into your lawn care routine to make it looking lush green and healthy. Once you start putting effort into maintaining your lawn, you’ll get your yard in shape in no time!
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