There’s no wonder that you want to make your backyard look as beautiful as possible. It’s a serenity spot where you can spend quality time with your friends and family members. In order to transform the backyard into a place of tranquility, many homeowners strive for a perfect, emerald-green lawn.
However, a lush green lawn requires dedicated efforts, including regular maintenance, fertilization, and troubleshooting the problems early.
From mowing, feeding and tending to the lawn, here are six effective tips to transform your backyard into a green landscape-
Lawn Mowing Is Vital to Growing A Healthy Grass
Mowing seems easy, but every time you cut the grass, you pave the way for the success or failure of the lawn. If done correctly, you groom the turf that is healthy and thick enough to crowd out the weeds. But, if done incorrectly, the lawn will struggle to thrive.
In the active growing season, the lawns should be moved every 7 to 10 days. It is best to mow the lawn when it is dry, so let it dry after rainfall or watering.
During the summer months, it’s recommended to mow to a height of 3 to 4 inches. Cutting 1/3rd of the grass blades at a time is sufficient to keep the lawn healthy. Mowing a lawn too short puts stress on the grass, limits the growth, and decreases its ability to resist weeds.
Moreover, the blades of the mower should be sharp. Blade sharpening at the beginning of the season gives each blade of grass a good cleanout. After mowing has been done, move off the lawn. If you are busy and don’t have much time to do it yourself, investing in a professional lawn mowing service is worth the cost.
Lay the mowing machine on its side; spray the blades and underside of the deck using a safe cleansing agent. Rinse with water, and let it dry.
Feed The Lawn To Promote Growth
Lawns need to be fed every six to eight weeks during the growing season. Organic, as well as synthetic fertilizers, are used to promote growth, strengthen the roots, and prevent weeds or pests. The most popular types of fertilizers include liquid or granular forms. You can also choose between fast or slow-release fertilizers containing pre-emergent controls for fighting weeds and crabgrass.
But, you need to careful while feeding the lawn with fertilizers. If they are applied too frequently or during the drought periods, there can be a risk of burning the lawn. Make sure to read the label before the application.
You can also feed the lawns weekly by inserting the mulching plug into the mower’s deck. You may need to re-mow the lawn if the grass grows too long between mowing.
Besides, there is a green option (organic fertilizer) that releases the nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) at a slower pace and for a longer time than the synthetics ones.
Also, the presence of clover is a sign of a healthy lawn. It absorbs environmental nitrogen and pulls it into the root system, which feeds the surrounding lawn.
Keep A Check On The Common Lawn Diseases
Like the other plants, lawns can also be affected by diseases. Over-watering, stress from mowing too close, humidity, or drought are some of the causes. However, Red Thread is one of the most common lawn diseases characterized by patches of affected grass with a reddish tinge. Though it doesn’t kill your lawn but continues to return and spread through contaminated mower blades.
Applying nitrogen fertilizers can help boost new growth and cure the disease.
Brown patch is another common disease caused by thatch in the lawn that remains wet. You can reduce this problem by watering techniques or dethatching. Also, avoid over-fertilizing to keep these diseases at bay.
Adjust The pH And Water The Lawn Properly
Your lawn requires 1 inch of water every seven days. Morning is the best time to water the lawn and helps prevent diseases. Also, instead of providing water all at once, break up the watering process into different sessions. You can add a rain gauge on the lawn to keep track of how much water has been provided by the weekly rainfall.
Lawns grow well in the basic pH around 7. You can use a soil pH test kit to know the pH of your lawn. You can adjust the pH by adding sulfur or lime as per the requirements.
Deal With Moss And Lawn Pests
Moss is likely to find its way into your lawn, where there are shady spots. Though it can be raked out, it will return due to shade. Often you need to remove the trees of lift the canopies to allow more sunlight to reach the soil. Or, you can create a perennial shade garden.
Further, the best way to control pests is to identify them correctly. Brown patches, wilting blades, insects in the turf layer, biting marks on the grass, etc. are some of the signs that pests have invaded your lawn. Cutworm, chinch bug, grubs, causes significant damage to your lawn. Apply pest control sprays; they won’t harm plants, blooms, or lawns if used correctly.
Prepare Your Lawn For Winters
As temperature drops, the lawn prepares to go dormant for winter slumber. Remove the fallen leaves from the lawn regularly. Mow the lawn as usual up to three inches for the final mowing of the season. At this time, you can do lawn mowing repairs, and get the blades sharpened.
Scarification is done to remove dead organic debris, weeds, and moss that obstruct the flow of air, water, and nutrients to the roots. You can scarify the lawn in the fall when the danger of frost has passed.
Also, mowing is not required in the winters, because grass starts to grow slowly as the temperature dips below 4 C.
These are some of the tips you must consider to grow a healthy and green lawn in your backyard or patio. It will turn the landscape into the most favorite site for your family and pets to leap and lie around.
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