Are you struggling to maintain your lawn? Unfortunately, regular mowing and feeding are often not enough. If you want perfect grass, you need to dig a lot deeper.
Your lawn is like any other plant and has very specific needs. If you want green grass, read on for our seven must-know tips.
1. Add Less Water
Contrary to popular belief, more water will not actually make your grass look better. In fact, all regular watering does is make your lawn lazy. With water in abundance, grass blades do not need to go searching for the nutrients they need.
This means their roots become extremely short. By taking water away, they will search deeper, creating longer, more durable roots. In times of drought and in hot summer months, your lawn will become much more robust and keep its appearance longer.
Change to a schedule that includes watering every week, instead of every day. Wait until the grass is just about to wilt, then provide just enough to wet the root. A green lawn will only need around 3 to 4 centimeters of water per week.
Measure it using a rain gauge, which is easily available from any garden store. It is also a bonus if you can manage to collect rainwater to water it with, though not essential.
2. Kill Weeds in Mild Weather
Weedkiller will always have instructions, telling you how, and crucially when, to use it. Most people fail to follow the instructions and do not realize that killing weeds is actually a very precise art.
If you apply weed killer in cold weather, the weed will not be growing. This means it does not need nutrients or fluid, and will not absorb the weed killer.
In contrast, applying the killer in hot weather will have the opposite effect. It will be absorbed by the grass around it that is vying for water, killing off your grass.
Instead, kill weeds in mild weather. Make sure rain is not on the forecast, so it does not wash away, and do not do it at a time when you have or are about to water the garden.
3. Water Green Grass Before Sunrise
The best time to water your grass is early in the morning, just as the sun is about to rise. For most people, this will be around 5 am, depending upon location and the season.
The reason for this is that watering at this time increases efficiency. You are not losing water to evaporation caused by the heat of the day.
This does not mean you have to get up early every morning. Instead, install a sprinkler system that has a timer. This is also one less task to add to your maintenance schedule.
4. Remove Thatch
One of the more time-consuming tips for green grass is the removal of thatch. Thatch can often be hard to spot. It needs removing as it chokes your grass and prevents the formation of a green lawn.
It is a layer of detritus that builds naturally on top of your soil. It is usually made from roots and dead stems that have not decomposed.
While a small layer is natural if it gets to around 1/2 an inch, it will be problematic. You can remove this with the use of a thatching rake, which will bring up the dead layer.
If it gets deeper than this, you will need a core aerator or a vertical mower. This can be rented from local supply companies or yard services.
5. Feed Your Lawn
Feeding the lawn should be done in conjunction with the control of weeds. This is because feeding the lawn encourages the expansion of the root system. If this is timed correctly, it can cover any spots that were previously occupied by weeds, meaning they can not take hold again.
Done regularly, the real estate for weed growth will gradually diminish. Conduct a weeding session, and once you are happy they are gone, begin the lawn feed. Use slow-release fertilizers, and apply around twice a year.
The biggest feeding of your lawn should be done in the fall. The lawn will sleep for winter, and it needs a store of nutrients to keep it healthy.
6. Mow High
A short lawn is not a healthy lawn. Grass that is longer in length has deeper roots. This makes it more durable, and it is better placed to dig deeper and search further to find the food it needs.
Ideally, you should be mowing at around a 2.5 inch setting, which will be one of the highest settings on your lawnmower. In any mowing session, you should not cut off more than a third of the lawn surface. This stunts long term growth and thing outs the look of the grass blades.
7. Aerate Soil
Finally, as part of your maintenance schedule, you should remember to aerate the lawn. This only needs to be done once a year, but only if you get a lot of footfall. The more people walk on the lawn, the more compact it will become.
Aerating alleviates this compaction, allowing oxygen into the soil. This can be done with a core aerating machine or soil plugs and facilitates the growth of a green lawn.
Hire Professionals
If you are still struggling to get healthy green grass, then do not be afraid to call in specialist help. A managed service will be able to test the PH level of your soil and decide on the best strategy. They will also have the best tools and products to get the job done quickly.
If you enjoyed our short blog, please check out the remainder of our articles. We have helpful guides on all from gardening to home maintenance. Browse our article today, so we can help you build the perfect home in the coming year!
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