So You Want Your Grass To Grow

Having a beautiful, lush green lawn is a wonderful accent to your home and living space, and it can really make a difference in the appearance of your home. We would all like to have that first prize-winning lawn, but it is not always easy to achieve. For those of us who can't afford professional lawn maintenance, it may take some time and effort to get the desired results.

Understanding Your Lawn

In order to take the proper care of the lawn, a few things must be taken into consideration before getting started. You need to know what type of grass you have and what it takes to care for it. If you are starting with a new lawn, it would be a good idea to find out what type of grass would grow well in your area; take your soil type and eco-environment into consideration. You also need to know how to best prepare your soil before planting the seed or putting down sod so you give your new lawn the best possible chance of growing strong and healthy.

Fertilizing Your Lawn

All lawns can benefit from being fertilized. Fertilizing the grass does more than just give it good color; it also helps it to grow thicker and healthier. The healthier your grass is, the fewer problems you will have with and the fewer weeds and brown patches you will have to deal with each spring. It would be beneficial to most lawns to be fertilized several times a year, with the most crucial time being in the early spring. Spring fertilization should give the lawn a fast start, which will help to achieve that beautiful rich color in the grass that everyone desires. As important as it is to fertilize, it's just as important to not overdo it. If too much fertilizer is used, it could cause the grass to grow excessively, leading to fungus growth and unhealthy grass.

Weed Control on Your Lawn

Weed control is essential to the health and looks of your lawn. The most appealing lawn is the lawn that has no weeds sticking out of it. If you notice weeds on your lawn, you need to remove them as soon as possible. There are natural treatments for weeds, such as digging them or pulling by hand, or even by spraying weeds with a strong vinegar solution.

Watering Your Lawn

Just like all living things, your lawn will need water. It would be great for the lawn to have an automatic sprinkler system that can be set on a timer, but watering by hand is just as effective. Don't overwater your lawn, as once or twice a week with a good soaking is all that is needed. Too much water leads to mold and poor root systems that will decrease the health of the lawn over time.

Mowing Your Lawn

Mow your lawn on a regular basis and avoid cutting the lawn too short. Generally, the shorter you cut your lawn the poorer the lawn will do over time. Mowing more frequently and leaving longer grass is better for the lawn, especially in very dry weather conditions. Typically, a good measure is to never mow more than one-third of the height of the grass at any one time. Don't mow in the heat of the day. Instead, wait until the cooler evening to prevent water loss due to evaporation. Article by Jessica Marley of www.patioshoppers.com, check for current specials on outdoor wicker online.