With the outdoor season upon us, there are a few simple ways to help your
lawn stay lush and green and become the pride and joy of your neighborhood.
You can start by giving your lawn a good raking to create a de-thatching effect
and “wake up” the lawn for the season.
Cutting
Regular cutting of the lawn is important because it thickens the grass. Cutting
it little and often is better than all in one go. Switch directions and patterns so
the grass blades aren’t pressed in the same direction each time. In the middle
of summer, you might want to keep the grass a little longer so it withstands
periods of drought.
Fertilizing
Cutting the grass removes nutrients that need to be replaced to achieve healthy
growth. From the beginning of spring, you should fertilize the lawn every four
or five weeks. Nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous are important ingredients
for a healthy lawn. Application amounts and instructions are available on most
fertilizer packaging.
Watering
If you want a lawn that is lush and green all summer, watering is important.
How often you need to water your lawn depends on temperature and humidity.
When a lawn needs water, the grass will begin to take on a blue-gray tint, and
the older grass blades will begin to curl up and wilt. New lawns should be
watered once a day so seeds can germinate and a solid root system can form.
You can water your lawn by hand or select from a variety of sprinkler options
or automated irrigation systems.
With persistence, you can win the battle against weeds using the right tools,
herbicides or weed-n-feed products. Also, the grass roots need air in order to
grow, therefore it is important to occasionally aerate your lawn to clear away
dead roots and thatch to create more breathing space for the lower parts of the
grass plus help stems grow better.
