A beautiful residential or commercial property starts with a lush, healthy, green lawn. However, growing that lawn can be more difficult than many property owners realize! To help keep grass around your property as soft yet thick and strong as possible, check out some quick tips.
Note the best time of year to fertilize the grass on your property, according to the grass species and local weather conditions. Some fertilizers are very high in nitrogen content and might tend to burn grass during hot summer months, whereas other fertilizer types might not settle into cold, hard dirt.
It’s also vital that you don’t add too much fertilizer or fertilize too often! Delicate grass blades might wilt under thick fertilizer and too much fertilizer can interfere with healthy pH levels in the soil.
Avoid mowing your lawn too short, as short grass blades don’t provide adequate shade for your property’s soil. In turn, the soil might become overly dry and grass then withers. This is especially important during summer months when grass growth is slower.
Ensure you sharpen your mower’s blades at least once per year, as dull blades simply flatten grass rather than cut through it. Avoid cutting dry grass so that you don’t clog your mower and slow down the blades. Invest in a mulching mower if possible, as grass clippings help feed a lawn.
Worms are very helpful to a lawn as they crawl through dirt and help aerate the soil, but grubs and other insects might eat away at grass roots and cause your lawn to wither. Pull up some soil in a corner of the lawn and note if you see grubs and other bugs; if so, apply an insect killer, following the package directions.
Grass needs abundant moisture to grow and thrive, but avoid watering the lawn in the heat of day when water will simply evaporate. If you notice standing water on your lawn, it might need better irrigation or grading to keep it from flooding.
If your lawn has brown patchy spots, note if there is a leaking septic tank, plumbing leak, or something else poisoning your lawn in that area. If the soil is healthy, add seed and grass food and ensure you keep that spot well-watered until the grass takes root.
For larger patches of missing grass or grass that doesn’t grow, consider applying sod rather than seed, for faster patching. Water the sod generously and avoid walking on it until it’s taken root so you don’t pull those patches out of place.