Lawns need proper care too. Many homeowners want to have their lawns in perfect condition as this can definitely reflect the personality of the homeowners.
When caring for a lawn, there are several things that must be considered. This way, the lawn is properly maintained and is always on its top shape. Here are some of the factors that must be considered to grow a perfect lawn:
Make Use of Proper Moving Technique
For homeowners who want to achieve a healthy looking green lawn, they must invest in the proper moving technique. The key to having a green lawn would be frequent cutting. This technique forces the lawn grass to grow thick. This can also help keep unwanted weeds out of the lawn.
When mowing, the mower blades should be kept sharp to ensure that the grass is not beat up and to avoid making the grass vulnerable to diseases and damage.
Another important tip to consider would be to never mow a wet lawn. If this is performed, this will compact the soil and roots will not be able to breathe. When this happens, the grass will die and bald spots on the lawn will appear.
It is also necessary to leave the clippings where they fall. The clippings are effective in fertilizing the soil. If one cuts the lawn grass often, the clippings are shorter and these things will be able to work their way back into the ground without necessarily becoming brown and messy.
Water Infrequently and Deeply
Many homeowners fail to realize that watering the lawn frequently can lead to the building up of excess thatch. A thatch is a thick mat of tangled roots that can be found between the soil and the grass blades. Excessive watering of the lawn can encourage the growth of shallow roots and just a waste of water.
There are several signs that can tell that the lawn grass needs to be watered. One way to determine the need to water the lawn is to push a steel rod or a screwdriver into the ground. If it needs to be watered, the soil will resist the pushing of the steel rod or screwdriver. Another sign to check would be the slightly blue tinge that the grass will show. Moreover, one should also check whether the footprints on the lawn remain compressed.
Nighttime watering should also be avoided. It is essential to let the lawn grass dry out before the dew falls. Prolonged moisture can actually cause diseases. It is considered that the best time to water the lawn would be early morning. Midday watering is also not advised since most water will be lost via evaporation.
Do Not Use Excessive Fertilizer
It is not advisable to use excessive fertilizer. Over fertilizing can actually stimulate the formation of thatch and very fast grass growth. In addition to this, this will also require the need for more mowing. Moreover, excessive use of fertilizers is also bad for the environment since these things wash into the lakes and streams and clogs the area with algae.
Cutting the Right Height
It is also important to consider cutting the grass at the right height. Basically, if one mows low to achieve a tightly trimmed appearance, the grass will respond by growing faster. This will require more water and herbicide to properly maintain the grass.
The height of the grass to cut will depend on the type of grass. However, a rule of the thumb is typically followed, and this would include cutting the grass no more than a third of the height of the grass. For instance, for a grass height of 3 inches, one should cut about an inch or less. One can check the manual of their lawn mower to determine the right blade to use to cut a specific height.
