How To Get Thicker & Greener Grass For A Lush Lawn
The lawn is the first thing a person sees when laying eyes on your property. Depending upon how much tender, loving care you give yours, it can make a houseguest say, “Wow” in one of two tones. The first is an expression of shock, and they might as well have said, “Yikes,” since they can’t help themselves at the sight of weeds, bare patches, and brown grass. The second is a statement of admiration as if to say, “It looks incredible!”
We’re going to help you get nothing but “good wow’s” with the following essential lawn care tips. Keep reading to discover how getting thicker, greener grass for a lush lawn isn’t as hard as you’ve been led to believe. By the end of it, you will have no need for the expression, “The grass is always greener on the other side,” because you’ll have the knowledge and skillset to make it happen right beneath your very own feet.
Mow Lawn Correctly
Cutting the grass too short is one of the most common mistakes made by homeowners everywhere. This happens because people like to think the task is comparable to getting a haircut, so if you go shorter, you can wait longer until it’s time to cut it again. But this is your lawn we’re talking about, not your head, and the two cannot be treated the same. For example, setting your mowing height at two inches will stress the grass and deplete it from its energy reserves. This will leave the grass plant weak, susceptible to weed infestation, and unable to retain water effectively. Keep your lawn healthy by setting your mowing height at three inches and cutting it every seven days. If you’re worried about overusing your lawnmower, try a fuel system cleaner to keep it in good shape.
Water Grass Appropriately
All plants need sunlight and water to survive, including grass. Too much sun will dry out a lawn, and overwatering will suffocate it. The key is to find a balance to give your yard the right amount of sunlight and water it needs to thrive. Ideally, you should water early in the morning when the sun isn’t as powerful. This allows the grassroots time to absorb the water before the heat of the day causes it to evaporate. On the flip side of that coin, it’s acceptable to water in the evening, but you should try to do so before the sun sets to give the grass blades time to dry out. If you let the grass remain wet as the cool night air drifts in, it creates the perfect breeding ground for fungi and other bacterial diseases to take hold of your lawn.
Use Fertilizer As Necessary
Once you’ve figured out how to cut and water your grass correctly, you can take your lawn to the next level with fertilizer. There are a number of these products on the market, but the majority of them contain all of the nutrients your lawn needs: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To make your lawn as lush as possible, try using a 3-in-1 fertilizer to fill in patches, create thicker grass blades, and improve the soil for enhanced root development. If you are unsure whether or not you need to fertilize, you can find out with a soil test kit. These rapid tests quickly reveal the lawn’s pH level and the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium present in the soil. If you are low in any of these areas, it’s time to give it a little fertilizer.
Aerate Lawn Annually
All of that watering and fertilizing won’t do your lawn much good if it isn’t getting absorbed through the soil. Over time, the ground becomes compacted by things like foot traffic and inclement weather. Aerating your lawn once every 12 months is the only way to ensure the soil absorbs the water and nutrients it needs to thrive. The aeration process creates holes in the soil to reduce compaction and allow air to spread throughout the ground. Each punctured hole within the earth establishes a path necessary for water and nutrients to reach the roots deep beneath the turf. This yearly practice can be done with a rolling aerator or lawn aeration shoes, depending upon the size of your yard and personal preference.
Remove Weeds Immediately
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Even the healthiest lawn is not immune to the pesky nature of weeds. These plants are like the cockroaches of the lawncare world, slowly growing and multiplying despite your best efforts to keep them at bay. Your grass will remain in good shape as long as you do regular spot checks of your lawn and pull up any invasive plants as soon as you notice them. Removing weeds while they are still young doesn’t give them a chance to seed, severely limiting their ability to spread across the yard. You can pull up weeds by hand or with a gardening tool. Either way, be sure you pick up the entire root, so there is no chance of the plant coming back to haunt you later on.
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If there’s one thing you take away from this blog, remember that greener grass is within your grasp. All your lawn needs to appear lush and healthy is a routine mowing schedule, the right amount of water, nutrients, and annual aeration. Follow these guidelines and pull up weeds whenever you see them to keep a lush lawn that makes you feel proud.