How To Grow The Best Lawn In Your Neighborhood
The smell of a freshly mowed lawn is as intrinsic a part of summer as the smell of barbecue. Unfortunately, you cant get that perfectly lush, green lawn simply by planting some grass and hoping for the best. A great lawn needs some care but its also easier to achieve than you might think. If you want to know how to grow the best lawn on the block, these tips will help you.
Decide Which Is Right For Your Garden Lawn Turf Or Seed
Once it comes to the initial creation of your lawn, there are two options to choose from: turf or seed. There are benefits to both. Lawn seed offers a natural looking lawn, is easy to use in small areas, and is by far the more cost-effective of the two options. A lawn turf, on the other hand, gives an instant result and will need less maintenance in the first couple of months.
The Different Aeration Tines
Aeration tines are essential too. The tines determine how the soil is to be aerated, and several types are available. The most common are slit, hollow, and solid tines.
- Solid tines, or spikes, include your regular garden fork and may be used all year round. Spikes can keep the soil surface open and allow the rain and water to reach the roots and rhizomes.
- Slit tines help cut roots to encourage more growth and strength. These flat tines have sharp edges used during autumn as the roots start growing and should not be used in the summer because it can result in cracked soil.
- Hollow tines are used for coring, which is done in the autumn or spring. These tines are punched into the topsoil so that the thatch layer is reduced, which prepares the soil for overseeding.
This video shows you the differences between different types of tines.
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Lawn Care Tips And Tricks
If the goal is green perfection, consider making a lawn care maintenance schedule. Initially it is important to identify your variety of turf grass and evaluate your weather and zone. Local extension offices will have general guides for the local sod grasses. Guidelines on when and how much to fertilize can be found on the product. Do not fertilize lawns near the end of the season or when dormant. A well-growing lawn does not necessarily need food annually. Manage water practices. An overwatered lawn has only surface roots and cannot thrive during stressful periods. Reducing water saves resources but also develops a deep, complex root system, minimizing weeds, pest issues, and providing overall health.
Pick The Right Time Of Year
Imagine having the perfect lawn and all the possibilities it could bring can be really exciting. But rushing into planting when the time isnt right could make it harder for your grass to get established. Like most plants, the best time to start growing grass is in the spring. A mild temperature is ideal for sowing grass seed, as it gives the lawn a chance to get established before the weather becomes too warm.
Planting in the summer when the weather is scorching hot may not be the best way to go, as it means more water is needed to hydrate the seed. However, some suggest sowing warm season grasses during this time as it gives the lawn an opportunity to begin tolerating the heat. The winter months can cause dormancy in grass seeds, so while it may be easier on you to plant when its cold , it isnt ideal for growing grass.
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How To Get A Perfect Green Lawn With Regular Maintenance
The first part of the steps to a perfect lawn focused on rehabilitating the soil and overseeding. Now, the second part of how to create the perfect lawn starts with regular property maintenance.
Maintenance includes
- Training your dog to go potty in one spot
- More core aeration, dethatching, and overseeding.
Again, you want to fertilize your lawn regularly based on the type of grass growing in your yard. For example, you want to fertilize in fall and spring for cool season grasses and fertilize warm season grasses in spring and summer.
You also want to use a slow release fertilizer that releases nutrients over three months. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient that your grass yard needs.
Dont think using more fertilizer is better than what the bag says. Too much nitrogen can burn your grass as well as leach into storm drains and into your local waterways.
When you mow, only take the top third off each grass blade. Your grass will grow denser and crowd out weeds when its allowed to grow longer. Plus, youll save money on watering and herbicides. Bottom line: Your lawn grass will be healthier when its longer.
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Keep mower blades razor sharp. Most homeowners get away with sharpening their mower blades once per season. When your grass looks ratty after a mow, you know its time to sharpen those blades.
Typically, core aeration is done every other year, while dethatching and overseeding can be done once a year.
Water The Lawn Properly
While it may be tempting to give your lawn a quick watering every day, any pro will tell you that a better plan is to water deeply and less frequently. Giving the grass a good long soak is another way to encourage roots to grow deeply into the soil, which strengthens the lawn and helps it survive during times of drought. When the grass has started to look a little grayish and the blades dont bounce back when you walk on them, its time to water. Run the sprinkler until you can easily push a ¼ inch diameter dowel or plant stake about 12 inches into the ground. You dont want the soil to be so saturated that if you squeeze a handful, it drips, but you do want the soil to be a little sticky.
Its worth noting, too, that grass uses less water in the spring and late fall than during the summer. In the spring you might only need to water once per week, while in the summer you might need to water 3 times per week. Of course, if you receive a long, soaking rain, theres no need to water that day. For more information on watering, read our Lawn Watering Tips.
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Protect Animals And Insects
It is important to protect birds, beneficial insects, earthworms, and other organisms that play an important role in keeping your lawn healthy.
- Birds and predatory insects feed on grubs and other pests.
- Insects, earthworms, beneficial fungi, and other micro-organisms break down thatch and aerate the soil.
The best way to protect these beneficial animals and insects is to only use insecticides and fungicides when absolutely needed. See Understanding your lawn’s lifecycle for more information.
Need Help With Your Lawn
If you need help with lawn maintenance, dont hesitate to contact Forevergreen. Our team has over 30 years of experience so you can be sure that your garden will be in good hands. We exceed very strict quality, safety and environmental standards.
Forevergreen Canada is a pioneer in the development of high-performance lawn care products for grass maintenance. Our solutions comply with sustainable development principles.
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Top Tips For A Healthy Lawn
A green and healthy lawn is easy to achieve with a bit of work. A little effort now will save you a lot of effort later, because healthy lawns are less vulnerable to pests, weeds, drought, and other problems.
Follow these seven tips:
Top 5 Tips For The Perfect Lawn
1: Its best to water in the early morning
Watering in the late afternoon can leave the grass wet for too long creating fungal issues. To ensure each drop of water counts its actually best to water in the early morning as this also helps prevent evaporation during the day.
2: Its better to cut your grass short
Different lawn varieties perform best at different heights. Ask your lawn supplier what best suits your variety. Whichever height you have chosen it is recommended not to take more than 1/3 of the blade off in any one mow. Sharp blades on your mower are a must!
3: Watering daily is best
Grass will perform better with longer deeper watering sessions. This helps encourage deeper roots and stronger stem growth. Watering in shorter more frequent sessions will result in the grass expecting water and making it lazy and not establishing deeper roots to source the water deeper in the soil.
4: Fertilise your lawn only in spring
Spring is a great time to fertilise but please dont forget the other changes of season. At different times of the year your lawn will require specific nutrients.
5: Irrigation systems can save water
Smart irrigation systems with control sensors not only water the entire lawn at a set time and day they in fact save 15-20 per cent water compared to a garden hose and sprinkler.
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When Can You Mow The Turf After Installation
The freshly laid sod must first get used to its new home. The most important thing is for the young roots to become firmly attached to the subsoil. Turf grows very quickly, but if you put it under additional stress, such as mowing, it will turn yellow and spotty. In the worst case, it will even die.
Therefore, wait at least 5 to 8 days before mowing the lawn for the first time. As long as the blades are not over 4 long, it is not advisable to mow the turf. If you are not sure which mower is the right one for your newly laid lawn, you can find out more here. We have compiled all the relevant information for you.
Choose The Right Seeds
A perfect lawn is one of the necessities that a good home requires. Here you must ensure that you take care of it and give the required conditions. Growing lawn seeds in a shady place can be delicate since they require maximum care. Failure to that, you might end up having a distorted lawn due to various effects. If you want a perfect lawn, you must ensure that the seeds you have chosen are of high quality. These seeds come differently, depending on the environment that you want to surround them with for growth. It would be best if you choose the seeds that can thrive well in shady places. This way, they can easily grow once you give them better additives that act as a boost. Here, researching is the key move to finding seeds that suits your imagination. These seeds have a high percentage rate of growth, which assures you of a perfect lawn that has fully germinated.
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Perfect Lawn Care Tip #: Gorgeous Gardens Bloom With Beauty
Say hello to the spring/summer selling season by planting flowers and/or other greenery. Colorful flowers and shrubs draw interest to your home. Create flower beds in the front of your home or surround flourishing trees with a circle of blooms.
You want to draw the eye in, so your gardens location should be symmetrical, well placed and attractive to potential buyers. The plants you choose also should be easy to maintain. Buyers may shy away from a garden that might be difficult to maintain.
So what are good flowers for your garden? According to Garden Design, garden newbies should consider zinnias, impatiens, daffodils, lavender and other hearty varieties.
Grass Seed And Seeding
For most people, choosing the right grass seed is a confusing decision. How are you supposed to know which type to buy?
General Area Your home will fall in one of three general areas being cool , warm or a transitioning zone where a mixture of grasses are ideal.
Traffic Whether youre laying a front or back lawn will reflect seed choice as well. If its going to see a lot of traffic from children or pets, your seed choice should reflect this.
Lighting How many trees do you have? Does the space receive full sun, partial shade or full shade?
Seed Types Some types of seeds will provide a thick and compact lawn while others are considered meadow, resistant of wear and tear and drought. Mixtures are a good idea as well.
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Top Tips For Growing Lawn From Seed
When you are planning on growing a new lawn from scratch, there are generally two options to do so: turf or seed. Seed is the less expensive of the two options, and can be a good choice for those not wishing to do the heavy lifting that comes with laying turf. It can also be good for covering up bare patches of ground after weeds have been removed within an already-established lawn. Below are a few tips and tricks for those choosing to grow grass from seed.
Getting Started With A New Lawn
- There are a number of key decisions that go into growing grass from scratch, but the first thing to consider is what the lawn will be used for. If children will be playing on it, youll need a much tougher strain of seed than you would if your lawn is more ornamental.
- Prepare the planned area before seeding by completely clearing it of any old lawn grass and weeds with a good organic weed killer and then digging out the old lawn to replace lost soil.
- The soil should then be broken down, with stones and any other obstacles removed. Where necessary, you should use a soil conditioner to ensure the soil is fertile and in the best possible condition.
- Once its ready, mark the soil out in square metres. This will help ensure that you get the seed ratio right. Seed should be sown at a rate of 35g per square metre, and then lawn feed added to the seed at a ratio of 1:1 by weight. Its best to sow the lawn seed on a dry day when rain is forecast using a lawn spreader for even coverage.
- Moisture is essential in ensuring germination, so it may be necessary to water the lawn for several days until the seed is established, especially if theres not much rain around.
- Once youve sown the area, its important to protect it from birds and other seed-eating pests. Put a net down until the seedlings have started to show.
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How To Grow The Perfect Lawn: Easy Tips You Need To Know
Summer is well and truly on its way, which means there isnt long until those long evenings in the garden, parties and BBQs.
Hopefully we will see some nice weather over the coming months, and before then, you may want to spend time making sure your garden looks its best.
Your lawn is one area that will need attention, whether youre looking to grow a brand-new lawn, repair patches, overseed or repair patches of existing grass.
Here are some simple tips and advice to help you achieve the perfect bed of grass.
New Lawns: Prepare, prepare, prepare!
Before you start to sow seeds for a new lawn, its important that you check the weather.
Temperatures need to be between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius or above for a minimum of two weeks. If it happens to rain on one of these days, you will need to start again from day one.
This ensures that you grow the best quality grass for your lawn and is definitely worth persevering with.
What to do
- Dig soil over to a depth of between 20 and 25cm.
- Remove any weeds by hand or using professional weed killing products.
- If you think the soil quality is poor, add a layer of top soil.
- Create an even seabed by raking the soil.
- Aim for a rate of 50mg per m2, using your hand or a seed spreader to achieve even cover.
- Use a rake to mix in the seeds so that they are sowed within the soil.
- Finish off by firming the soil, either by hand or using a roller.
Aftercare
Overseeding damaged patches
Preparation:
Next
Prepare Your Lawn Well
Whether youre planting seeds or laying a turf, the preparation to your lawn will be the same. Begin by removing any stones, weeds or rubbish from the lawn area. Once this area is cleared, turn over the ground by using a garden fork to dig and rotate. Next, use a rake to level the ground, then firm it down to remove any air pockets that may have formed.
After waiting a few weeks for the soil to settle, you should rake a final time before sowing your seed or laying your turf. For more detailed instructions on both preparing and laying your lawn, check out ourPreparing Your Soil and Seeding Your Lawn andHow To Lay Lawn Turf blog posts.
Once your lawn is planted, laid and established, you can commence with your lawn maintenance routine.
Starting with
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