Terrain And Yard Size
As experts noted, the size of your lawn will determine whether you should invest in a riding lawn mower its usually not worth it for homeowners with less than half an acre. However, the type of terrain can also affect how the mower is used. A lawn tractor will work well on any relatively flat lawn and on landscapes with a lot of uneven sectors, especially if it features a steering wheel that provides more control. If you have a relatively flat yard with obstacles like rocks and gravel, meanwhile, a ZTR will probably show better results as it can turn 360 degrees on a small spot and pivot at sharp angles, said McKenzie.
How To Have The Best Looking Lawn On Your Block
Having the best looking lawn on the block is not always easy to achieve, especially in times of drought, however with a little planning and care you might be surprised at what you can accomplish. Like most things in life, the biggest secret to great looking lawns is consistency. Often good care will revive a damaged lawn, but sometimes you may simply have to start again. Either way, good planning will go a long way to ensuring the success of your lawn.
This first step will be considering any problem areas you may have and deciding if the existing grass can be restored to healthy lawn. If the existing grass turns out to be too damaged or the wrong type of grass, you will need to consider re-sodding. This is a major decision, so you have take the time to choose your new turf carefully. By choosing the right grass type for your space you are halfway there as the grass will perform better with less care if it is well suited to the situation.
Whether you are reviving your existing lawn or resodding, they may be tricky areas to take into consideration. You should consider if slope stabilization is needed, is an area under a tree better off converted to garden or lawn alternatives? Do you have areas of high wear which would do better to have a path or stepping stones installed? These problem areas will significantly detract from the overall effect of an otherwise perfect lawn so are well worth addressing rather than struggling against.
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How To Have The Best Lawn In The Neighborhood
Here in the south, yards are a thing of pride. Yet having the best lawn on the block is easier said than done! Heavy rain storms, high humidity, and hot temperatures can make it feel impossible to keep your lawn lush, your plants vibrant, and your trees standing strong.
Were here to show you how to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, complete with methods we even use ourselves!
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Spread The Grass Seed
Its time to scatter the new grass seed. If you havent already chosen the grass youll be planting, consider a type that can survive Torontos cooler climatesuch as Fine Fescue, Ryegrass or Bluegrass. If you need a recommendation for a lawn care professional, dont hesitate on giving us a call. Our goal is to help you impressed your neighbours with the best lawn in the Toronto Area.
Follow the manufacturers instructions and be careful not to be overseed. Once your seed has been spread out, gently dab or scratch some of it into the soil so that it is making good contact.
What Are Lawn Mower Wheels
Lawn mower wheels are the rubber or plastic tires that allow for movement of lawn equipment. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials to accommodate various needs depending on what you will be using them for. Choosing lawnmower wheels can sometimes be a daunting task because there are so many different things to take into consideration.
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Water Gently And Consistently
While a healthy lawn only needs to be watered heavily once or twice weekly, new seed requires gentle but consistent watering in order to germinate.Particularly if youre planting new seeds during the warm summer months, you may need to water as often as once or twice daily in order to keep the soil damp.
What Height Should Mower Wheels Be
You also need to consider lawn mower wheel height. Mowers that have lower lawnmower wheels will give your lawn a shorter cut while higher lawnmower wheels offer longer blade lengths for taller grasses.
The right lawn mower wheel height depends on the type of blades you are using because different lawn tractor heights will result in specific types of lawn cuts. For example, lawn mower wheels that are two inches in height will usually cut lawns at an angle of around thirty degrees while blades that are one inch tall or less can give your lawn a more vertical look when compared to the previous examples.
Before you purchase any lawn equipment with taller lawnmower wheels, it is important to check with your lawn care company or lawn mowing service first to make sure that they are suitable for use on lawns.
The height of a lawnmower should be between 2.5 to 3.5 inches , but donât let it get any longer or shorter than that. Tall and short grass are both bad for your lawn. Fortunately, itâs very easy to change the height of the mower in a few seconds.
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Mow At The Right Height
According to the Cornell University Cooperative Extension, cutting the lawn with a mower set at a proper mowing height can save you from having to bag your grass clippings, even if you don’t own a mulching mower. The rule of thumb suggested by the Cornell Extension is, “Mow when your grass is dry and 3 to 3-1/2 inches tall. Never cut it shorter than 2 to 2-1/2 inches or remove more than one-third of the leaf surface at any one mowing.”
The point behind this mowing tip is that the valuable nutrients in the grass clippings can do your lawn some good, left right where they lie after cutting, as long as their bulk is kept at a minimum. By following this rule of thumb and cutting only about an inch off the top of your lawn at any one time, the bulk of the grass clippings is kept low.
Following this mowing tip means more frequent cutting, to be sure . But the result will be a healthier lawn that is fed by nutrients that you would otherwise be hauling away. Cutting a lawn too short can stress it out, especially during periods of hot weather. In addition, cutting the lawn stimulates growth and increases thickness. You are, in effect, “pinching” your grass plants each time you mow, just as you pinch many houseplants or garden flowers to make them sturdier plants.
Cub Cadet Ultima Zt1 50 In Zero Turn Riding Lawn Mower
This Cub Cadet riding lawn mower features a 50-inch-wide cutter, a steel frame and a 23H twin-engine by Kawasaki. Its made for large yards that include lots of uneven spots and obstacles due to responsive zero-turn steering, a low center of gravity and large tenacious wheels, it can trim almost anywhere, said McKenzie. It also features dual hydrostatic transmissions that let the mower accelerate up to 7.5 mph forward and up to 3.5 mph in reverse. McKenzie noted that Cub Cadet also makes an electric version of this model that features the same performance as the gas-powered version along with all the benefits of an electric unit.
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Water Your Lawn Wisely
Basic garden hoses arent the best method for watering your yard because they dont distribute water evenly. If you really want to know how to have the best lawn in the neighborhood, you have to water wisely. Installing a sprinkler system will ensure your lawn is watered thoroughly. Plus, you can set your sprinkler system on a schedule to water early in the morning when the heat of the sun wont burn your grass.
Pro Strategies For Thicker Greener Grass
For many Central and Southern Maryland homeowners, a green grass shows they care for and have pride in their properties.
In summers heat, its especially important to do all of the things all year long that contribute to a lawns health. Because, as the pros know, you cant do just one thing to nurture a thick lawn. A mix of the right strategies is necessary when it comes to how to make grass greener.
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Test The Ph Level Of Your Soil
If you want to give your new grass the best chance to thrive, you should make sure that the soil has a relatively neutral pH level of 6.5 7. You can test the pH level of your soil with a simple testing meter or by seeing how soil samples react to vinegar and baking soda.
To raise the pH level of acidic soil, you can add an ingredient such as lime or wood ash. To lower the pH level of alkaline soil, you can add certain composts, mulches, or sulphur.
Tip No : Aerate Your Lawn To Help It Breathe
Grass roots need oxygen as well as water and nutrients. Aerating the process of removing small plugs of soil produces multiple benefits. It improves air-to-soil interaction. It allows water and fertilizer to penetrate the soil deeper and easier. It reduces soil compaction and opens space for roots to grow. It removes some thatch and stimulates the breakdown of the remaining thatch. The best tool for this task is a gas-powered aerator, available at most rental centers.
Again, timing is critical. You can aerate in the spring. But fall, after the kids are through trampling the grass and there are fewer weed seeds to set up home in the open spaces, is the optimal time to aerate. Its usually best to aerate first, then apply any weed killers so the open holes are protected against weeds.
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A well-aerated lawn provides space for grass roots to grow, reproduce and take in more oxygen, moisture and nutrients. The plugs, composed of thatch and soil, quickly break apart and decompose. The roots of a compacted lawn have difficulty absorbing air, water and nutrients.
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Now that you have a beautiful lawn, check out these tips for landscaping your backyard.
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Maintenance Decisions: To Restore Or Not
In spite of your best efforts, your lawn might begin to look a little worn. That might be a seasonal issue. Fescue and bluegrass are both cool-season grasses. They prefer the milder temperatures of spring and fall, so they can decline a bit during the hot summer stretch. The reverse is true of warm season grasses like zoysia as they go into dormancy. You may just need to wait things out to see if your lawn recovers as the weather turns.
If the decline continues, go back to the fundamentals listed here and renovate your lawn. Try aerating the area and applying seed and organic materials. Prune shade trees to let in more light. Take a fresh look at your watering habits and make adjustments.
Lawn decline may be seasonal or it may be that conditions arent good for turfgrass. This shady area is perfect for this moss lawn.
Your lawn may need to be replaced altogether if 50% or more of the area is dead, dying or infested with weeds. If replacement looks necessary, consider a grass alternative.
Maybe the conditions where youre trying to grow a lawn are better suited to an alternative like moss. Moss loves shade, compacted soil and a low soil pH, so if your landscape offers those conditions, it may be best to work with your environment rather than against it. Moss is beautiful and zero maintenance. Check out an episode of my TV show, Growing a Greener World®, where we featured moss as a grass replacement.
Different Gas Lawn Mower Types
Another reason that interests homeowners to hop on to these best-performance lawn mowers is that they are available in a myriad of drive types. From walk-behind to the best self-propelled lawn mower for hills, you can have your pick when it comes to choosing between the different types of gas lawnmowers.
1. Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers
Walk-behind lawn mowers can handle up to 10,000 sq ft of grass with engine sizes ranging from 190cc to 220cc. Their cutting decks are also fairly large and are capable of mowing thick to tall types of grass 20 to 30 inches.
You might have come across mowers with small cylinder engines at the front and run by the push force applied by the operator these are push-behind mowers. Because of small engine sizes, they are less powerful and less noisy compared to other types of gas lawnmowers.
2. Self-propelled Lawn Mowers
If youre looking for the best gas lawn mower, theres more than a good chance that youll come across a self-propelled drive type. As the name says, the self-propulsion technology in lawnmowers determines the mower that works itself rather than someone else making efforts.
This means no more pushing, no more tugging, and lifting with the best self-propelled lawn mower for hills. Most self-propelled lawnmowers under $400 have belts attached to the motor, which control the movement of both the front and rear wheels.
3. Rotary Lawn Mowers
4. Riding Lawn Mowers
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Lawn Care Tip #5 Manage Lawn Diseases Before They Become Serious Lawn Problems
Take time to notice areas of your lawn that might be struggling. Look for thin or matted turf, brown spots and general indications that the grass is not performing. There is always a reason why. When we identify lawn diseases early, they can be treated effectively so your lawn has the greatest chance of recovering and growing strong.
Cut Your Grass Correctly And To The Recommended Cutting Height
Knowing what height to cut your grass is an important way to get your grass to grow healthy and strong. Setting your lawnmower to the highest or lowest setting is not necessarily the best thing for your grass. In fact, different grass species have different needs in terms of grass cutting height. Check out this guide to grass cutting height. Additionally, you should keep the blades on your lawnmower nice and sharp so that it cuts your grass effectively. Also, consider buying a reel mower, which actually cuts the grass like scissors rather than tearing it like traditional rotary lawnmowers. This makes for healthier grass in general. Read this guide to reel mowers for more information on the benefits of reel mowers and how to select one for your needs.
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Lawn Care Tip #7 Aerate And Overseed Your Lawn Annually Or When Necessary
Aeration pulls up soil plugs, which breaks up thatch and loosens up compacted soil so grass roots have space to grow. Aeration also helps your lawn benefit from fertilizer applications because treatments can actually reach the turf roots once the lawn is unplugged.
When combined with overseedingwhich is applying new, resilient grass seed to your existing lawnthe two best practices revitalize your lawn.
Some homeowners look at aeration and overseeding as extras and wonder if theyre really necessary. Wed argue that annual aeration and overseeding is the foundation for a healthy lawn. You can apply fertilizers and weed control year in and year out, but if you never address the grass roots and soil, your lawn will not reach its full potential.
Remove Your Original Lawn
If you have a yard thats struggling, it may be best to simply replace your lawn. The first step when doing so is removing whats currently there. One option is to cover or smother the lawn with wet cardboard, newspaper, or black plastic. This covering blocks out the light that the grass needs to survive. The best time to do this is in the summer, when the heat helps speed up the process of killing whats already there.
Before putting down the covering, make sure to mow the grass. After placing the covering down, top it with some mulch, grass clippings, or compost. Leave your lawn covered for around at least two months so theres enough time for the grass to die. Once it has, remember to remove any plastic that you put out.
Another way you can get rid of your original lawn is to use herbicides. Just follow the instructions on the products label in order to kill off the grass. If you have sod, rent a sod cutter or use a flat shovel to cut and roll up the sod.
With your original lawn gone, youll be ready for a fresh start!
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Tip No : With Fertilizers And Weed Killers Timing Is Everything
When applying weed killers and fertilizers, take into account variables like geographic location, grass type, weed type and soil conditions. Here are a few general guidelines:
- A thick, healthy lawn that doesnt provide weed seeds adequate sunlight or open space to germinate is your best defense against weeds. A sick, spotty lawn leaves lots of open space for weeds to take root and grow.
- Attack weeds in the early spring and summer before they have a chance to develop deep root systems, go to seed or reproduce.
- Different weeds require different chemicals and methods. Its best to eradicate grassy weeds like crabgrass with pre-emergent weed killers, which destroy germinating plants as they sprout. Broadleaf weeds need to be attacked while theyre young and actively growing spraying the leaves of individual plants or patches of plants is most effective. Dandelion killers work by literally growing the plant to death.
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