Watch For Wear And Tear
Your lawn can undergo added stress simply from everyday traffic. Children, animals, workers or vehicles can cause significant wear and tear on your grass and the ground underneath. Excess traffic can cause the structure of the plant to become damaged. If you notice damage from traffic on your lawn, be sure to avoid the damaged area until it has the opportunity to recover.
To avoid damage from regular wear and tear, overseed your lawn at the beginning of fall. This will help thicken the lawn for the next season and help repair damage from the current year as well.
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How To Revive Dead Grass
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Its never enjoyable to see your lawn turn brown and dry. Many factors play into the situation when grass starts to die off. These reasons include incorrect feeding and watering, disease, the wrong type of grass for the area, poor preparation methods, and pests.
Youll need to uncover why your grass died and take steps to bring it back to a healthy state. Weve provided you everything you need to know so you understand how to revive dead grass.
How To Make Your Grass Greener: Expert Tips To Get Your Lawn Looking Lush Again
If you’re wondering how to make your grass greener again you’re probably on the tail end of a summer heatwave, drought or hosepipe ban. If so, your lawn is probably looking parched and brown instead of the velvety green stripes you had in mind.
Water is essential for keeping grass green but in the event there’s a shortage there are still things you can do to give your lawn a helping hand. Without regular watering, grass growth will be slow and it’s best to leave it be.
If you do want to keep your grass looking neat make sure you mow it on your lawn mower’s highest possible setting so you don’t cause any further damage. It’s best to avoid carrying out law maintenance care like aeration or scarification too until it rains or any hosepipe ban gets lifted.
Here’s the latest expert advice on what to do as part of your lawn care routine this summer and get your grass back to looking good.
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Risk Factors & What You Can Do
Its the time of year when the summers heat is really starting to show on your lawn. While you can head outside and lather up the sunscreen, your grass doesnt have many ways to stay protected. Just like your tan or sunburn, your grass might even change color as a result of too much sun exposure! Sun-scorched spots of your lawn will likely turn brown and might even die back in some places. In the heat of the Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey summer, this is a common issue that pops up by Augustand they can be unsightly as youre trying to make the most of the warm weather while its here!
So, how do you make burnt grass green again? Lets start by discussing why burnt grass occurs in the first place:
What’s The Quickest Way To Get My Lawn Green Again
The reason your lawn is brown is usually due to a lack of water exacerbated by excessive heat. ‘The solution is to water the lawn to rehydrate the soil,’ says Richard Salmon. ‘Natural rainfall will green it up better than any other form of water as it doesnt contain any chlorine.’
Failing that, you can irrigate a lawn from the mains water by using a garden hose and garden sprinkler or a watering can, but this is still not as good as natural rain water, and it might not be legal, if a hosepipe ban is in force. There are plenty of simple ways to collect rainwater, such as with a water butt or rain barrel, so that you can use it on your lawn.
It’s also a good idea to apply a liquid or granular feed as part of your recovery plan for how to make your grass greener. ‘Applying a feed will help the lawn recover after a period of drought,’ says Richard. ‘The use of nitrogen and other vital nutrients will encourage the grass to produce green leaf growth and root growth to aid recovery. If it’s short of available nutrients it won’t recover as quickly.
‘I’m confident that lawns will continue to thrive and adapt to the changing climate,’ continues Richard. ‘Now more than ever we need to appreciate the benefits our lawn brings to our lives, such as producing oxygen to help us breathe, removing Co2 from the atmosphere, capturing dust and pollen, and cooling the air around us.’
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Kill Weeds And Dandelions
Weeds can spring up quickly, feeding on water or any moisture available in the ground. When you have weeds growing alongside grass, this creates a battle of survival, meaning there is less water for grass. Remove weeds by hand-pulling them out by the root or by using a tool like this Walensee Weed Puller . Similarly, knowing how to get rid of dandelions also helps keep more moisture and nutrients for the grass.
How To Tell The Difference Between Dead And Dormant Grass
Brown grass can be a confusing sight to see on your property.
But before you can address this problem, you need to know whats causing it and if the grass is still alive.
Its difficult to tell if your grass is dead or just dormant. Grass that is dead will not come back, but there are steps you can take to have a lush, green lawn again.
On the other hand, dormancy is a natural protection mechanism for grass to withstand weather changes.
So you’re wondering how to tell the difference between dead and dormant grass?
Here are five ways you can tell and improve your lawn in the process.
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Tips For Spreading The Sugar By Hand
- I use an old juice container with a wide mouth, and walk up and down the lawn, shaking out the sugar.
- Use a 5-pound bag for each 1,000 square feet of lawn. You cannot use too much, and it wont burn your grass if more sugar spills on a concentrated area. You cant say that about chemicals!
- I would suggest applying sugar several times during the first year of use. Since your lawn has been damaged from years of chemical applications, it needs time for those artificial fertilizers to be leached out of the ground and even more time to replenish those microbes that have been chased away.
- Once your lawn is normalized and you have your beautiful, green grass, you only have to spread sugar twice a year during the spring and fall.
- After applying, thoroughly wet down your lawn.
If you want to make your green lawn healthy and at the same time eliminate weeds, fire your lawn care company and start using sugar! Just try not to eat too much while youre throwing it on your green grass!
See HERE for another articleSee HERE for a forum discussing the topic, with lots of Q& A and how it did/didn’t work for other people.
Check out the following posts for more tips on household chores:
P.S. Did you like this post? If so please so you don’t miss another one!
Why Is My Grass Dying Even Though I Water It
If you water your grass on a regular basis but still notice brown patches starting to develop, your lawn may need professional care. There are a few reasons that your grass may be turning brown. The main cause of brown grass is that the roots are no longer able to absorb moisture or nutrients from the soil. Before rushing out to resod your lawn, try to identify the cause of the problem to prevent its spread or even cure it.
Drought stress is the most common reason grass turns brown. Just like any plant, grass will have a negative reaction when there is less moisture in the soil and air paired with higher temperatures. If you pull on a patch of brown grass on your lawn and it stays firmly rooted, chances are the issue is lack of moisture. Most turfgrass will go dormant when there is not enough water or if it is too hot outside. The grass will perk back up when the temperature falls and moisture is reintroduced into the soil. Poorly placed sprinklers can also lead to brown spots on your lawn. Make sure that the reach of your sprinklers covers your whole lawn to prevent under-watered areas.
Weeds are not only bad for gardens, they can also wreak havoc on your lawn. They will compete for moisture and nutrients which can leave areas of your lawn brown or dying. A pre-emergent herbicide will help keep stubborn weeds out of your landscape. Fungus and other plant diseases are also a common cause of brown grass.
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Tips To Keep Your Lawn Healthy
After youve gone through the trouble and expense of reviving your dead lawn, the last thing you want is for it to fall back into less than prime conditions. This is where good aftercare comes into play and can mean the difference in a thick, green flourishing lawn and one containing dead areas and in need of reviving.
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When To Fertilize Your Lawn
In Massachusetts, its recommended that you either fertilize in May, or the fall before . Just be sure that the soil is warm enough for the fertilizer to penetrate and choose a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer if available.
What about seasonal fertilizer in summer?
Feeding your lawn in the early summer can help to better prepare it for the heat and drought conditions that may follow. Slow-release fertilizer is a good idea for most grass types.
However, avoid applying fertilizer in the middle of the summer because it can end up burning a lawn. Additionally, dont fall in the trap of applying too much fertilizer because that may do more harm than good.
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We Can Help You On Your Quest To Thicker Greener Grass
Want greener grass? Long for thicker grass? You need a strong lawn: one with adequate water and nutrients, proper mowing, and regular aeration and overseeding.
And its all within your grasp. All you have to do is create an environment your lawn loves and thrives in.
While a lot of these tips seem simple, they can all be daunting when merged together. We get it. You have other worries and priorities and your lawn may seem to consistently fall to the bottom of your to-do list. This might be especially true in the summer when youre planning vacations or children are home from school and time seems like its speeding by each day.
Natural Green can help you by offering a complete, proactive lawn care program that includes proper fertilization, consistent advice on water and mowing, as well as both pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control treatments and aeration and overseeding. We also provide professional eyeballs on your lawn regularly so we can alert you to turf diseases or insect issues before they become bigger, more expensive problems.
Has thicker, greener grass next door got you longing for the same on your property? Wed love to help. Get started today with a free quote. Together, well prepare a customized plan so you can have that lawn you long for.
S For Preparing Your Lawn Before A Drought
We asked Chad with Florida Green Works in Pinellas Park, FL to help lend us a hand on exactly what to do prepare for a drought.
Follow these 4 steps below to ensure you are protecting your “grasset.”
1. De-thatch
De-thatching is the process of removing the organic layer of material that accumulates in a lawn over time. Thatch prevents water from getting into the soil.
Therefore, removing thatch helps your lawn to absorb any moisture that is available. Removing thatch is important any time of year, but especially during a drought.
2. Aerate
Aeration is literally the act of punching small holes throughout the lawn. Aeration serves a similar purpose as de-thatching when it comes to preparing your lawn for the drought season.
Here’s the deal, those holes will deliver any moisture directly to the roots of your lawn.
3. Keep Mowing Regularly
Get this, during a drought your grass will eventually stop growing. But you still want to mow when it’s necessary. However, dont bag the clippings as those will provide moisture.
Pro Tip! Keep your lawn mower blades sharp so they cut the grass not rip it, and sharpen your mower blades every 25 hours of use.
4. Stay Off My Lawn!
Look, there is no better time to put up your “Stay Off My Grass Sign” than during a drought.
Even foot traffic will compact the soil and not allow your lawn to absorb moisture. Stay off the lawn when the grass is impacted by drought.
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How To Select Grass
Beyond selecting a grass that will grow well giving your climatic conditions, there are some other things to consider like pH, fertility, soil moisture, and environmental stresses.
Some grasses will be more shade tolerant than others , while others are better at forming sod . Additionally, some grasses are better suited for very specific activitieslike bentgrass being used for a putting green or a croquet court.
When to plant grass can be found in our gardening guide!
How To Revive A Dried Lawn
Before you tackle your dried lawn, youll need to know whether your grass is dead or dormant. Simply tug at a piece of grass, and if it easily comes away at a pull, that means its dead. Other signs to lookout for include distinct patterns or areas or circles of brown grass. On the other hand, dormant grass is essentially still alive, and can spring back to life after about 10-14 days by following the steps below.
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Your Grass Might Be Dormant
Just because your grass is brown doesnt mean its dead. It might just be dormant, which means growth naturally slows down, and it becomes less green. How to tell?
- Give it a tug. If the plants pull out from the ground easily, they’re probably dead. If the roots hold fast when pulled, the plants are dormant.
- Your lawn is all the same color brown.
- You have cool-season grass, and there have been prolonged heat periods. If your grass is turning brown in summer, that could be it.
How to Fix It: Wait until your grass is in season to see if it starts growing back.If there are especially dry or hot conditions, try watering your lawn to revive brown grass. Dont worry. If your grass is dormant, it will naturally green up again in the spring.
How To Match Fertilizer With Grass Styles
When it comes to choosing the right fertilizer for you and your lawn, its important to not only consider what type of grass you have, but also your goals. After youve done a soil test, youll know what sort of nutrients are lacking, and from that you can choose a fertilizer thats higher in one or a few of the essential components , phosphorus , potassium ).
Beyond that, there are specific fertilizers for well-established lawns , as well as those that have just been seeded . There are also fertilizers that contain additional herbicides to prevent weeds, as well as those that are phosphorus-free .
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Nitrogen Drives The Bus
The number one way to increase the green color in your lawn is with Nitrogen. Nitrogen is one of the big three macronutrients needed in the greatest quantities for healthy turf. It promotes top growth in the lawn by pushing the production of chlorophyll in the plant. More green top growth means the plant can grab more sunlight for photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is how plants make their own food which is used to produce more roots. More roots mean more support for more top growth ongoing, which makes the lawn thicker over time.
When you look at bags of lawn fertilizer, you see 3 numbers. This is called the analysis.
With Milorganite, those numbers are 6-4-0.
The first number there, 6, represents nitrogen which means that 6% of everything in the bag is nitrogen. Milos nitrogen is naturally slow releasing which gives you the confidence to know it will not burn the lawn, but its also better for the grass plants as they get the feed coming over time, rather than flushed in all at once, which can shock the lawn.
Because its a natural source of nitrogen, it works better in hot weather so it makes a great late spring and summer application. Microbes in the soil also benefit from Milo applications which means it not only turns the lawn green, but it improves your soil structure at the same time.
If you flip the bag over and read the label, you can see the concentrations of elements contained in Milorganite. Notice the 2.5% iron content especially.
Get Help Reviving Your Lawn From The Yard Care Experts
Having some dead spots in your lawn does not mean you need to start over. There are steps you can take to revive your struggling lawn. Although you can make some improvements yourself, getting help from lawn care experts such as Independent Lawn Services. We have been helping home and business owners in the Livonia area get the most out of their yards as possible.
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