There are five steps that you should take if you want a lush, beautiful lawn. Watering and mowing just aren’t enough. Do you know where to start? Save money by skipping the lawn service and doing it yourself.
Get Rid of Thatch
What is thatch? Thatch is what happens when roots and stems build up on your lawn, robbing it of air, water and nutrients. Thatch acts as a barrier, so no matter what else you do, you just won’t be able to have a healthy lawn.
You can use a thatch rake, a power thatcher or even just a garden rake to remove the thatch.
Aerate the Lawn
Your lawn needs some room to help promote growth, improve the drainage and reduce the chances of having a problem with thatch. Aerating a lawn involves punching holes in it, usually with a manual or automatic aerator. Some clever gardeners simply walk around their lawns wearing cleats. I’m not sure how well this works, but some people swear by it. Aerating should be done once every few years.
Seed It and Feed It
You’ll need to seed any sparse areas for a full, lush lawn. Going forward, plan on fertilizing the whole lawn three times a year. A balanced fertilizer that contains both lawn food for a quick green, plus a slow release formula for continued nourishment should work well for you.
For areas that are newly seeded, you’ll want to make sure that you apply starter fertilizer. It is specially formulated for delicate new grass.
Proper Watering
There is a special way to make your lawn more drought resistant and encourage deep root systems. It all has to do with proper watering. The way to achieve this is to water less often, but water deeply. Offer your lawn about one inch of water per week and no more.
Mowing
Ah, everyone knows this one. We start out cheerfully mowing out lawns but then by mid summer we start to dread the task. You can make it easier on yourself and have your lawn more beautiful if you follow the best mowing techniques.
For instance, you’ll want to aim for cutting about a third of your grass height each time. With warmer weather, you can raise the height a bit on your mower. Also, make sure to have the blade of your lawn mower professionally sharpened one to two times a year, depending on how much lawn you mow. This will prevent the mower from shredding instead of cutting the grass.