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PUT YOUR LAWN ON A DIET
Beautiful green lawns can be made more healthy by putting them on a proper diet. Overfeeding can cause as many problems with lawns as it does with people or your pet animals. Fat lawns are not healthy lawns. The way to keep your lawn healthy is to have a correct schedule for feeding.
Fertilizer for your lawn should be applied three times per year. Determine the correct amount of fertilizer to apply to your lawn according to the manufacturer's instructions, common usage is about 2 pounds of Nitrogen per 1000 square feet. Apply 1/4 of the fertilizer in early summer, (not early spring), after the ground warms up and the grass is really beginning to grow. Another 1/4 should be applied in late summer, around the middle of August so fall rains can promote growth, and the last 1/2 of the fertilizer should be applied at the end of November to fatten up the roots so it can survive the winter. Applying your fertilizer in this way will create a much denser turf than applications at other times for almost all species of grasses. It can be particularly effective on perennial rye grass and tall fescues grasses
The overfeeding of your will produce thatch and weakened grass that is susceptible to pests and disease. It can also be more costly in the long run. So, put your lawn on a diet for a better, more beautiful lawn!
THE SECRET TO A BEAUTIFUL LAWN
The secret to having a beautiful lawn isn't really much of a secret after all. Here's how it works:
1. Plant the proper type of grass for your growing area
2. Use proper fertilizer as directed
3. Water your lawn properly during the growing season
4. Never mow your lawn shorter than 1/3rd of the present height
Proper Grass Types:
Being from Southern Californian, I had always been partial to a Dichondra lawn. Much to my surprise after moving to Oregon, I learned that a Dichondra lawn could not survice in Oregon's colder winters. Study and learn which lawn seed are best for the area you live in.
Proper Fertilization:
A lush, healthy lawn depends on receiving the proper nutrients. Your local garden store can help you find the right fertilizer for your lawn. Just follow the directions properly. Fertilizer is available in both liquid and dry form, both work well. Just remember, when it comes to fertilizer, more is NOT better, over fertilization can burn your lawn and you will not be happy with the results.
Proper Watering:
The amount of water your lawn needs varies depending on which grass type you have in your lawn. But for general watering about one inch of water per week is the recommendation amount, unless you have sufficient rainfall during the spring and summer. The best time to water your lawn is in the early morning hours. If using an automatic timer, try setting it for 2 hours a day, 3 days a week or every other day if you are in a drier area. If you are in a restricted watering area, be sure to become aware of the restrictions and follow them or you might be subject to a warning or fine from your watering district.
TIP: A tuna-fish or pet-food can can make a great watering gauge. Just make an inch mark on the side of the can and place it in your lawn. When it fills-up to the inch mark, you will know how to set your watering timers.
Proper Mowing:
Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade in any one mowing. If the grass gets ahead of you because of a busy schedule, move up the cutting height of your mower to the highest setting. Catch the cuttings with a bagging unit, rake the lawn with a leaf rake, or use a mulching blade. Then move the cutting height back to normal and cut the lawn again a few days later.
For more information on planting and maintaining a beautiful lawn, look for a good book on the subject in your local garden supply store or check out the Amazon books on this website. Thanks!
TIPS FOR LAWN CARE MAINTENANCE
The type of lawn care maintenance you decide on depends on your budget. If you can afford to spend thousands of dollars then your lawn can become a serious hobby. If your goal is just to have a well maintained lawn, it can be done for much less money.
Few people are aware of the basics of lawn preparation and maintenance. Planting seeds or sod, spraying for the weeds, and watering your lawn, all look simple but proper lawn maintenance is not simple. Lawn care can be a serious business or an enjoyable past time. Consider these basics of green lawn care: the first thing to consider is mowing, frequency of mowing, growth rate of the grass, and the type of lawn mower to be used are all an integral part in developing good lawn mowing habits. Basic mowing includes use of sharp blades and regular mowing from March to October. You should not move the mower backward and forward, but mow in a steady forward motion only.
Selection of the proper lawn seed depends upon the climate and location. A healthy lawn requires more or less an inch of water during a week. Further aerating in spring is considered best for the lawns. The recent trend in the lawn care is the use of the organic fertilizers, which are environmentally friendly and harmless to plants. The cost of the organic fertilizers is about the same as chemical fertilizers but the benefits last longer.
