Lawn Watering Basics - Effective, Efficient Use Of Water
With drought being so prevalent on the planet, how to properly water your lawn but not waste water is a very popular topic among homeowners. Fresh, green healthy lawns are still considered the idea but whether or not they are environmentally friendly is debatable.
This article will discuss ways to keep a lawn healthy while still being friendly to the environment.
The fresh, manicured, lush, healthy green lawn is one of the most sought after possessions in much of suburbia. A homeowner
Tips for Summer Lawn Care
Every homeowner dreams of a lush carpet of green outside their window throughout the summer months. However, when that thermometer begins to get really red, the grass tends to wilt and look much less green than you would like. There are methods of summer lawn care that will help your grass to continue to look its best no matter how hot the weather gets. The keys in a beautiful summer yard are all in the watering, mowing and fertilizing techniques that you use during the warmest months of the year.
Watering
Of course your summer lawn care will consist of regular watering, but do you really know the proper way to use your sprinkler most effectively when the weather heats up? The first step is in watering at the proper time of day, which will either be early in the morning or later in the evening. Most summer lawn care experts prefer the morning hours, since leaving moisture on the grass at night can lead to a greater likelihood of a variety of diseases. Make sure that you water long enough for the water to soak in at least six inches, since this will encourage more robust root growth, which will lead to a healthier lawn.
Fertilizing
Most of us also know that summer lawn care needs to include regular feedings for our grass, but caution needs to be exercised in the warmest weather when putting chemicals onto our lawn. The damaging culprit in fertilizer is nitrogen, and although it is an essential nutrient for a healthy lawn, it can also burn a lawn that is on the dry side already. Since you will still need to fertilize during the warmer months as part of your summer lawn care, make sure that you opt for one that contains a slower release of nitrogen to protect your lawn while you feed it. And if you are preparing for a heat wave with a number of days over the ninety degree mark, you may want to wait a bit on that feeding until the temperatures cool off slightly.
Mowing
It may seem that mowing is never done when it comes to your summer lawn care. However, although it may be tempting to keep that grass short during the summer months to cut down on the frequency of your mowing, shorter grass does not retain moisture and dries out more quickly. For Kentucky blue grass, it is best to keep your lawn length to three or three-and-a-half inches during the warmest part of the summer. When the weather cools down a bit, you can reduce that length by an inch or so. Part of good summer lawn care is giving that little bit of length to keep grass moist and lush when the sun is beating down.
Summer lawn care is not terribly complicated, but there are some modifications that you should make when the really hot weather hits. By following these tips in summer lawn care, you will be able to enjoy that lush carpet of green all summer long.
Quick Steps to Lawn Care Can Make Your Neighbors Green with Envy
The green grass of our next-door-neighbor has turned many of us green with envy. While his front lawn looks good enough to play a round of golf on, ours looks like hay. However, there is hope. Taking quick steps to lawn care can ensure that your lawn becomes a sea of lush, green blades of grass.
Unwanted Water
First, the majority of turf grasses can survive droughts, but not flooding. Thus, watering your grass too much creates more damage than water it too little. The majority of grasses weekly need 1-1.5” of water. For this clay soils, this dampens the soil 4-6” under the surface, while for sandy soils it dampens the soil 8-10” underneath the surface. Also, a rain gauge can be used to determine if watering is needed.
An Ounce of Prevention Helps A Pound of Grass
In addition, regular maintenance serves as another of the quick steps to lawn care, and will help to prevent problems with your grass:
Use herbicides for minor weed treatment Pre-emergent herbicides are ideal for weeds (i.e. crabgrass) that are grass-like Aerate (air out) your lawn one annually, and if possible, during the autumn. Repair bare sections when necessary.
Cutting And Pulling
Thirdly, to follow one of the quick steps to lawn care, remember: The condition of the blade is more important than the variety of mower you use. A dull blade pulls at the grass and creates an uneven brown line across the edge of the cut grass. These toothed edges make the grass more vulnerable to disease and pests. You should sharpen your mower’s blades about twice each year.
Balanced Diets For Grasses
The next of the quick steps to lawn care, is to apply balanced fertilizer to your lawn four times annually. These applications should be given during the spring, summer, early fall, and following the initial frost. The fall feeding should always be given, but the summer feeding can be skipped during droughts. Also, strictly adhere to the label instructions of lawn care products.
Spring, Summer, and Tall The last of the quick steps to lawn care reveals that mowing periodically is just a start. The mowing height should be ideal for the particular time of the year. It is significant because the grass utilizes the surplus length to soak up the sunshine it requires. A general rule is to never cut more than 1/3 of the grass’s total height, during a single mowing. During the spring and early fall seasons, the length of 2-3” is the model height for the majority of grasses. However, in summertime, a higher length should be used. Only cut below the lowest suggested height during the last mowing of the season. That figure is roughly 1.5” for the majority of turf grasses. After mowing, the clippings should remain on the lawn. This will allow them to decompose and add important nutrients to the soil. This grass cycling is important as clippings can add a third of your lawn’s yearly feeding needs. Achieving a lovely lawn is easier than you might assume. Follow these quick steps to lawn care, and make your grass the envy of your neighborhood!