How To Care Your Lawn?

Lawn is a plant that has a green or striped area of grass. It usually grows in an area open to the sun and can be kept short by mowing. Lawns may be used as ground cover, recreation areas such as parks and golf courses, or as decorative landscaping features around buildings or other structures. The term “lawn” is also sometimes used to refer to turfgrass. In This article you will learn how to care for your lawn easily.

Turfgrass Care

Turfgrass is a term used to describe grass species that are grown for groundcover, as opposed to ornamental plants or other uses. A lawn can be composed of many types of grasses, including cool season and warm season turfgrasses. The most common cool season turfgrass is a tall turfgrass variety called Kentucky bluegrass. Warm season grasses are usually from the genera “Bermuda” or “St. Augustine”.

Drained Soil

Lawns require a well-drained, reasonably rich, loamy soil to grow well and look attractive all year round. They need a good deal of sunshine and regular watering during dry periods. Maintenance is accomplished through the use of lawn mowers, weed trimmers, edgers and shears.

Types Of Grass

There are several types of grasses for lawns including tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), zoysia grass (Zoysia japonica), and St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum).

The type of lawn chosen should be based on climate, soil type, and the amount of use the lawn will receive. For a home lawn, a cool-season grass is recommended for most of the United States. Warm-season grasses are recommended for southern areas.

Best Time To Plant

The best time to plant a lawn is in the early fall when the soil temperatures have begun to cool. However, a lawn can be planted at any time if irrigation is available. Lawns should not be planted during periods of drought.

When planting a new lawn, choose a well-drained area with a relatively low slope. Prepare the soil by removing old grass, weeds and any debris. Dig your first foot of topsoil about five inches deep. Mix it into the subsoil with a rototiller to break up clumps and work in compost, if desired. If you do not incorporate compost, add two inches of compost and mix it into the topsoil with a rototiller.

Best Seed Guide

Purchase seed from a garden center, hardware store or seed dealer that is certified by the North American Seed Trade Association (NASTA). You can also collect your own seed, but be sure to avoid grass with an off color or disease. When collecting your own seed, allow seeds to dry in a paper bag for about two weeks.

Spread the grass seed over the area at the rate specified on the package instructions. Then rake or drag your tools to cover with soil and press down firmly. Keep the lawn moist (but not soggy) until the seeds germinate. Three to four weeks later, mow the newly germinated seed at a height of 1.5 – 2 inches.

Water Your Lawn

It is important to keep your lawn well-watered and properly fertilized throughout germination and until it has been fully established. A thick lawn with good soil moisture suppresses weed growth. Weed seeds need dry periods to crack open and germinate, so a healthy lawn will choke out most weed growth.

Lawn Mowing Guide

Lawn mowing is the most common maintenance practice for a lawn. Mow when the grass reaches 3 inches in height. Taller grass provides better shade and protection for the soil, helps retain moisture, and makes the lawn less susceptible to heat and drought. Mow the lawn at a height that will remove no more than one-third of the blade of grass.

Mowing frequency should be based on the growth rate of the specific grass type. The following is a general guideline: cool season grasses – mow every 7-10 days; warm season grasses – mow every 5-7 days; Bermuda grass – mow every 3-4 days. For More Gardening Guide and Tips Visit GardeningPool.

Warm season grasses, such as St. Augustine and bermuda, grow more quickly than cool season varieties and require more frequent mowing. However, if a lawn is extremely thick or drought tolerant types of warm season grass are used, you can reduce the mowing frequency to once every two weeks.