Lawn care basics

[starcandy]

There's several topics here dealing with specific problems and concerns with lawns. Here's a general how-to on maintaining lawns.

Chemical treatment is often unnecessary when caring for your lawn, as it often weakens the grass and even the soil it grows on. Proper care and maintenance will help keep your lawn wonderfully green all year round.

Here's a few tips you may want to consider:

- Pick the right grass where you are. Grasses, like any other plants, have preferences. Just because it looks good in one place doesn't mean it'll grow well in yours. Remember that grasses are exposed to the elements, unlike other plants that you can bring in to a controlled environment. Pick the grass that's native to your area and you'll find that it'll thrive better.

- Plant in the right time of the year. Planting when the grass isn't ready to grow won't help. Know when it's best for your grass and plant then.

- Make sure your soil has the right nutrients for your grass. This is self explanatory and is a general step employed by any gardener.

- Water less often, but make sure it is watered well and is absorbed deeply.

- Remove excess thatch to prevent soil compaction and weed seed germination.

Those are pretty much what I could think of, remember from personal experience and knowledge passed on from other people. Share some tips you may know!

[fleurdelys]

Thanks for this. A well kept lawn certainly adds beauty to any residence & spruces up a garden, no matter it's size. I'm taking these guidelines and applying them to my planned lawn. I hope I can pull it off as well as this. Thanks!

[starcandy]

You're welcome. Glad that it is of help to you guys. I'm also interested to learn about other practices fellow gardeners use in caring for their lawn, so just post what other info you have to share

[fireflies]

How do I get rid of weeds mixed in my lawn? I think it needs some serious clean up. Do I pull the weeds manually, spray weed killer and then cut the grass Or do I cut the grass first then spray weed killer?

[amber]

If its dandelions your having trouble with this might sound annoying but water your lawn real good to the point of being soaked then dig them out by the roots . Most weeds need to be pulled by their roots and if lawn is very soggy its easy that way and its best to get them out by the root.

[Luna]

Here's some tips to help your lawn keep green the natural way. Apply fertilizer only once a year, best done during the fall. If you have a gas powered mower, consider a battery powered one as the former produces as much pollution as a car.

Grass clippings left on the lawn are ok. They won't produce thatch and will also help feel the lawn naturally. Growing the grass long when the temperature helps shade the soil and retains water.

Watering the garden is best done in the morning or evening for lesser evaporation.