How to Get a Great Looking Lawn

How to Get a Great Looking Lawn

How to Get a Great Looking Lawn

Getting and maintaining a thick, lush, and healthy lawn in my compound makes my neighbors jealous! However, there is no so much work involved in making your yard attractive and beautiful. I think that the professional landscapers don't do anything special to your lawn. They just know what to use, when, and how to use it. It is your responsibility to understand how to build a great lawn.

Benefits of a Healthy Lawn

Besides being an essential addition to my home's aesthetics, I have realized several other benefits of having a healthy and good looking lawn. They include: Reduced emissions of Carbon Dioxide – Carbon Dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that may pose a risk to human health. Turfgrass on my lawn absorbs this gas and converts it to oxygen, which is more beneficial to plants, people, and animals. Increased property value – The Lawn Institute says that a perfect lawn can increase the resale amount for a property by about 15%. Additionally, well-kept turf grass can provide between 100 and 200% R.O.I. (Return on Investment). A correctly maintained lawn will attract the most appropriate buyer for your home if they need to sell arises. Controlled soil erosion – grass and its roots hold the soil in position to prevent it from being carried away by flowing water. I recommend the use of turfgrass as it is more effective and durable than alternative solutions.

Improved air and water quality – lawn grass acts as a filter for microscopic dirt and dust particles and prevents them from getting into the air. Results of such particles in the air include allergies, irritable eyes, and difficulties in breathing. Additionally, dust and smoke are trapped by the turf preventing water contamination.

Space for fun – you will agree with me that playing on a thick and lush lawn brings a lot of happiness and relaxation, mostly when you play with your kids or pets. Steps to Getting a Healthy Lawn

As I mentioned earlier, making your lawn attractive and healthy is not rocket science. It is vital to understand how to make lawn green and thick. Here are some of the steps I took to ensure that my lawn stands out from the rest:

Ensure the Mower Blade is Sharp

Your grass requires a clean and even cut. If the blade is not sharp, it will end up tearing your lawn instead of cutting. Damaged grass becomes yellow, which means that your lawn will need more water and nutrients to become healthy again. Additionally, the grass will be susceptible to diseases.

Besides being sharp, your blade should also be balanced to prevent any damage to the mower’s bearings. It is recommendable to sharpen and balance the blade at least thrice annually. You can do it more times if you hit a lot of rocks when working on your lawn. Apply Fertilizers and Weed Killers at the Right Time

Like any other living organism, lawn grass needs to be fed. However, rainfall and irrigation make the nutrients in the soil to leach away. Regular fertilizer application as the grass grows ensures that your lawn is well fed throughout.

When applying the fertilizer, it is imperative to consider the grass type, soil condition, and geographic location. You also need to control the weed growth on your lawn. The best technique to use is spot-controlling.

This technique makes lawn care easier instead of trying to rescue a lawn that has already been overtaken by weeds. It is advisable to use weed killers during early summer or spring before the weeds reproduce, go to seed, or develop root systems.

Water the Lawn Properly

Experts recommend deep but less frequent watering instead of daily lawn watering. Deep watering helps the grassroots grow deeper into the soil, supporting the lawn and helping it thrive even in dry seasons. If you notice the greyish color on the grass, or if its blades do not bounce back when you walk on them, then it is time to water your lawn. After watering, the soil should be sticky but not drip when you squeeze a handful. It is also vital to understand that grass needs more water in summer than in winter or spring. During the spring season, you might only need to water your lawn once per week. During summer, watering should be done at least thrice a week.

Match the Cutting Height with the Time of the Year

In areas with a cool climate, the cutting height should be 1.5 inches when mowing for the first time in the year. This removes dead grass and gives way to more sunlight reaching the grass crowns. When summer comes, the cutting height should be adjusted to 2 inches or more.

For the last mowing of the year, adjust the cutting height back to 1.5 inches. In areas with a warm climate, these cutting heights should be lower with ½ in. when adjusting the cutting height, measure from a flat surface to the mower deck’s bottom and add ¼ in. to your measurements. This is because most blades are ¼ in. above the deck's underside.

Overseed

Overseeding is the process of thickening thin lawns by adding more grass seeds to the existing grass. Professionals know that the secret to a perfect lawn is Overseeding. With this process, the lawn becomes thicker, and its quality is significantly improved. For cool-season northern lawns, the best Overseeding time is during spring or fall. The best time to Overseed for warm-season southern laws is late spring.

F.A.Q.s

How do I make my lawn look good? Proper watering, fertilizing, weed destruction are the best ways to achieve a good looking lawn.

How do I fix a bumpy lawn? Use the lowest possible setting to mow the lawn. Use a de-thatcher or garden rake to de-thatch the lawn. Mix a batch of leveling mix and apply it to the low areas using a shovel. Spread out the topdressing evenly using a rake. Use a push-broom or rake to thoroughly work the soil mixture into the grass. Water the grass for further stabilization. Conduct regular checkups for the progress in that area.

How do I get a nice green lawn? A green lawn means that the grass is green and healthy. Such can be achieved by applying fertilizer, proper aeration, watering, and weed control. These are the practical tips for a good lawn.

Why do I have a bumpy lawn? Some common causes of a bumpy lawn include: Walking on a very soft lawn Holes dug by children and animals Uneven thawing of dense clay soil Mishandling of home gardening equipment

Conclusion As I have explained above, you don't need to hire a professional for lawn care unless you do not have time to do it yourself. The steps on how to make a lawn green and thick are easy to follow and execute. I have enjoyed the benefits of having a good looking lawn, which ranges from improved air and water quality to getting a perfect playground. The most important thing to remember on how to build a great lawn is to comprehend the requirements for different times of the year. For instance, the watering required during summer is different from that of winter and spring. This is the first thing I put into consideration in my efforts to achieve a perfect lawn. You can do it too! Follow the above tips for a good lawn, and you will see the transformation sooner than you expect.