A lush lawn does not come by accident or because of a stroke of luck. If you want to bring your gardening dreams to life, you need to work hard for them and know exactly how to perform each critical task involved.
With the combination of the right knowledge, hard work, and lots of patience, your lawn will become the new talk of your neighborhood.
Here are some of the essential things you need to learn, courtesy of experts in lawn care in Conway, Arkansas.
Build from the ground up
Do this, literally.
The soil is the anchor which will stabilize the health and growth of the turf. And if there is only one single thing that you can do that is related to lawn care, that would be to improve the soil condition of your lawn.
However, before you do anything to the soil, like the application of fertilizers, you will need to get it tested. According to a specialist in lawn care Maumelle, Arkansas residents trust, accurate information regarding soil composition will allow you to ascertain which remedies to use, enabling you to proceed with precision.
Once you know the underlying issue plaguing your lawn, you can implement the appropriate amendments on the soil. It is highly recommended to start amendments with the areas in your lawn that are most problematic.
Choose the grass well
One crucial thing that some homeowners overlook when they are trying to get a beautiful lawn is the importance of choosing grass varieties appropriate to the region where they live.
As such, it is not unusual to find lackluster lawns despite the hard work put in by their owners.
If you live in a region where the climate is warmer and has hotter summers, you should choose warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass. On the other hand, if you live in a region which has cooler springs and falls, you are better off with cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass.
Get your timing right
Once you have found a suitable type of grass for your lawn, the next crucial thing that you need to get right is determining the right time to seed your lawn.
As a rule of thumb, you should schedule seeding based on the type of grass you have chosen. For cool-season grasses, fall is the optimal time for seeding. For warm-season grasses, schedule your seeding during spring.
Grass nutrition
Nutrition is crucial for the growth of all plants, including grasses.
One essential nutrient that grasses need is nitrogen. Nitrogen is mainly responsible for giving the grass its vibrant color. Before applying fertilizers, check both the results of the soil test as well as the percentages in the fertilizer you are thinking of using.
Keep unwanted guests out
Weeds compete with grass for food, water and sunlight. And left unchecked, these pesky invaders can ruin all the hard work that you have put in.
If you are reseeding your lawn or some areas in it, it is best to avoid pre-emergent weed herbicides. These products help contain weeds by preventing the germination of these plants. However, these products can also prevent grass seeds from germinating.
Instead of using pre-emergent weed products, pull out these unwanted plants manually.
A fresh cut
The frequency and height of mowing will depend on a few factors.
For example, you should schedule your mowing depending on grass growth and not on a fixed day of the week.
For mowing height, consider the type of grass you have chosen. Some types of grasses thrive when cut shorter, while others need to grow longer.
You should also factor in the season. For example, during the summer, you should allow the grass to grow longer to adjust to the warmer temperature.
One rule of thumb that you should always remember is to not remove more than a third off the grass blades in one session. If you need to cut the grass shorter, do it in a few sessions.
Water effectively
You do not need to water your lawn every day. In fact, doing so can lead to shallow grassroots, which will then make the grass less resilient to drought, pests, and diseases.
Instead of irrigating your lawn daily, water infrequently but deeply. This will help build up the grass while allowing you to save time and effort.
Remember to take into account the season and temperatures as these will influence the water requirements of your lawn.
Get help
Whether you only have a little bit of time or if you have a little bit of lawn care knowledge, do not be afraid to get expert help. It is better to get things right the first time rather than attempt to correct mistakes.
