Make these vital fixes , and you ’ll get green grass in no time .
It ’s easy to avoid the most common lawn forethought mistakes and get that succulent unripe grass that ’s the staring backdrop for your 1000 . Of course , you want your grass to look skillful , but there ’s more than just aesthetics at stake . A healthy , manicure lawn can increase a home ’s prop time value , shorten soil erosion , help with stormwater runoff , and soak up interference and brilliance .
How to Keep Your Lawn Happy
Look to your lawn for clue to verify it ’s get what it needs . If it ’s a nice green color — not too light or glowering — and growing at a moderate rate , it ’s likely getting enough N fertilization , for instance .
Keep your sword sharp , and do n’t put awayyour lawnmowertoo shortly . As long as your pasture is still growing — typically through tardy declension — you should keepmowing your lawn , though not as often . If you stop over mow too early on and live in a snowy surface area , your lawn can modernize a fungal disease known as snow mould .
Read on for gratuity on how to get the beautiful lawn that you want .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
1. Treating Broadleaf Weeds When It’s Dry
Dandelions , clover , andcreeping Charlieare some of the most commonbroadleaf skunk , but plenty of other works can intrude on quickly and spread relentlessly . you may use a farinaceous weed - and - feed merchandise to keep them in stop or spray an organic fluid broadleaf green goddess killer .
The good time : To treat actively growing weeds , employ granular products on a dewy morning or spot - cover them with an constitutive herbicide on a warm , cheery daylight .
Why time matters : fittingly used , broadleafweed killers are highly effectivewhen conditions are optimal . For case , the granules of locoweed - and - provender products , which are applied with a broadcaster , must stick to the leaf of the gage to be effective . That expect wet , so the perfect prison term to use is in the early morning when there ’s heavy dew on the lawn. You ’ll languish time and money on lawn concern if the grass is n’t wet . Warm temperatures often help liquid treatments solve quicker , too . However , if you ’ve been having a hot but dry summer , you ’ll require towater your lawnfirst .
Credit: Scott Little
2. Applying Weed Preventers Too Late
Pre - emergent weed killer or dope preventers control crabgrass and other weeds by stopping their seeds from germinating . An app early in the mature time of year works wonders . It ’s like immunise your lawn against weeds .
The right time : give preventer whenforsythiablooms overlook ( from March to May , depending on your region ) .
Why time matters : Weed preventers are not efficient againstweeds that have already commence to grow , so you must apply them before sprouting to derive any welfare . Crabgrass , the primary aim of lawn mourning band preventers , typically germinates just after forsythia blooms , so take your cue from nature . When you point out forsythia Dubyuh drop their blossoms , enforce a green goddess preventer , like corn gluten meal , and water as before long as possible to activate it .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Need to reseed?For nerveless - season sens , descent is the ideal time ; plant tender - season green goddess in late give . But remember : Do n’t put on crabgrass preventer at the same time that youseed your lawn ; it stops all seedlings from growing , even the ones you may want to grow .
3. Not Fertilizing Your Lawn
As grass ( or any plant ) grows , it uses up nutrients in the grunge . When you mow and bag up clipping , over time , all the soil nutrients will get used up , so you ’ll require toadd fertilizer . If you let clippings disintegrate back into the soil alternatively , that will help a little , but you may still need to replenish usable nutrients once in a while . Asoil test every yearwill show you how much you may need to add ; the mental testing can also see your soil ’s acidity and whether or not you necessitate to add lime . Whenyou feed your lawn is significant for lawn care , too .
The correct time : northward : Feed in the fall and spring . South : Feed in spring and summertime .
Why time matters : sess needs to be fedwhen it ’s actively growing . For cool - season grasses ( bluegrass , fescues , and ryegrass ) , this primarily think of spring and drop . For warm - season grasses such as zoysia , Bermuda , and St. Augustine , late give and summertime are the prime growing prison term .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
In addition , cool - season locoweed benefit from feeding in recent dusk ( October or November ) , when growth has slowed but the Gunter Wilhelm Grass is still green . The result is earlier greening and ripe appearance the next spring . Experts agree that this may be the most beneficial meter to course a cool - season lawn .
Warm - season lawns should not be feed in the gloaming unless they ’ve been overseeded with wintertime rye grass . Also , avoid fertilizing any inactive grass , either in wintertime or summer ( drought can get grass to go dormant in the summertime ) , as the diligence will be wasted .
4. Aerating Your Lawn at the Wrong Time
You do aerate , veracious ? Over time , dirt gets compacted by being walked on , andthatch build up . Aerating helps loosen the dirt again and allows water system to reach grass roots more easily .
The right time : Aerate when the soil is moist , and gage is actively growing .
Why timing matter : A common fault in lawn care is aerating when grunge is dry and hard , and not even thetop - snitch lawn aeratorscan penetrate the land deeply . Water your lawn before aerating , or wait for a good rain . Ideal weather for aeratingoccur more often in leaping and fall ( for cool - season grasses ) , but summertime also is satisfactory for well - watered lawns .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
5. Watering Too Late in the Day
No matter where you last or what eccentric of grass you have , your lawn tutelage will belike include at least some irrigation to keep it green during prolonged summertime dry spells .
The good fourth dimension : Water early in the dawn .
Why time affair : Early dawn is thebest time to give your lawn a drink . The Dominicus ’s warmth will before long dry out the grass and lessen the chance of disease . Avoid nighttime lacrimation , which can encourage disease due to prolonged wetness , and irrigate during the warmest clip of the day , when a lot of the piss may evaporate before the plants can absorb it .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
When watering is necessary , do so once or twice a week , long enough to wet the soil several inch down . Compared with frequent but shallow irrigation , this better encourage deep roots and make your lawn more drouth - tolerant .
Some city and municipalities have recommendations or restriction on thetiming and frequency of wateringto avail cut down on waste , so it ’s a effective melodic theme to check that you follow those guidelines .
6. Not Mowing Frequently Enough
Mowing may seem like a no - brainer , but how ( and how often ) you do it significantly sham the health and appearance of your lawn .
The right fourth dimension : Mow as needed so that you tailor off no more than a third of the height of your grass at a prison term . For example , if youset your mower at 2 inches , do n’t countenance the grass get improbable than 3 in before mowing .
Why timing matters : Many homeownersritually mow on weekends , effectively put their lawns on a seven - day mowing docket . Most of the year , hebdomadal mowing may be fine . But when growth is vigorous in spring , pout may be necessary every four or five mean solar day .
Longer intervals tolerate the green goddess to become too tall between thinning , stressing the lawn and making it less attractive . Keepinga well - mowed lawnis also an easy way of life to discouragefleas and ticksbecause pests prefer hide out out in long forage .
“ Your Lawn and Its Care . ” Rutgers , The State University of New Jersey , New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station .
“ Keep mowing and do n’t countersink the mower down . ” Purdue University Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture .
