General Lawn Care
Surprisingly, many of the wonderful lawns that you see in your neighborhood do not use grass that is native to the United States of America. So, if you want to create a similar lawn yourself it is vitally important that you discover which type of grass seed has been used. Some grasses are more suitable to an area than another and your lawn care regime will also be dependant upon the type of seed chosen.
If you are lucky enough to find a perfectly kept lawn in your locality besides asking about the type of grass used it is also well worth asking about what lawn care they do to keep it in such good condition. Most gardeners will be thrilled to share their knowledge and experience which will save you much work and possibly even a few failures in your quest for the perfect lawn.
If you live in Montana, Maine, Washington or other areas nearby you will find that cool weather grasses will produce the best lawns. This is also true for the northern states, Colorado, Virginia, Nebraska and even northern California. Although such cool weather grasses are suitable for these areas it is worth noting that these grasses have a tendency to lose their luscious green color in warmer weather. In really not weather the grass can even go brown and just a short period of high temperatures can ruin your perfect lawn in only a few days.
If you live in areas such as Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, Mississippi, Florida or southern California it will be necessary to use warm weather grasses which can tolerate warmer weather and dryer conditions. These areas also benefit from having longer growing periods than colder regions with the winters in these regions are usually far milder which will also help protect your lawn. Unfortunately lawn care in these regions necessitates far more work than cooler regions. In the warmer areas the grass grows far quicker for a longer period it therefore requires more water, more fertilizer and more cutting than the slower growing grasses of the colder north.
The Basics of Lawn Care
Although there are a great many things which we can do to ensure that our lawns are at their best there are some contributory elements of lawn care, such as the amount of sunshine, that are simply beyond our control. Sunshine is a basic requirement of all plant life and without it our plants would simply die. The amount of sunlight a local area experiences can have a profound effect upon which grass is most suitable for that area. Furthermore the choice of grass also depends on where you will be placing your lawn (ie in full sun or in partial shade).
If you live in an area that does not benefit from a great deal of sunshine or you are planning a lawn that will be in partial shade (such as alongside a large building which will cast a shadow over much o f your lawn) you will need to choose a type of grass which can survive with less direct sunlight than other types. Rye grass will grow in a wide variety of conditions while fuscue grass and Kentucky Blue Grass are more tolerant to poor sunlight than most other types of grass.
In contrast areas which receive a great deal of sunshine will require a type of grass which is able to tolerate the higher temperatures associated with high levels of direct sunshine. Grasses such as St. Augustine, centipede and Bermuda grasses are generally considered to be warm weather grasses so best for such conditions. It is important to remember that your lawn care regime should include a greater amount of time spent watering your lawn than in cooler areas and this is especially so during extended periods of dry hot weather.
Keeping a Healthy Lawn
The key to keeping your lawn in tip top condition is maintaining a good lawn care regime. Besides ensuring that your lawn is watered sufficiently it is vitally important that you also include fertilizer on a regular basis. Fertilizer nourishes your grass with all of the nutrients and trace elements that it requires to remain thick, and a healthy green color which we all love so much. A well fertilized lawn is more able to sustain growth for a longer period in a more vigorous fashion. Your lawn will be less likely to display patches and other problems that would otherwise require your constant attention.
A well fed lawn will grow steadily, developing a good strong root system. Lawns with a poor root system are far more likely to fail during periods of dry weather as the roots are unable to draw sufficient water from the soil. Roots are also vital in the recovery processes of a lawn. A lawn which has a strong root system recovers quickly from all forms of damage, this makes it more able to withstand the wear and tear of family life. A trampled lawn with a good root system will very quickly bounce back whereas a lawn with a poor root system may even wither and die from too much wear.
Your lawn care regime should include at least four or five feedings every year. You should feed your lawn at the very start of the growing season and at the very end of the growing season, you should not feed your lawn during dormant periods as this would lead to a buildup of chemicals which could actually burn the grass and do far more harm than good. Throughout the summer months you should apply fertilizer to your lawn and garden on a regular basis. I have found that smaller doses often works great but others prefer to apply full strength mixtures every five or six weeks.
Fertilizer is available in a number of formats, some can be applied dry and some should be mixed with water, some is slow release (which releases the nutrients slowly over a longer period) and some quick release. Some mixtures only include the nutrients required while other lawn care products offer other advantages such as the popular "weed and feed" types. I prefer to use slow release fertilizer at the start and end of the season with quicker release fertilizers for the rest of the growing season. I only use weed and feed fertilizers if weeds begin to appear as I have found that these products damge your lawn easier than others.
Always remember that you should follow the instructions very carefully, more is not always better and over feeding your lawn can lead to very serious damage that will take a number of years to remedy. Great lawns are only instantaneous if you lay new turf so if you want to avoid having to lay a new lawn every year you will need to care for your lawn very carefully. A good lawn care regime will ensure that you have a lawn to be proud of, strong and green, and able to be used regularly without fear of damage. A good quality lawn will greatly enhance the beauty of your garden whereas a poorly kept lawn is extremely difficult to disguise and can ruin even the best looking garden.
More articles about lawn care:
- General Lawn Care
- Lawn Care Tips For A Beautiful Lawn
- Getting Lawn Care Advice
- Basic Lawn Care Advice
- Lawn Care DIY Tools & Products
- Garden & Lawn Care Essentials
- Lawn Care Equipment, The Lawn Mower
- Lawn Care Tools
- Lawn Care Products
- More About Lawn Care Products
- The Grass Roots & Lawn Care
- Lawn Care Problems
- Winter Lawn Care Advice
- A Spring Care Lawn Tip
- Spring Lawn Care
- Home Gardening and Lawn Care
- Regular Lawn Maintenance
- Create A Lawn Maintenance Schedule
- Getting Lawn Care Help
- Lawn Care Service & Contractors
- Finding A Lawn Care Contractor
- Lawn Maintenance Contract
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