1. Do you need to plant grass? Do some research on the best seed for your area,
where to buy it cheap,
and when it's available. Depending on where you live,
you'll plant either cool season or warm season grass.
Cool season grass,
planted in northern areas, is usually best planted in early fall, but if you
missed planting
then, plant it in the spring when soil temperatures reach 50
F.
Warm season grass needs soil temps of 70F to thrive and is the choice
for southern plantings. Don't make
the mistake of thinking you can plant warm
season grass in the upper Midwest. Warm season grasses are
bred to thrive in
southern climates and are not winter hardy in the north.
2. Of course,
you'll keep new grass plantings moist, but once grass reaches a height of three
inches, water it
deeply once a week.
A healthy lawn needs about an inch
of water a week. When watering, remember to consider recent rainfalls.
Shallow
watering techniques keep grass from sinking the deep roots that your lawn needs
to compete
with deep-rooted weeds.
3. Do you already have a lawn? Aerate
it in the spring while it's still moist and before the spring rains are
done.
Aerating your lawn in the springtime gives microbes and other small
life forms a breath of fresh air
after winter. Aeration also makes new paths for
drainage and keeps your lawn from becoming saturated.
4. A lot is written
about lawn fertilizer and the big question is why? Grass is the most efficient
user
of nitrogen on earth!
Feed your soil with nutrient rich compost and
let your lawn get its nutrients the natural way. The more
chemicals you use, the
more you disturb the natural biological processes that convert organic matter
into nutrients and the microbes and other small organisms that take natural care
of your lawn.
5. Mow your grass high. A 2 ½ to 3-inch high cut makes your
lawn look fuller, feel softer, and helps
keep it healthy. Taller grass shades
pesky weed seeds and keeps them from getting
established. In addition, a taller
lawn is better able to absorb sunshine and better able to
retain moisture, the
two main contributors to a healthy lawn.
6. Enjoy your lawn. After all,
isn't that your main reason for having a yard?
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