Lawn Garden

2006-05-03T11:12:00.000-07:00

Lawn Garden

A lawn is the canvas on which you can draw the colorful garden you dream about. In winter it will provide colour and life when other plants are scarce. In summer it will pull together and frame all the features and colours in your garden.

A lawn is also extremely useful! Think about it for a moment - it's great for walking on, ideal for playing games on and lovely for just sitting on. It's soft, good looking and provides a forgiving surface when kids and adults trip over.

Modern grasses are very forgiving of neglect and severe weather. With very little lawn care and maintenance, they can be improved greatly. Here are 5 steps towards a healthier, more attractive lawn garden:

1. Improve the Soil - The first step is to test the soil's pH - it should read between 6.5 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic. Soil that is too acidic will need a sprinkling of lime; sulfur can be added to soil which is not acidic enough. You can buy a pH tester (see below, this page) for $40 - $60. Another solution is to have your soil tested professionally; first call your extension office - they often provide soil testing as a free service.Lawns grow best in loamy soils that have a mix of clay, silt and sand. Too much clay in the soil mix, or heavy use, can compact the soil and prevent air and nutrient flow. Compacted soil may need aeration, a process of lifting small plugs of turf to create air spaces in the soil. For best results, rent an aerator or hire a lawn service to do the job - this will remove "finger size" plugs which improves aeration. Aeration is best done before top dressing and fertilizing.Organic matter, such as compost and grass clippings, will benefit any type of soil; it lightens soil which is heavy in clay, and it builds humus in sandy soils, which helps retain water and nutrients.

2. Choose a Locally Adapted Grass - Grasses vary in the type of climate they prefer, the amount of water and nutrients required, shade tolerance and the degree of wear they can withstand. Ask your local garden center to recommend grass which is best adapted to your area.

3. Mow Often, but Not Too Short - Giving your lawn a "Marine cut" is not doing it a favor. Surface roots become exposed, the soil dries out faster and surface aeration is reduced. As a general rule, don't cut off more than one-third of the grass at any one time. Most turf grass species are healthiest when kept between 2.5 and 3.5" tall.

4. Water Deeply but Not Too Often - Thorough watering encourages your lawn to develop deep root systems which make the lawn hardier and more drought-resistant. Let the lawn dry out before re-watering; as a rule of thumb, the color should dull and footprints should stay compressed for more than a few seconds. When watering, put a cup in the sprinkler zone; it should get at least one inch (2.5cm) water.The best time for watering is early morning - less water will be lost to evaporation. Ideally, it's better to water the first half-inch or so, then wait for an hour or two before watering the second half-inch.

5. Control Thatch Build-Up - Thatch is the accumulation of above-soil runners, propagated by the grass. This layer should be about 1/2" ( 1.25cm) on a healthy lawn, and kept in balance by natural decomposition, earthworms and microorganisms. Too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. You can reduce thatch with a steel rake, or by renting a de-thatcher which does a more thorough job.

Lawn Garden

Lawn Garden

2006-05-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Lawn Garden. Here you will learn about looking after your lawn and garden, as well as creating the perfect lawn.

My other lawn sites:

Lawns

Lawn Maintenance

Lawn Care