The Challenges of Keeping Your Lawn Green

The Challenges of Keeping Your Lawn Green
By Peter David Wendt

Most homeowners dream of having a lush, green lawn. Unfortunately, it's easy to fall short of that ideal. Brown patches and weeds seem to take over as spring turns to summer. Contrary to popular belief, a green lawn is within reach, and it won't require breaking the bank or hours of back breaking labor.

Mow for Success

Proper mowing techniques can ensure a healthy green lawn. Part of mowing right means keeping equipment, particularly the mower blade, in top condition. A sharp blade makes a clean cut and helps keep the grass leaves pest and disease resistant. Also, always follow the one third rule of thumb, meaning that no more than one third of the length of the grass should be removed at any time. This encourages deep root growth and healthy leaves. Trimming less length will probably mean needing to mow more often, but this is also advantageous to the lawn. Short clippings can be left on the lawn where they eventually filter down to the soil to provide extra fertilization.

Supplement for Brilliant Color

Lawns thrive when they receive the proper nutrients. However, overdoing it on the fertilizer can be just as damaging as failing to fertilize at all. Too much fertilizer can mean a burned, brown, dead lawn. Using too little fertilizer can have the same result. To succeed with fertilizer, it's important to understand the soil in which the grass is growing. It's possible to find do it yourself soil pH test kits at home improvement stores. Alternatively, local laboratories can usually perform a pH test for a nominal fee. These test results will provide a vital clue to the type of fertilizer required to grow a uniformly green lawn. Take the test results to the garden center to use a guide to choosing the right supplement.

Water Deeply

Homeowners who are watering lawns every day are probably wasting time and water. Frequent, brief watering is usually not adequate to properly hydrate grass. Instead, focus on heavier water applications at less frequent intervals. An inch of water once a week is usually enough to keep most lawns green and healthy. Whether a sprinkler or an irrigation system is used, set an empty tuna can within range of the water. When the can is full, it's time to water elsewhere. It makes sense to do most watering before dawn or early in the morning. In the afternoon, too much water evaporates in the sun's heat. Water in the evening, and the grass stays too wet for too long, making it susceptible to disease.

Anyone can have a beautiful green lawn by mowing properly, using the right fertilizer and providing sufficient water.

Peter Wendt is a freelance writer from Austin, TX planning major improvements to his home and garden this year. His research lead him to lawn aeration and top dressing techniques to improve the look of his lawn. Wendt recommends contacting an Austin lawn care service for more information.

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