Lawn Envy

There's always one.  One neighbor who has the most immaculate, lush lawn.  You feel like you can't even compete.  First, there's the time involved in maintaining such a perfect lawn.  Secondly, there's the cost associated with all the water needed, fertilizers and pesticides.  And third, if you have a conscience, there's all the water needed, fertilizers and pesticides.

What's a homeowner to do if he wants a beautiful lawn but in a time-friendly, cost-friendly and earth-friendly way?  We're here to help.

Water Correctly

First things first: If you don't have an automatic sprinkler system, install one. It takes the guesswork out of watering so you don't overdo it. Your goal is to moisten as much of the root system as possible at one time. Avoid frequent, shallow watering; soak lawns in clay soil once a week, and sandy soil every three days, depending on the season. Set the system to operate in late evening or early morning, when water doesn't evaporate as quickly and pressure is generally optimal. Don't water the entire lawn simultaneously; instead, rotate through the zones, covering each area at least twice.

Boost The Health of Your Lawn



Healthy lawns use less water and have fewer weeds and insects than neglected ones. But don't assume that means you must use fertilizer. Pick up a soil-test kit first to determine whether your lawn has any nutrient deficiencies. When mowing, set the deck to about 3 inches, and remove no more than 30 percent of the height. Leave clippings in place to recycle nutrients and moisture, as well as to shade the lawn. When a layer of thatch ½-inch thick forms just above the soil surface, use an aerator to remove cores of sod (for best results, wait until spring or fall). Then top-dress the turf with compost.

Make Mowing Easy

Properly mowed turf loses less water through evaporation, or, in garden-speak,evapotranspiration.  And a hard-to-mow lawn is more likely to get neglected.  So make cutting it as easy as possible. If you don't have a zero-turn riding mower, shape your lawn's corners with curves so you never need to back up. Curves also accommodate pulsating, revolving sprinklers, which are more efficient than oscillating types because they shoot water directly over the lawn rather than straight up. You can also lighten your workload by installing edging below grass height; that way you won't need to clean up the perimeter with a string trimmer.

Reduce The Amount Of Lawn

While you're reconfiguring the shape of your lawn, ask yourself when was the last time you played Frisbee in the front yard. Consider which areas of the lawn are underused, such as beneath trees or in out-of-the-way spots. Keep turf only where it serves a practical function, such as a children's play area. A simple conversion might involve replacing the lawn near your home's entrances with patios or decking. Remove grass under mature trees, where it likely struggles to grow, and surround each base with mulch or ground cover as far as the outermost edge of the canopy.

Additionally, you can carve out new planting beds for perennials and trees which require about half as much water as grass, once established. Less water used, less lawn to mow.

Choose Better Grass

Use water-efficient grass varieties that are suited to your region. Your cooperative extension office can recommend the most drought-tolerant grass type for your area and advise whether to plant from seed or sod. Eco-lawns that contain a mixture of meadow grasses and other plants have been developed for different areas of the country, as have alternatives to traditional turf grasses. Sedges and other ornamental grasses are popular choices for less manicured meadow plantings. Keep in mind that some of these plants have periods of dormancy, when the lawn will not look its best.

Here in the North the best grasses to use for your lawn are fine fescues (hard, creeping red, chewings, and turf-type sheep fescue).  They make a great drought-tolerant, low-maintenance turf.

Source:  MSNRealEstate.com and Michelle Schwake for Stafford Family Realtors