Have A Greener Lawn This Year

Soon we'll be hearing the sounds of mowers on a Saturday morning, the psssst, pssst, pssst of automatic sprinkler systems and smelling the fresh cut grass.  Yes, we all love a gorgeous lawn.  And we're always looking for ways to make it greener, thicker and healthier.

These lawn tips will help you maintain a greener and healthier lawn all summer long.

1.  Overseed Your Lawn

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A thick lawn crowds out weeds meaning you have to use less herbicides.  It also looks amazing.  Top dress your lawn with some compost.  Then cast seed throughout your yard and lightly water every day (a deluge will cause seed to float to low areas).  Keep foot traffic off the lawn until the grass is well established.

2.  Control Weeds

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Spring is the best time to attach weeds, before they gain a strong foothold.  You can use a commercial pre-emergent herbicide.  Or you can go the natural route and lay down organic corn gluten meal and activate it with water.  The meal will remain effective for five or six weeks before you need to reapply.  Keep in mind that the meal will not allow grass seed to sprout so decide whether you need to control weeds with herbicide or if you need to overseed.

3.  Compost Tea

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Compost tea is made from compost and microorganisms like algea that are steeped in water until it is a rich brown.  Whether you make it yourself or buy it, applying compost tea regularly is a natural fertilizer and can be done every time you water.  You're lawn will love it!

4.  Clover Is Your Friend

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Don't worry when you see patches of clover in your lawn.  Instead be thankful.  A green lawn requires nitrogen and nothing provides nitrogen better than clover, which draws it from the air and affixes it into the soil for your grass to access. Supplement grass seed with clover and the healthy mix will make your lawn pop with green.

5.  Know Your Soil

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Your soil will tell you everything you need to know to have a green lawn.  Send a sample of your soil in to your local extension agent to have it tested.  The results will tell you where your lawn is deficient in essential nutrients.

6.  Air It Out

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The last two things you can do for your lawn each year is to remove the thatch and to aerate it.  Thatch is a layer of grass cuttings and roots that lay at the base of your lawn.  A large amount of thatch can actually repel water off of your lawn.  Remove it by raking well or by using a machine if you have a large yard.

Aerating your lawn involves pulling little plugs out of your lawn to allow air, water and fertilizer to penetrate deep into your soil.  Again, you can do this manually or use a machine to help you along.

Incorporating these tips into your lawn care routine should guarantee that you have a lush green lawn to play in all summer long.

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