Each spring and summer, I look forward to having a lush, green lawn. When driving through your town, you may wonder why certain lawns have healthy, green grass, while others, not so much? Here are a few steps to follow to keep your lawn in top shape:
1) In late fall, complete your final mow with a 2 1/2 blade lenth. Blow or rake away all leaves from the grass
The pursuit of a healthy lawn begins in the fall. At the end of the mowing season, I complete my “fall clean-up.” Living in the northeast, this is typically in early November for me. I mow very low, using a 2 1/2 blade length, and clear the yard of leaves using a leaf blower. Fallen leaves can trap moisture and suffocate the grass, so it’s important not to let them linger all winter long.
2) Aerate and overseed your lawn (this will give you a head start for next year)
Once you complete your final mow of the season, the key is to aerate and overseed. The grounds crews of golf courses do this every year to the greens and fairways to keep them green and pristine. An aerator machine drives 1/2-inch holes into the lawn, which give the roots easy access to nutrients, water, and room to grow. You can rent an aerator for a daily rate and make it a DIY project (this is what I did my first year of home ownership), or you can hire a landscaping company to do this for you. After aerating, spread grass seed on the entire lawn (this is called overseeding). The grass seeds will fall into the holes made by the aerator, thickening the grass for next summer.
3) In the early spring, use a spreader to provide the grass with fertilizer and weed protection
In the springtime, when the temperature reaches between 50-70 degrees, I fertilize and spread weed control with my spreader. It’s vital to feed your lawn after the winter months, and to get an early jump on weed protection (i.e. dandelions and crab grass). My go-to fertilizer is Scott’s Turf Builder Lawn Food, and I use Scott’s Turf Builder Triple Action for weed control. You can find these products at your local hardware stores. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bag as each product is different. Mowing can officially begin a few weeks after this!
4) Maintain your lawn during mowing season by mowing once per week (don’t mow too short!)
All the prep work is finished, and it’s time to enjoy your fresh, healthy lawn! At this point, all the grass needs is regular upkeep. Every Friday after work, I mow my lawn, trim hard to reach areas with a weed trimmer, and use a leaf blower to clean it up (this takes me about 1 hour total for my 1 acre lot). The key to maintaining your lawn’s beauty is to not cut it too short! A blade length of 3 1/2 inches or higher will do.
5) Water your grass as needed
To prevent dry patches, it helps to water your lawn regularly. If it’s been a while since your lawn’s had some rain, or it gets a lot of sunlight and dries out quickly, you may want to water it yourself. I like to use a sprinkler to water my lawn, and let it run for about 30 minutes at a time. Like any plant, grass needs water to survive.
So, now you know the techniques to cultivate a lush, green lawn that you can be proud of! Remember that every lawn is different, but this is what works well for me. I hope this works for you, too!
