Maybe you have heard the saying that “the grass is always greener over the septic tank and the lateral lines”. While this saying may be true, no one needs that much septic tank or that much lateral line in his or her yard. There are other things that a person can do to keep a green yard.
A first thing to remember is to select the grass that will thrive in your yard. Whether you are establishing a new lawn or maintaining an existing one, you can decide what kind of grass works best in your situation. For example, some varieties thrive in full sunshine while others need plenty of shade to grow. Remember, however, sunrise and sunset is not the only things that affect sunlight. Trees and other structures also help determine the amount of sunlight a lawn receives. This can affect whether or not a lawn is green.
A second thing to remember for a green lawn is to aerate your lawn in the spring and fall. Aeration creates holes on your lawn. This can be done with an aeration rake or even aeration sandals that strap to your feet. However accomplished, aeration allows nutrients, water, and air to reach the roots. Aeration also fosters better drainage and reduces runoff. Something else that should be remembered before or after aeration is dealing with thatch. Thatch is the layer of dead grass that builds up on your soil after repeated mowing, wind, and the natural life cycle of grass. When this layer becomes thicker than ½ inch, it can be too heavy for healthy grass. Dethatching needs to be done twice per year to remove the extra grass and debris from your lawn and soil.
A third thing to remember is to mow at the proper height. A rule of thumb suggests mowing when the grass is dry and when it is 3 to 3.5 inches tall. You should never cut your grass any shorter than 2 to 2.5 inches. You should also not remove over one third of the height in any one mowing. This is because the valuable nutrients the clippings offer can help the remaining grass. These clippings should be left to lie after they are cut. Their overall weight needs to be managed.
Follow these tips along with others. Doing so will help keep your lawn green and healthy. Most people want their yard to be green, attractive, and healthy. Following these tips and a little common sense will help lawns to be just that.