Lawn Care Tips

Most homeowners long to have a lawn that looks a luscious green colour, in perfect condition and with no visible weeds, bare patches or yellowing, dead grass. But obtaining the ideal lawn isn’t always easy and you need to work hard and spend time on it. If you’re keen to get your lawn looking great and in tip-top condition, read on for some essential lawn care tips!

1. If you have any thin or bare patches on your lawn, then the best time to replant seed is in the Fall. If you aren’t able to do it then, then the next best time is March. Don’t leave it until after then, as the weather tends to get too warm and the seed won’t germinate properly or be established before the summer weather descends.
2. Weeds such as crabgrass, dandelions and clover are commonly found on lawns. If possible, it’s best to prevent them before they take hold, or at least take action as soon as you’re aware of them. To ward them off, apply a pre-emergent control substance (can be organic or non-organic) to the lawn. You’ll find various versions available, depending on the type of weed that’s loose on your lawn. If you don’t do anything, then weeds will take root and continue to appear each year.
3. The quality of grass can be affected by the blades on your lawnmower, especially if they’re not kept fully sharpened. In fact, dull blades that don’t cut properly can leave grass in a weakened state and more likely to suffer from disease. To rectify the situation, make sure you regularly check the state of your lawnmower and get the blades sharpened. This is a job that can be done early in the season, before you need to regularly cut the grass.
4. Once a year, take time to aerate your lawn. There’s a special tool available to do this and it basically works by making tiny holes in the lawn and pulling tiny plugs of soil. Aeration is great, as it makes it easier for air, water and essentials nutrients to get into the soil. The tiny plugs that are removed can then be left on top of the soil. Although they look a bit unsightly at first, they soon break down again and will have disappeared from sight within a few weeks.
5. Water your lawn regularly. It’s hard to know exactly how much water to give your lawn, as it depends in part on the type of soil, climate and the time of year. However, experts suggest lawns should have about one inch of water once a week.
6. The best time to mow your lawn is when the weather is cool and dry, not hot. So, first thing in the morning or in the early evening are ideal times.
7. Sometimes lawns can benefit from having a thin layer (¼” at the most) of top-dressing sprinkled on the top. It’s best to do this when the lawn is dry and can be combined with aerating, as the soil can fill the holes left by the aerating process. As a general guide, a mix of two parts of sand, one part of sieved soil and one part of compost works well.
8. In the case of patches of grass that have gone yellow or died, and where re-seeding hasn’t worked, you can always replace the area with a new piece of turf. Carefully cut the area you need to remove and replace it with a new piece of turf. Although it may initially look obvious that you have done this, in time it will blend in with the rest of the lawn and look fine.