Tips for a Healthier, Better Looking Lawn

Do you ever take your morning or evening walks around the neighborhood and wonder how your neighbors have such great lawns? Is your grass patchy and unhealthy looking? With just a few simple steps to your mowing routine, you can finally have that grass that makes the neighbors jealous. 

Step 1: Water Your Grass Deep, Not Often 

When you water your grass frequently but in short spurts of time, the roots in the grass will have no reason to grow deep. This means that the shallow roots will not be able to reach the deep soil nutrients or deliver the water if you skip a watering. Try to water your grass with 1-2 inches of water once per week. This amount will of course depend on your local weather conditions, species of grass,  and soil type. Having deep roots from this technique will also help your grass stay green during periods of drought or extreme heat. 

Step 2: Use Natural Lawn Fertilizers

Depending on what type of grass you are growing, the grass growing cycle will differ. All types of grass grow in different patters and it is important to understand what type you have. Organic and natural lawn fertilizers benefit your soil while giving nutrients for your grass. Even after the grass seems to go dormant, the roots will soak up nutrients and store energy it needs for the next season. It is just as important to fertilize your grass in the fall as it is in the spring. 

Step 3: Aerate Your Lawn

To create a thicker and healthier lawn, you will need to practice simple, regular maintenance tasks. One of best tasks that any lawn can benefit from is aeration. Grass roots need air, water and nutrients to grow thick, deep and strong. After time, soil will become compacted.  The point of aerating your lawn is to create holes down into the soil to alleviate compaction so air, water and nutrients can reach the roots of the grass. If you are looking to purchase or rent a lawn aerator, Best Line has you covered with a variety of type and sizes to get the job done right!

Step 4: Kill Crabgrass and Weeds Before It Spreads

You need to eliminate weeds and crabgrass before they grow and start spreading. The key for crabgrass is to apply the crabgrass prevention between the second and third mowing of the year. Typically, the crabgrass will sprout a few weeks after the grass turns green again from winter. Once the crabgrass starts to spread, it is already too late.

For weeds, you just need to apply whatever herbicide of your choosing and follow their directions. Some herbicides are better when applied in warmer temperatures and some in cooler temperatures. 

Step 5: Cut Your Grass Properly and At The Right Height

When cutting your lawn at home, you cannot expect to cut it as short as an actual fairway on the golf course. Your grass should be cut at height of 2-3 inches for most cool season grasses such as Kentucky Blue, Fescues, and Perennial Ryegrass. When mowing, it is a good practice to change your mowing patterns. One week mow vertically, the next mow horizontally. One thing that can help your lawn tremendously is not bagging your clippings. We understand, clumps do not look good. However, if you mow when the grass is completely dry and you do not let it get too long, they will not appear in piles. The purpose of the clippings is to provide your lawn with the natural nutrients it needs to stay lush, green and healthy. 

Lastly, make sure you sharpen your mower blades. It does not matter whether you are using a push mower or a zero-turn, you must keep your blades sharp. Your blades can become dull from a number reasons including overall wear and tear, infrequent sharpening, cutting too low, etc. When mowing with dull blades, you are ripping at the grass rather than cutting it crisply. If you do not sharpen your blades and continue to mow with dull blades, your grass will be more susceptible to disease and will start to die and discolor much quicker. If you are uncomfortable sharpening your own blades on your mower, take your machine to Best Line Equipment's service department. At Best Line, we take pride in our service abilities and with our efficient team, we will be sure to get you back to mowing in no time!

If you have a project at home this summer or you just want to upgrade your outdoor equipment, stop in at your local Best Line Equipment. One of inside sales professionals will gladly show you many different products from STIHL, Honda, Hustler Turf Equipment, and Exmark to turn your land into the landscape you've always dreamed about.