How to Care for Your Lawn in Your Landscaping Design
Step 1: Plant the Right Grass Seed or Sod
Environmental factors, such as your region's hardiness zone and the amount of moisture your area gets, can determine how well your grass will grow, as well as determining what type of grass you should plant. While certain grass seeds work better in different regions, consider these popular choices:- Bermuda Grass – This grass type is perfect for high-traffic areas. Landscape designers like its appearance, its natural weed control and its texture.
- Zoysia Grass – Zoysia is a drought-resistant grass that will grow thick enough to choke out weeds. The grass thrives in warmer climates, like the South, and its slow growth reduces the need for maintenance.
- Pampas Grass – Most landscapers use Pampas grass to add height or privacy to an area. While the ornamental grass looks beautiful and can fill in empty spaces quickly, it's invasive. If you have Pampas grass, you need to maintain its placement to prevent it from spreading to other areas of your yard.
- Buffalo Grass – This grass type is the only one native to the U.S. As such, it grows well from coast to coast. However, the grass needs more care and requires a strict lawn maintenance schedule to protect it from invasion.
Step 2: Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Summer
As spring shifts into summer, you'll need to get the lawn and landscape into shape. Start by thinning the thatch, which is the mat of dead organic material that develops between the grass and its roots. You can use a special rake to do dethatch the yard. Now is also a good time to aerate the yard.Remove any weeds from the grass, flowerbeds or gardens, making sure to get their roots. Then, apply a weed-and-feed product, like Scotts Turf Builder Plus Weed Control or Round-Up, to kill any weeds you missed. Follow the manufacturer's instructions so you don't damage plants, shrubs, flowers or other landscape elements in your yard.
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Step 3: Set up a Watering Schedule
Grass needs water to thrive, but many people make the mistake of over-watering grass. Professional landscapers recommend giving turf grasses ¾ to 1 inch of water a week to maintain color and growth. Other grass types need 1 to 2 inches of water per week. If you water more than this amount, the grass roots may not penetrate the soil as deeply as they should, which can cause issues during droughts or periods of high heat. You can use a rain gauge to determine how much water you've applied to the yard.If you feel like you need to supplement Mother Nature's schedule, water grass early in the morning and try to spread an even amount of moisture across the yard. Consider other watering requirements, as well. Your grass will absorb some of the water you use to nourish plants, shrubs and trees, so check your watering zones to determine the amount of runoff certain grassy areas will get.
Step 4: Establish a Lawn Maintenance Schedule
Mowing your grass to the correct height enhances your landscape design. While you want to mow regularly, you don't want to scalp the yard. Adjust the lawn mower to a height of 2.5 to 3 inches. Not only will this help your grass grow better, it will create more shade, which prevents weed growth. To add crisp lines to your green grass, alternate the direction you mow by a 45- or 90-degree difference each time you mow. This will also allow your grass to grow straighter and will reduce soil compaction.Step 5: Fertilize Grass and Plants
The best time to fertilize a yard often depends on four factors: the type of grass you have, your planting zone, the amount of water your area gets, and the type of fertilizer you use. Feeding your yard just once per year can help you get greener grass, reduce weeds and improve the yard's overall health. For the best results, check with a local lawn service to determine the best plan for your yard. Also, look for fertilizer specific to each landscape element. For example, you may want to use Miracle-Gro on flowers and a turf builder on the grass.To maintain a healthy yard, consider the following recommended schedule:
- Early Spring Fertilization – Between February and April, grass begins to come out of its dormant state. Apply fertilizer to give it a boost for the upcoming growth it will see. Address any problems you noticed last year. For example, apply a fertilizer with a pre-emergent weed killer to prevent unsightly problems like crabgrass.
- Late Spring Fertilization – From April to June, your grass is hungry, but so are weeds. To make sure grass gets the nutrients it needs, you'll need to add a fertilizer combined with weed control. For an even application, use a fertilizer spreader.
- Summer Fertilization – In June, July and August, your grass will take a beating. Hotter temperatures, increased foot traffic and fewer rains can strain your yard. Look for lawncare products that will not only fertilize grass but that will also help fix yard problems, like insect infestations or brown patches.
- Fall Fertilization – Many experts consider this the most important time to fertilize a yard. The growing conditions usually rival those of spring, and you can boost your grass before it becomes dormant in the winter.
Step 6: Reseed the Yard and Touch up Landscape
Fall is often the best time to reseed grass. If you plant grass in August or September, the seed will have enough time to take root before the cooler weather forces the grass to become dormant. To make the task easier, use thin the thatch with a double-duty rake and loosen the soil with garden tools or water.When it comes to a well-groomed yard, your lawn will play an integral role in your home's curb appeal. Don't ruin the rest of your landscape by failing to maintain the grass. Click on the following link for more info about landscaping tips.