Everyone enjoys the neat and clean look of their garden. Lawns add to the value of one?s property with its aesthetic appeal. It ensures cool and fresh air as well as lessens soil erosion. Moreover, a healthy and pretty lawn actively traps and filters pollutants and sediments that can contaminate surface and/or groundwater.
So, how will you take care of your lawn? Here are some easy and effective tips to ensure a beautiful and healthy lawn.
Proper Fertilization?
Regular and proper application of fertilizers will allow your lawn to prevent weed invasion. Applying fertilizer at the wrong time or overusing it can ruin your lawn. Improper use of fertilizers or wrong fertilizes will contribute to pollution. Therefore, it?s important to pay attention to amount of fertilizers and timing of its use.
Fertilizer Components
Fertilizers are made of three components ? nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. However, they also comprise a variety of other elements as well. You should first know the type of your soil before buying any fertilizer. Fertilizers having slow-release nitrogen does not burn turf and therefore, are ideal for both your lawn and environment.?
Products containing low or no phosphorous are easily available; that is good news for the homeowners. If you are buying such a product, you don?t have to spend on other additions. You can also call for lawn care services to know details about fertilizer choice and use.
Application?
Make sure to use fertilizer responsibly. When applying fertilizer near water, create a buffer zone by leaving a 10-inch strip around the same. The unfertilized strip will safeguard the water bod from nutrient runoff or leaching from the fertilized grass.
Keep fertilizers away from paved surfaces. Unabsorbed fertilizer can easily be drained out into water bodies. Use a spreader having a deflector shield to prevent such drainage. The shield will sprinkle the fertilizer in a 180-degree arc, restricting it to the grass and keeping it off the pavement.
Good Timing
Depending on where you live, you can apply fertilizer round the year or only during summer, spring and fall. Avoid fertilization in winter months as lawns during the season go dormant. Wait until the mercury goes up before using fertilizing in the spring.?
Storage
If you have unused fertilizer, store it in a dry place. Never store it next to chemicals or gasoline, otherwise, these are likely to contaminate your fertilizers and make their way to the turf.?
Mowing
Lawn mowing is one of the best practices for proper maintenance of your lawn. Create a regular mowing schedule in summer in order to ensure maximum health of your lawn. Don?t remove more than 1/3 of any leaf blade. Scalping can damage your lawn and leave it prone to drought, disease, weed or insect invasion.?
Never use a dull mower as it will tear leaf blades and cause stress to the grass, thereby making it more prone to disease and pests. Never do mowing when the grass is wet, otherwise, it will not allow the mower blades to perform the cleanest cut possible.
Proper Irrigation
Lawn is damaged by over-watering than other cultural practices. It reduces the ability of your lawn to withstand stress. Maintaining your lawn is not very tough, you just have to follow some simple tips and techniques in order to ensure a beautiful and healthy lawn.?
These simple and viable tips will help you manage your lawn and keep it beautiful all year through!