Lawn Maintenance - Tips for Greener Grass

If the grass in your lawn isn't green, it will not appear healthy. Every year, people struggle to keep their grass green. Unfortunately, not everyone succeeds. Here are a few tips to help you maintain a healthy lawn and grow greener grass.

Lawn Irrigation

The key to green grass is proper irrigation. On average, grass needs one inch of water per week to maintain a lush and healthy appearance. If you have not received enough rainfall, you will need to manually irrigate your grass.

• To find out if your grass is receiving enough water, use a rain gauge or a tin can to measure rainfall and irrigation.
• For greener grass, water deeply but infrequently. This will help promote strong roots.
• Water your lawn early in the morning. By doing so, you will limit the chance of the water evaporating from the grass before it has been properly absorbed.
• Avoid using fine mist sprinklers. The water tends to evaporate before it even reaches your lawn.

Grass Mowing

Mowing your lawn regularly will help keep the grass green. Never cut more than two inches at a time. Also avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the grass blade, as it can traumatize your lawn.

• Keep mower blades sharp. Sharp blades provide a fine, even cut.
• To keep grass greener and to avoid spreading lawn disease, always cut the grass when it is dry.
• Cut your grass in different directions each time you mow. This will help the grass grow straight.
• When you mow, lawn thatch can sometimes build up on your grass. Though a minimum amount of thatching is good for your grass, large amounts are not. Keeping your lawn raked and thatched will promote greener grass by allowing more water and nutrients to reach the grass blades and roots.

Fertilizing

A good dose of fertilization can bring new life to your lawn. However, you don't want to use too much fertilization, as it may burn up your grass. The fertilization plan that you should use must also vary, depending on the type of grass that you have.

• For best results, begin fertilizing the grass at the beginning of its growing season.
• Use the proper type of fertilizer for your grass. Different strains of grass have different needs.
• Follow the instructions on the fertilizer's packaging. Deviating from these instructions could cause damage to your lawn.
• Choose a fertilizer that also controls weeds. Weeds compete with grass for water and nutrients. Removing weeds will guarantee a greener and healthier lawn.