Are you embarrassed by the appearance of your brown weed-infested lawn that makes you cringe? Or do you feel frustrated by having to fight weeds that are jumping from your neighbors’ yards into yours, because they’re not taking care of their properties?
Picture for a moment what it would be like if you had a nice beautiful green lawn that gave your home impeccable curb appeal. Imagine how good you’d feel after getting tons of compliments from your envious neighbors.
The good news is that dreaming about having one of the best lawns on your block isn’t just a fantasy – it CAN happen!
And all you have to do to get rid of that brown grass and the out-of-control weeds is to take action on the Top 20 Lawn Care Tips For Beginners that you’re about to discover today.
Let’s cover them now…
1)) Identify the Type of Grass You Have
There are certain types of grass that need frequent watering, while others can go for several days without hydration.
Thus, you need to know the needs of your grass. For example, if you have Kentucky bluegrass, you have to make sure that you can water it every 5 to 7 days.
On the other hand, if you have carpet grass, it can actually thrive without water for 8 to 12 days.
Tip: If you have just relocated, and you want to plant more grass in your lawn, then you should do your research about the best grass to plant in your area.
Select grass that will thrive based on the weather, amount of sunlight, and the part of the country you live in.
2)) Choose the Right Grass
We’ve already briefly discussed the importance of identifying the type of grass you currently have.
When it comes to choosing the grass for your lawn, there are certain things that you need to consider.
Apart from making sure that the grass can easily adapt to the climate in your geographic location, here are a few questions you should answer…
- How much shade will your lawn receive?
- How are you going to utilize your grass?
- How much time do you have to invest in maintenance?
It’s important to answer those questions to help you make a decision on the right type of grass to purchase.
You need to choose a type of grass that is locally grown in your area if you want to have a healthy lawn that can thrive.
This is because; grasses vary in terms of the climate that they prefer.
Aside from that, different types of grasses require various amounts of water and nutrients like any other living thing.
The key takeaway is to make sure you plant grass that is suited for your environment to give it the best chance of thriving.
3)) Test Your Lawn’s Soil for Its pH Levels
The ideal pH level of a lawn is between 5.8 to 7.2, which means that it is slightly acidic. If it is higher than that, then you need to control its pH level by sprinkling lime onto the soil.
On the other hand, if your soil is not acidic enough, then you can use sulfur for it.
Purchase a pH tester, so that you can check the pH levels of your lawn.
4)) Learn How to Improve the Condition of Your Soil
Always keep in mind, that one of the biggest factors that can affect the beauty of your lawn is the health of the soil.
Thus, you have to find out ways how to improve its condition. On top of that, you can also hire an expert who can check the soil’s present condition, so that you would know what to do to improve it.
Buying the Nutrients Your Soil Needs
When it comes to buying the nutrients for the needs of your soil, such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur, you can always visit any home improvement store, garden shop, or nursery.
However, prior to purchasing these nutrients, you should know what your soil needs first, which is why I recommend hiring a professional to test or even do it yourself.
5)) Determine the Amount of Water Needed By Your Lawn
In most cases, lawns only need about one-half to and one-half inches of water each week.
If you are using a home sprinkler system, then watering it for 10 to 15 minutes would be sufficient enough. Do not over-water your grass, since it won’t be able to utilize the excess amount of moisture provided to them.
If you have just planted new seeds into the ground, you need to make sure that you water them appropriately. It is best if the soil around the seeds is kept moist with water.
However, you should be careful not to apply too much water, since the seeds can drown because of it.
Watering your lawn thoroughly is a good idea since it can develop root systems that are deep. Aside from that, it can also help in making your lawn drought-resistant.
Just make sure that you water the lawn once it has already dried out to avoid soil saturation.
If you notice, most lawns are watered early in the morning. This is the best time of the day because less water is lost due to evaporation.
In other words, your grass would be able to absorb most of the water that you provide to them.
Watering in the afternoon is also ideal, but it would be better to do it in the morning.
Avoid watering your grass in the daytime, especially during the hot summer months, because the sun shining on the water acts almost as a magnifying glass, which cooks the lawn.
6)) Make Your Job Easier With the Right Tools
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Use The Right Tools For The Right Job?”
This definitely applies to taking care of your lawn.
Why make the maintenance process more difficult than it needs to be?
Some of the tools you can include in your list would be a lawn mower (preferably electric), gasoline can, hedge trimmers, edge trimmers, fertilizer spreaders, leaf blowers, kneeling pads, gloves, weeder, etc.
You can even make use of a basket when you are weeding so that you can simply put all the weeds into it.
7)) Know the Costs of Caring For Your Lawn
Caring for your lawn will cost you some money upfront, especially if you are starting out with no equipment.
The good news is that once you purchase the equipment, your ongoing costs will be very minimum, which can save you a nice chunk of change.
I’ve already informed you about the basic tools you’ll need to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.
Fortunately, you can find great deals on lawn care equipment on sites such as Amazon and your local home improvement stores.
But first, you must make a list of all the tools you need so that you can establish a budget and compare prices.
8)) Buying A Lawn Mower
There is no need to purchase the most expensive lawn mower that you can find in the market.
Since lawnmowers vary not just in price, but also in terms of their sizes, you have to consider the size of your lawn in order to come up with a sound decision.
Choose a mower that would be best for the kind of lawn that you have, instead of only looking at the prices.
Of course, you have the right to spend as much money as you’d like on a new shiny mow.
9)) Mowing
Mowing should be done regularly since it can help in maintaining the health of your grass.
However, it is not recommended to cut your grasses too short. This is because it can expose the surface roots, which is not good.
Aside from that, it can also make the soil dry faster and the name of the game is to retain a decent level of moisture.
10)) Planting New Grass
Planting new grass into your lawn is not a very difficult procedure, no matter if you’re using sod or grass seeds.
One of the things that you need to do is to loosen up the soil and remove any debris.
To achieve that, you can make use of a dirt rake to remove any dead grass and weeds, and then rake the part of the lawn where you want to plant your new grass or seeds.
Spread the grass or seeds evenly to make them look good and balanced.
NOTE: If you’re using grass seeds, you must cover them with nutrient-rich dirt (Lawn & Seed Cover) which you can purchase from a home improvement store, nursery, or online.
Avoid Cheap Blends of Seed
You may run across extremely affordable blends of seeds when you begin your search.
However, you need to keep in mind that those cheap grass seeds may be of poor quality.
Of course, that’s not always the case.
I recommend reading product reviews if you’re able to find them to see what the people who’ve actually used the seeds have to say.
The last thing that you want to do is go through all the trouble of prepping your yard only to find out the seeds you used are no good.
This is not an area where you want to cut corners on by being cheap.
Making Use of Mechanical Spreader
You can spread your grass seeds by hand, but for the best results, you should take advantage of using a mechanical spreader if you want them to be evenly distributed throughout your yard because you don’t want to miss spots.
Look For Holes and Low Sports
Holes in your lawn, as well as low spots, can cause drainage problems. Aside from that, they can also accumulate water, which can attract pesky mosquitoes.
Thus, before replanting, you should see to it that you fill up any low spots or holes in your lawn.
This may only take you a couple of hours, and it is not a very hard thing to do.
11)) Aerating Your Lawn
It is actually necessary to aerate your lawn during certain parts of the year. In fact, it is best to aerate it on a yearly basis, especially in the high-trafficked parts of the lawn.
For areas that are not high traffic, aerating them every other year should be good enough.
The Process of Aeration
Aeration of the soil is usually done prior to fertilizing as well as a top dressing. This process can also be applied to compacted soils.
This method involves lifting small plugs of turf from the soil in order to improve its condition and to allow more moisture to be retained.
To do that, you can hire someone, or just simply purchase the aerator tool and do it yourself, because the process is super easy.
Compacted Soil
If your soil has too much clay in it, then it can become compacted in no time, especially after a few days of rain.
This compacted state will prevent the assimilation of nutrients and water into the yard, which is not good for the lawn.
If you discover that you have a disproportionate amount of clay mixed into your dirt, then you should consider consulting a lawn care expert for advice.
12)) Fertilizing Your Lawn
When it comes to fertilizing your lawn, you have to consider that there are lots of different types available in the marketplace.
You have to make sure that you are using the right one for the type of lawn that you have.
With that, when you are at the store, tell the representative what you need fertilizer for so that he or she can recommend to you the best ones for the type of grass that you have.
Fertilize Your Lawn Multiple Times per Year
Most reputable nursery stores will provide you with a fertilizing chart for the year.
This chart lists the application dates and the products they recommend you use to keep your lawn healthy.
Believe it or not, some of the season-specific fertilizers can help to keep your lawn green even in the colder months.
Do Not Burn Your Lawn with Your Fertilizer
There are certain types of fertilizers that contain too much nitrogen. These types of fertilizers can burn your lawn due to excessive nitrogen, which is why it is best to avoid or minimize their use of them.
Instead, choose a fertilizer that has time-released nitrogen, which is water-soluble, so that the roots of your grass can only absorb the amount of nitrogen that it needs.
Ask how to apply the fertilizer.
When you purchase a bag of fertilizer locally, make sure to ask the employee about how to apply it and even for a few pointers.
Let him or her demonstrate it for you if it is possible, so that you can really see how it should be applied.
It is best if you know how to apply the fertilizer so that your investment would be worth it.
13)) Get Rid Of Those Weeds
One of the best ways to get your lawn on track is to first get rid of any weeds because they will eventually take over your yard and possibly spread to your neighbor’s grass.
You probably have first-hand experience with weeds, and if you do, you know how difficult it is to get rid of them.
If you don’t rid your yard of weeds, then your grass will have to compete and will most likely lose the battle.
Know The Weeds You’re Dealing With
The growth of different weeds in your lawn can indicate different things. For example, if you can see clover and medic, then you should take it as a sign that your soil may lack nitrogen.
On the other hand, if you see dandelions, then it may mean that your soil is too acidic.
By taking note of these facts, you can properly adjust the condition of your soil.
Manually Pulling Up Weeds
The best time to manually pull weeds is when they’re small and the ground is wet.
Have you ever tried to pull up a full-grown weed from dry soil?
It’s very tough, and you have to put in some serious elbow grease to get it up.
People that don’t pull up weeds often report how sore they are the next day.
So, yes pulling weeds is a workout!
Spot Treating the Weeds
When you see weeds, you may be tempted to make use of herbicide to get rid of them.
However, since herbicides can also affect the grass and the soil negatively, their usage should be kept to a minimum.
To do that, you can actually make use of vinegar to spot-treat the weeds. When you do this, there is no need to make use of herbicide, in making your lawn weed free.
14)) Thatch Buildup Should Be Controlled
It is important to control the buildup of thatch in your lawn. Thatch is actually the above-soil runner accumulation, which is propagated by the lawn’s grass.
The layer of the thatch should not go beyond half an inch. It is important to control it since thatch can become a barrier between the grassroots and the nutrients.
15)) Get Rid Of Crabgrass ASAP
Crabgrass can be a problem in your lawn, which is why it is best if you know to get rid of it.
One of the best ways to do it is to make use of a pre-emergent herbicide. However, if you want something natural to use, then you should use corn gluten instead.
Crabgrass needs sunlight to grow, which is why it should not be a problem in shaded parts of your lawn.
How to Prevent Crabgrass from Becoming a Problem Again
One of the best things to do if you had to deal with crabgrass last year, is to prevent it from developing by applying a pre-emergent herbicide based on a Lawn Care Schedule provided by your local nursery.
If you can find it in one of the local stores in your area, then make use of it, so that you no longer have to deal with the same problem this year.
16)) Focus On Organic Lawn Care
It is always best to veer away from non-organic products in caring for your lawn. This is because; organic items can improve the health of your lawn better.
Aside from that, organic lawn care ensures that your lawn is free from toxins, which can harm other creatures in the environment.
17)) Making Use of Corn Gluten
I already talked about using corn gluten as a natural way to kill crabgrass. Corn gluten is actually a corn processing byproduct, which is non-toxic.
When you make use of it in your lawn, it can kill seedlings of weeds in just a matter of days.
This is why it’s a good idea to apply it so that you can get rid of weeds in your lawn permanently.
18)) Things to Do In Early Spring
When it is early spring, you can expect a lot of dead grass, leaves, debris, and a lot of other unwanted things on your lawn.
You have to clean them, with the use of a rake. Make sure that you get them all out of the lawn, and take them to your compost, so that your lawn will look better, and you can continue caring for it.
Caring For Your Lawn in the Spring
During spring, it is necessary to keep off the lawn for a certain span of time. This is because it is usually during early spring when the ground still has a lot of moisture.
Also, you don’t want to create big holes in your lawn making it bumpy or even tripping hazards.
It’s best to wait for it to get dried out so that it would be firm enough to walk on.
19)) Activities Best Done During Fall
After summer, your lawn may have damaged or bald areas due to heat exposure. One of the best things to do during fall is to reseed.
With that, just before summer ends, it is best if you already prepare your grass seeds.
Follow proper seeding procedure, so that they can develop properly.
20)) When to Contact A Lawn Care Service Provider
If you are trying to make your lawn better and it seems that you are not getting anywhere with it, then it may be time to hire a lawn care service professional.
To choose the best one, ask your friends and relatives for their recommendations.
On top of that, try to check whether the company has a history of violations and complaints.
This is very easy to do nowadays with the advent of the Internet.
Conclusion
You just discovered the Top 20 Lawn Care Tips For Beginners.
However, a word of warning – just knowing how to make your lawn healthy and green isn’t going to magically happen on its own.
That’s because the key is that you need to take action on what you just learned.
I mean, who doesn’t want to have the greenest grass on the block, right?
Wouldn’t getting compliments from your neighbors to make you feel good about your accomplishments with the hard work you put into your yard?
Making your grass beautiful is a process and you’ll have to be patient because it will take some time, but well worth the effort.
I recommend that you begin implementing these tips right away. Because the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll start enjoying a green well-manicured lawn that’ll make your neighbors envious!
Good luck with your lawn!
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