Garden Maintenance - How To Make A Perfect Lawn

2023 Author: Lynn Laird | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:49

Maintaining a lawn requires patience, determination and, above all, suitable equipment. During the winter, your lawn is put to the test and you need to adopt the right habits to keep it in good condition, especially since the beauty of a lawn tends to decline over time. Be aware, however, that it is not difficult to transform a thin, dull lawn into a denser, more lush and healthier lawn. With just a few easy steps, you can achieve a greener, prettier lawn. You just need to perform the garden maintenance necessary to maintain the beauty of your lawn so that you can enjoy it for a long time. What are the right reflexes to apply to maintain your summer lawn optimally?

Garden maintenance: improve the soil

To get the most out of your lawn, the quality of your soil must first and foremost be your concern. Soil testing is a simple process that is the first step towards a healthy, thick lawn. This allows you to know precisely the unique needs of your lawn. It also provides recommendations for resolving any issues. The analyzes include determining the pH of your soiland other conditions that can prevent normal growth. By following the recommendations of the analyzes, you will be able to improve your soil without making a mistake. For example, if the soil's pH is too low, your weed will not be able to absorb the nutrients it needs. The test results will tell you if your soil needs lime or other amendments to restore the pH balance and ensure nutrient availability for optimal growth.

Adopt the correct mowing technique

Using the right mowing technique allows the grass to grow densely and retain that thickness. Rather than mowing on a weekly schedule, mow according to the grass's needs. Repeat this often enough to keep your lawn at the recommended mowing height, without removing more than a third of the height in one mow. This is to prevent the lawn from becoming sparse and unattractive. Also, remember to change the mowing mode regularly to keep the grass straight and thick.

Make sure the mower blade is sharp so it can cut properly instead of “tearing” the grass. Ragged grass is, in fact, more susceptible to diseases and pests, which prevent your lawn from being thick. You need to sharpen your mower blades every spring so you can use it all summer long. Do not hesitate to replace them if they are in bad condition. Know that you can buy original manufacturer spare parts for mower on specialized sites. A mower blade costs only ten euros. In addition, you can have it delivered, saving you the trouble of traveling and wasting time searching for parts. These sites also offer other mower spare parts, such as blade support keys, lawn mower mower decks, blade washers, etc., but also concerning your various gardening tools: brush cutters, pruning- hedge, chainsaws and other accessories.

Overseed your lawn

Overseeding is the sowing of grass seeds to make the lawn thicker and keep it from thinning. The new growth will fill in the empty spaces, which will give your lawn a denser and nicer look and feel. Fall and spring are the best times for overseeding if you live in the north. On the other hand, if you live in the south, wait until the end of spring to seed your lawn.

Overseeding is an opportunity to improve the quality of your lawn and make it look better. However, it is important that you pay particular attention to the quality of the seed (with a germination rate above 85%). Always choose a seed that suits the climate in your area as well as the characteristics of your lawn.

Garden maintenance: fertilize the soil regularly

Fertilizers provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs to grow thick. Like all other plants, lawns need “food”. However, soil nutrients are often washed away by rain and irrigation water. It is therefore essential to carry out regular fertilization of the lawn throughout the growing season. This helps provide all the nutrients your lawn needs for optimum growth.

When overseeding your lawn, adding starter fertilizer helps promote rapid root growth thus allowing the lawn to thicken in a short time. Lawn fertilizers are generally dosed with a high proportion of nitrogen in order to minimize the supply of phosphorus and potassium. Half of the nitrogen in fertilizer is released slowly to continue to provide your lawn with the nutrients it needs for up to three months. The other half is regulated so as to limit leaching. This means that the lawn makes the most of all the nutrients in the fertilizer.

Water enough

After going through the necessary steps to make your lawn greener and prettier, you need to follow good watering practices to provide enough water and keep it thick and strong. Germinating grass seeds need constant moisture until seedlings emerge and grow between existing grasses. Once lawns are established, they typically need about 1.5cm of water per week. Irrigation at the right frequency promotes the growth of the deep roots that lawns need to stay supplied.

Fight against weeds

Weeds compete with grass for sunlight, water, and nutrients. The more weeds you have, the less fertilizer and other essential resources your lawn receives. Weed control eliminates this competition, so the lawn can stay thick and well nourished. The beginning of fall is a great time to weed your lawn. Be careful, however, to avoid using weedkillers when you over-seed your lawn as this will prevent the grass seeds from germinating and growing properly.