How to Green Your Lawn

Have you ever looked at a magazine that showcases yards? Or have you seen a television show where the characters in the show have an absolutely gorgeous lawn? There are many people who have never had a lawn, and they assume that every lawn will look absolutely gorgeous with very minimal work from the homeowner. This, however, is not true. While there are some people who are lucky enough to have gorgeous looking lawns without really trying, the average person has a lawn that, while it doesn’t look horrible, doesn’t look anywhere near as amazing as the lawns on television and in the magazines. So how do you green up your lawn and make it look perfect?

The Climate

One thing that you have to take into consideration when you’re talking about your lawn is the climate. The climate is very important when you’re trying to grow things. The reason that a person who lives in Maine can’t grow pineapples is because of the climate. There is more than one type of grass, for instance, and while some grass may thrive in a warm, moist environment, there is always another grass that will thrive in a different, cooler location.

The main factor in producing a great looking lawn is knowledge. When you know what type of soil you have, and what type of climate you’re in, you’ll have a much better chance of finding the right type of grass for your lawn, and in treating the land properly so that your grass is beautiful and lush.

Weeds

Another evil in the war against brown lawns are weeds. Weeds can make your lawn look horrible extremely quickly. Not only will the lawn look shabby, but weeds can also take the nutrients that the lawn needs, which can then turn the grass an unappealing shade. Instead of just mowing over weeds, try killing weeds. Killing weeds, without killing your lawn, can be tricky. There are a few different herbicides that you can purchase, however, which are designed to specifically target the weeds and not the lawn. Make sure, though, that you’re very careful when you work with an herbicide.

Starting Up

One of the best ways to make sure that your lawn is green is to treat it great from the onset. Bringing a brown lawn back from the brink of disaster can be done, but it can also take quite some time. Instead, try treating your lawn right the minute that you start working with it in the spring. One tip is actually to mow better. So many people don’t realize that they actually mow their lawns too short, and that their blades are too dull to actually cut the grass effectively. When you are ready to start mowing your lawn, make sure that your blades are sharp, and if you are going to be the one sharpening them, be extremely careful. It may be a good idea to take your lawnmower to your local lawn care center, where they can sharpen the blades safely for you.

Once the blades are sharpened, then it’s time to decide on the right height for your lawn. Lots of people cut their lawns as short as they can. They figure that they’ll be able to mow less if they shorten the grass. While they may have to mow a time or two less, they’ll also cause damage to their lawn. If the lawn is too short, the sun can dry the soil. This can actually damage the grass and make it look extremely unappealing. Instead, leave at least 3 ½ inches of grass after you have finished mowing. Set your blades to the proper height and then start mowing. This height gives the grass enough room to protect the soil beneath it and makes it short enough to look great.

Watering

Watering correctly is extremely tricky. Ask some people about watering and they’ll say that it’s not a good idea, while others will say that watering is a necessity. If you truly want your lawn to look great, it’s definitely a good idea to make sure that it gets enough water. This is where knowing about the climate can be to your advantage. If you live in a climate that is fairly moist, where there is adequate rain and possibly snow in the winter, then you likely won’t need to water the lawn, or you’ll only need to water sporadically. If you live in a drier climate, however, then you’ll likely find that you need to water the lawn regularly.

But when do you water? Some will swear that you should water only in the morning, while others think that watering in the PM is the best idea. The truth is, however, that you can water at either time of day. While many experts say that it’s best to water in the morning, watering in the evening is fine. Avoid, however, watering between the hours of ten in the morning and six at night. This is when the sun is at its hottest and watering won’t help your lawn at all.

If you want your lawn to be beautiful, but you also want it to be “green,” it’s a good idea to use the water that you’ve collected around your house. You can use what is known as gray water. This is water that has been collected from the tub or sink, or water that you’ve collected from a rain barrel. Rain barrels are extremely easy to make and can not only save you money, but can also help the environment. If you live in an area where rain falls on a fairly regular basis, look into making a collection barrel. You’ll be very surprised at how much of an impact rain collected from the sky can have on your garden, and your grass–and before you know it, your lawn will  grow and look amazing.