Watch the Grass Grow
Love your lawn this summer
Summer is here and so is another lawn care season. As you get out the mower and the sprinklers, these tips will help you make your lawn the envy of the neighbourhood. Let’s get started on our lessons to keep your lawn looking lush.
Water, water everywhere
The best time of day to water is early in the morning before the daytime temperature increases. Evaporation is low in the early part of the day. Watering early can prevent disease and insect problems. Avoid watering between 10 am and 6 pm. This is the warmest part of the day and when watering is the most inefficient. Water your lawn thoroughly every seven to 10 days unless it rains. One inch of water can help your lawn’s roots grow deeply.
Cut it up
Cut the grass to the right length. Your lawn mower blade should be set for no lower than three inches. Make sure your blade is sharp and that no more than one third of the height of the grass is cut at one time. Let your clippings stay on the lawn—no need for bagging. Your grass will love the nitrogen that clippings provide.
Good food
Feed your lawn every year with top dressing. Apply one cm of compost to your lawn once a year to help it stay lush. You can combine this with overseeding (filling in bare spots with seeds) to save time. Fertilize your lawn three times every growing season. You’ll want to apply fertilizer in May, again in July, and once more in August. Be sure to apply a fertilizer meant for the right time of year and avoid fertilizing in the fall.
Stay on it
Keep an eye on your lawn’s thatch. Thatch is the layer of stems, leaves and roots that sits between your grass and the soil. It should be no more than half an inch deep. Any thicker and the thatch can prevent water and fertilizer from flowing into the roots. Dethatch your lawn with a de-thatching rake, a de-thatching blade on your mower, or hire a lawn care professional to take care of it for you. Stay on top of weeds. No one likes a weedy lawn so pull weeds as they come up. A thick, well- maintained lawn will not get many weeds because good lawn care prevents most weed issues. Take care of the bare patches. Overseed any lawn patches quickly to avoid weeds invading.
Change it up
Where grass won’t grow well, do something else. Some areas of your yard may not grow grass easily. In areas with deep shade (such as under large trees), simplify your landscaping with mulch and shade tolerant plants. If you have high traffic areas, replace the lawn with a sidewalk, gravel or pavers. With a little planning and work, you can have a lawn that stands up and looks great even in the dog days of summer.