Ah, Spring! Some of us await the blooming of Forsythia, Crocuses, Tulip and Daffodils to announce the arrival of Spring. But there is another eagerly awaited event that signals the awakening of your garden...the lush, carpet of greenery that is your lawn. America loves it's lawns and April is National Lawn Care Month. Grass is the most prolific plant on the planet. If you doubt that, just try and stop it from growing in an undesired location :). Still, it requires vigilant care in order to be the dense carpet of greenery that so many of us love.
Now, is the time to begin your lawn care program to ensure that you have the best lawn on the block. Need help? Follow our lawn care tips to get you off to a great start:
1. Core Aeration: Alleviate compaction with aeration which will allow water and nutrients to get to the root zone of your lawn. Typically done in Spring, or Fall.
2. Dethatch: Thatch is dead grass, roots and stems, which naturally accumulate over time, forming a layer. This layer protects the root zone from rapid moisture loss, soil temperature variation and improves turf tolerance for traffic. However, if the layer becomes too thick it can have the opposite effect, preventing nutrients and moisture from reaching the root zone, blocking sunlight etc. If your thatch is more than 1/2 inch thick, dethatching is generally recommended.
3. Test your soil: This is the most commonly ignored step because we are widely misinformed that that applying a fertilizer and weed control on a lawn solves all it's problems. Grass is a plant. Like all plants, turf has specific PH requirements for optimum growth. If you start from the ground up you can make informed decisions about your lawn management and you'll likely need to apply less chemicals to resolve lawn issues. You will also be a better steward of the environment. Who wouldn't want that?
4. Overseed: Tired looking and sparse lawns should be overseeded. The best time to overseed is Fall but it can be done in early Spring, as well. Newer grass seed varieties are also drought, disease and insect resistant, helping you to create a healthier lawn. For the best germination, use Salt Hay, or Penn Mulch to protect against birds and keep your seeds moist.
5. Fertilization: Lawns don't manage themselves, they have too many enemies to subsist on sunshine alone. Your fertilizer management should include fertilizer, broadleaf weed and crabgrass controls, at a minimum.
6. Water: All plants need water but it's worth noting that without this precious resource, applications are not as effective. Your goal should always be to irrigate the lawn so that it's roots stay cool which is protection against the scorching temperatures. Kentucky Blue Grass is a cool season grass and while it's prone to go dormant in higher temperatures, lawns which are irrigated regularly still look good when others go belly up. Water deeply and infrequently. How long? Check here.
Sounds like a lot? Consider the returns, or hire a professional to do the work for you. If you have a fantastic garden, it deserves a great lawn to match.
Questions? Email us at info@blossomingb.com.
