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By: Carol Stack
Having a green, lush lawn is easier than you might think.
If you don't have the ideal lawn you have always dreamed
of, don't worry. With just a few simple steps, you, too,
can have an amazing lawn.
In order to have a beautiful lawn, you must start with
a good foundation. Whether starting from scratch or trying
to bring life back to your lifeless lawn, start with seeding.
A rotary spreader will evenly distribute the grass seed
over the entire surface.
Once you have enough seed down you will need to make sure
the grass has sufficient water. In some parts of the world
where there is normally enough rainfall to maintain a lawn,
you might still need to water after seeding the lawn. You
will want to make sure you water the seeds enough to help
them grow.
On average, a healthy lawn needs between one and two inches
of water a week. If you are fortunate enough to live in
an area where it rains throughout the summer, you will not
need to bother with sprinklers. However, if a drought occurs
it might become necessary to water by hand to keep the lawn
green and healthy.
If you need to water by hand or with sprinkler, it is important
to water for short periods of time in order to avoid run-off
or puddles. Also, you want to water in the early morning
hours when it is cooler outside. Otherwise, you risk frying
the grass from the hot summer sun.
To help the lawn maintain a healthy look, you will need
to fertilize it. In the early spring, you will want to wait
until you have mowed the grass several times before applying
a fertilizer.
Be sure to match the fertilizer with the specific time
of year. Spring, summer and winter fertilizer all contain
different ingredients and are designed for use during the
specific seasons. In the fall it is important to fertilize
the lawn before the first frost.
Another step in maintaining a healthy lawn is to properly
mow it. You will want to mow at least once a week. Be sure
not to set the mower blade too low or you will end up killing
the grass. Also, be sure not to mow in circles.
When mowing, be sure to overlap the strips you have mowed.
This will ensure that all of the grass is mowed evenly.
Mowing shorter grass more often is better for your yard.
One final step in having a healthy lawn is weed control.
If your grass is fighting with weeds for nutrients, it is
less likely to grow properly. So be sure to apply a weed
control throughout the lawn-growing season. Often, weed
control can be combined with fertilizer.
If crabgrass appears in your lawn it is very important
to get rid of it at once. Pull it out by the roots. If necessary,
dig it out with a shovel. Then re-seed the grass and water.
Be sure you don't ignore the crabgrass or it will soon take
over the entire lawn. A little work now is better than a
lot of work later.
In conclusion, having a beautiful and healthy lawn requires
some effort. However, the rewards are so great that you
won't mind putting a little effort into the care of your
lawn. By following a few simple steps, you can maintain
a beautiful lawn all year long.
About The Author
Carol Stack enjoys writing articles. She lives with her
husband, children, four dogs and seven cats in the United
States. Find more ways to keep your yard and garden looking
great by visiting Carol's gardening site at http://www.freegardentips.info.
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