Many homeowners are frustrated by lawn maintenance. Too much time is required to keep grass green and smooth, weed-free, and mowed. Others bemoan wear from foot traffic or visits from pets that make things look less than perfect. However, this whole subject can be made easier by analyzing soil conditions in the yard.
Read up on this topic during the winter, when gardening is done from your armchair. Instead of mooning over colorful seed catalogs, do some research on weeds. That's right, weeds. These vibrant and invasive plants can reveal a lot about your soil. Actually, weeds and grasses are just as interesting as flowers and veggies.
The first thing is to learn the causes of your problems. You can analyze soil conditions by checking which weeds grow in your yard. List the kinds of weeds, the color of the foliage of both weeds and grass, and the luxuriance or sparseness of growth of any kind of plant. It's both easy and fun to find out what the different plants in your grass are.
If you identify the weeds that are competing with your grass, you can discover whether your ground has a high, low, or neutral pH. Acid soil defeats grass, which likes neutral conditions, An alkaline soil is more rare in temperate regions, but this also can make grass weak and shallow-rooted.
There are also weeds which thrive on compacted soil that smothers grass from the roots up. Others, like moss, grow where drainage is poor or water puddles after rain or irrigation. Many grow in conditions of low fertility where grass can not compete and gets crowded out. Of course, there are other ways to check pH levels, mineral deficiency, and moisture levels. Soil test kits can be ordered or obtained at the local extension office, and electronic monitors also answer questions you'll have.
Choosing the right grass for your region and the kind of lawn you want is very important. Grasses, like other plants, grow only in certain zones and precipitation conditions. For example, Blue Springs, Missouri, is in zone 6. Its temperate climate and plentiful rainfall makes fescues and Kentucky Bluegrass good choices for that region.
After improving your soil (with organic fertilizers, minerals found in lime, epsom slats, and gypsum, and aeration techniques that allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate to plant roots) and choosing the right grass for your region, you need to learn about mowing and watering. Each grass has it's optimum height; tall fescue should be from 3 1/2 to 4 inches tall. Watering should be done every week in early morning - from 6 to 9 AM - generously enough to soak into the soil without running off or puddling.
You can turn all yard care over to professionals, but it's so satisfying to do lawn maintenance yourself. Be an informed gardener and enjoy the best-looking grass in the neighborhood, for which you can take the credit.
Read up on this topic during the winter, when gardening is done from your armchair. Instead of mooning over colorful seed catalogs, do some research on weeds. That's right, weeds. These vibrant and invasive plants can reveal a lot about your soil. Actually, weeds and grasses are just as interesting as flowers and veggies.
The first thing is to learn the causes of your problems. You can analyze soil conditions by checking which weeds grow in your yard. List the kinds of weeds, the color of the foliage of both weeds and grass, and the luxuriance or sparseness of growth of any kind of plant. It's both easy and fun to find out what the different plants in your grass are.
If you identify the weeds that are competing with your grass, you can discover whether your ground has a high, low, or neutral pH. Acid soil defeats grass, which likes neutral conditions, An alkaline soil is more rare in temperate regions, but this also can make grass weak and shallow-rooted.
There are also weeds which thrive on compacted soil that smothers grass from the roots up. Others, like moss, grow where drainage is poor or water puddles after rain or irrigation. Many grow in conditions of low fertility where grass can not compete and gets crowded out. Of course, there are other ways to check pH levels, mineral deficiency, and moisture levels. Soil test kits can be ordered or obtained at the local extension office, and electronic monitors also answer questions you'll have.
Choosing the right grass for your region and the kind of lawn you want is very important. Grasses, like other plants, grow only in certain zones and precipitation conditions. For example, Blue Springs, Missouri, is in zone 6. Its temperate climate and plentiful rainfall makes fescues and Kentucky Bluegrass good choices for that region.
After improving your soil (with organic fertilizers, minerals found in lime, epsom slats, and gypsum, and aeration techniques that allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate to plant roots) and choosing the right grass for your region, you need to learn about mowing and watering. Each grass has it's optimum height; tall fescue should be from 3 1/2 to 4 inches tall. Watering should be done every week in early morning - from 6 to 9 AM - generously enough to soak into the soil without running off or puddling.
You can turn all yard care over to professionals, but it's so satisfying to do lawn maintenance yourself. Be an informed gardener and enjoy the best-looking grass in the neighborhood, for which you can take the credit.
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