Your lawn is likely the first thing that people noticed when coming to your house. If it is not being cared for as it should be, then that is going to change how your home looks and feels and how much you and your family actually spend time in it. So what are some of the things that you can do to ensure that your green lawn is as beautiful as possible and revive your lawn?
Sometimes, a lawn just needs a fresh start. There are many ways in which you can achieve this. In this post, we are going to take you through some of the best ways to give any lawn a truly fresh start, so let’s take a look and see which of these might be worth looking into. Taking care of your lawn might not be as hard as you think it is.
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Remove Debris
First of all, you need to make sure that you are removing any fallen debris like big limbs from your yard. If you do not have trees, then you can skip this step. You may wonder if you need to rake the leaves out of your yard and quite honestly, that depends on you and your home owner’s association, but ultimately, it is better for the ecosystem of your yard if you leave as many leaves as possible.
Beyond that, see whether there are any other items which have made their way to the lawn. Sometimes, there are parts of the yard that get used as a general dumping ground and you will find that it is important to be able to clear it away. So doing so is one of the first steps to take if you want to get your yard back to a decent state.
Clear Out Weeds
Your lawn might also have developed weeds over time. This is the kind of thing that can happen all too easily, and most of the time it might not even matter that much. But if you want your lawn to really look its best, then clearing out the weeds is going to be really important on the whole. It’s the kind of thing that is going to be worth doing from time to time, as it will ensure that your lawn looks complete and fresh.
To do this effectively, you might find that you need some help. If there are not many weeds in your yard, you can buy a weed remover. If you have a big yard, lots of weeds, and/or not much free time, there are actually trusted weed removal services out there that you might want to make use of, who will be able to keep your lawn looking its best and ensure that you are going to have a much better aesthetic to it on the whole. It’s good to keep on top of the weeds anyway, because it ensures that the yard is being cared for much more.
Weed killers work, but sometimes only for awhile. It is best to just pull up each weed by the root. And it is also better for the people that walk on the lawn to not have chemicals raging through it.
Remove Dead Patches
From time to time, a lawn can develop dead patches of grass. This can even happen in otherwise healthy lawns, and the result can be a lawn that looks half-gone. It’s definitely a good idea to make sure that you remove any dead patches that might have appeared on your lawn. These are going to detract from the appearance of the lawn considerably, so getting rid of them is going to be important.
If you do have such patches, you should make sure that you have a solution for how to deal with them. That will include, for instance, making sure that you are thinking about what kind of lawn you want to have, and then finding some turf or going to re-seed the lawn. Either way will work, and it’s something that you are really going to want to think about.
Once you have removed the dead patches in whatever way you can, you are going to have a lawn that looks so much better and more like new, so this is something that you will definitely want to make sure you are doing correctly.
Aerate the Soil
Compacted soil can prevent grass from thriving. The next step in your lawn care is to use a lawn aerator or hire a professional to perforate the soil, allowing roots to breathe and receive essential nutrients. If you want to get some exercise and have a little fun while aerating your lawn, try these lawn aerating shoes! The small holes in your lawn will work wonders and might just give you the greener lawn you have been looking for.
Reseed
Reseed your lawn in areas with thin or bare spots. Research grass types and choose a high-quality grass seed that matches your climate and grass type. If you need to choose a new grass seed for the best results, it is okay. Your existing lawn can morph into a lush lawn with good seed and hard work. Sometimes, especially after a harsh winter, a newly seeded lawn in early spring is a great idea.
Proper Watering
Water your lawn deeply and less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Early morning is the best time to water, as it allows the grass to dry before evening and minimizes the risk of diseases. Of course, frequent watering is necessary when you reseed, lay sod, or in those hot summer months.
Fertilize
If your lawn is generally okay, but looks as if it has seen better days, the problem might be with a lack of nutrients. That can happen all too quickly and easily, and the truth is that it is sometimes more or less beyond your control. However, you can do something about it once that has happened, and it’s something that you are definitely going to want to plan to take care of. Fertilizing your lawn is going to be a great thing that you can do to make it really look like new again, and it’s the kind of thing that you will find very easy to do too.
If you are concerned with the type of lawn fertilizer, there are many organic fertilizers on the market that are better for the environment and your family, and work extremely well.
Once you have fertilized your lawn, it won’t take long – perhaps a couple of weeks – until it starts looking better (if you do this in the Spring or Summer, but even Fall fertilizing can prove to be beneficial.) It will probably be brighter and greener, and look considerably better on the whole. You might want to then continue fertilizing it from here on out, as that will ensure that you are much more likely to actually keep it looking its very best.
Lay Down New Sod
Sometimes there is nothing left to do to save your lawn, and you just need to lay down some new sod and start again. When you do that, it can be a great way of giving your lawn a fresh start, and often it is one of the most powerful ways of doing that on the whole. It is something that you might really want to think about. Start with removing any dead grass, especially if you are choosing a new turf. Laying down new sod is easy to do and yet very powerful in terms of its visual effect, so it’s something that you might want to think about doing here. Laying sod in the spring or fall is usually the best time, as temperatures are not too cold nor too hot.
Research what kind of grass grows well in your area and take note of how much shade it gets during the day. You can replace it with the type of your existing grass or something entirely differently, like kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass.
If you lay sod and take care of it, you are going to end up with what is literally a new lawn, ensuring that you can effectively start again. That’s a great experience to have, and the kind of thing that is going to help you out a lot with keeping your lawn looking like new.
Regular Mowing
Keep your grass at the recommended height for its type. Typically, it’s best to mow when the grass is dry and never cut more than one-third of the grass height at a time. Make sure that your lawn mower doesn’t have a dull blade. So often, people forget to check the mower blades year after year!
Aim to mow your grass at least weekly during the growing season, but it could need it more often than that. If you have a large area to mow, consider betting a riding mower or hiring someone to mow the entire lawn for you.
Implement a Maintenance Routine
Consistency is key to maintaining a healthy lawn. Create a regular maintenance schedule that includes fertilization, watering, and weeding. The healthiest grass comes from proper maintenance and if that means hiring professional lawn care services, so be it. If you desire a beautiful lawn and have the money for a service, then it is well worth it.
Remember that lawn improvement takes time. Results may not be immediate, but with consistent care and maintenance, you will see your lawn gradually transform into a beautiful, vibrant space. Your lawn is the first thing people see when they approach your home, so why not make it a point of pride? Follow these steps to give your lawn a fresh start, and soon you’ll enjoy a lush, inviting outdoor oasis. A little effort now can pay off with a stunning green landscape that you, your family, and your neighbors will all appreciate.