Lawn Care Tips For Beginners

Soil pH (acidity level) is very important, and just because your dirt looks rich and black doesn’t mean it’s the right pH for grass. Take samples around the yard and send them to your local extension service for testing. You can fix soil pH problems by adding lime to raise the pH or iron to lower it. Most grasses prefer a pH of 6.0 to 7.2.

When it comes to yard maintenance, people tend to over apply fertilizer to shady areas because the grass is struggling. But that just kills it faster! A lawn in full sun and a shaded lawn that may get only two to four hours of direct sun have different water and fertilizer needs. The grass in shady areas needs less water because less evaporates, and it needs less fertilizer because with less sun it doesn’t grow as much. When you go into shade, shift the controls on the spreader, so you’re spreading about half the amount.

Lawn weeds can grow as either seed heads or flowers, with a wide variety of types that are common in lawns.
The easiest option is to pull out the whole weed, roots included. This can be done by hand or using a tool, however if there is a large quantity try spraying the weeds directly with a low toxicity herbicide.
The best solution to remove thatch is with a process called scarification, which is the process of raking and removing mulch from the lawn. There are a variety of tools available, including a lawn scarifier, that will assist with this process.
Mosses are non-flowering plants that can cause the worst of lawn problems. They thrive in areas that have excess moisture, shade and low quality turf. If left undiscovered or untreated the level of moss will increase, reducing the grasses' ability to grow. The initial conditions that allow for it to develop include: Shade, Clay within the soi, Poor drainage, High quantities of thatch, Drought. In order to remove the moss, the cause for the problem must be identified and reduced. It can then be monitored and maintained with feeding and scarifying.

This process allows better penetration of air and water to the root zone of the grass, which is essential for gaining the right nutrients to grow. It is a good way to manage lawns that are affected by drought or water logging. Aeration is performed by creating small holes in the soil at certain intervals and depths, and can be done using a garden fork or specially made tools and machines - even aerating shoes are available!

When the growth is most vigorous in late spring, the lawn should be mown frequently. This encourages thicker grass cover, which will help to reduce weed and moss growth.

Avoid cutting very close. Grass should be left slightly longer in dry weather and in spring and autumn.

To kill toadstools or fungi on the lawn, water with diluted Jeyes Fluid. It doesn’t damage the grass.