Making The Grass Greener On Your Own Side
We've all heard the saying that "the grass is greener on the other side". Though it is common to envy what others have, it doesn't have to apply to your lawn. Make yours the one that everyone else envies, with just a few simple preparation techniques that can give you grass that is healthy, nourished and well-established in its environment.
The first important consideration when planting new grass is to determine which type of grass you desire to have. The options can vary according to where you live, what the climate is and what type of dirt you will be planting in. Choose grass types that are native to your region in order to ensure survival during all seasons. Consider price, but don't make the mistake of buying cheap grass seed that will make it harder to maintain your lawn over the years.
Before preparing the soil, decide whether you will be growing your grass from seed or from sod. Seeds will be far more cost-effective, but will also take much more of your time for germination, weed control and soil preparation. Assuming that you choose to go with this least expensive method of starting from scratch with seed, you will need to till the soil to prepare it for receiving the seed. Do not neglect this step, as the seed will not take hold if the ground is not sufficiently broken up. Use fresh seed, typically tested within one year prior to use. Consider having your soil tested to pinpoint any issues that would inhibit growth, such as fungus, disease or missing minerals.
Take this opportunity to level out the entire land area, adding new soil if necessary in order to create a smooth, even terrain for landscaping. If starting a new yard with plans to add trees, shrubs and gardens, try to determine where these items will go before you plant grass in those areas.
Use an effective weed killer to make sure that your grass will not get choked out when it starts to emerge from seedlings. If at all possible, use nontoxic weed killers that do not add pollutants into your soil. This is especially important if you have animals or if you will be growing an edible garden. Noxious chemicals can inhibit proper growth and harm the environment at the same time.
Use a natural fertilizer to give the soil needed nutrients before planting the seeds. Composted organic matter can make the soil more porous and able to absorb needed water and nutrients from the sun and air, as well as increasing fertility. Consider adding dolomitic limestone, soil sulfur and other specialty ingredients if a soil test reveals the need for it. It wouldn't be a bad idea to add these things even if you opt not to have the soil tested.
Doing these simple things ahead of time to prepare your lawn for new grass can make all the difference in your success. It's your turn now to have the best yard in the neighborhood, so use these ideas and get planting.
