Natural Lawn Care

Have you ever noticed that some lawns look better than others? Often homeowners believe that they have to spend a lot of money purchasing expensive additives or chemicals to make their lawns look fabulous. Rather, all they really need to do is spend some time learning the basics of natural lawn care.

• Choose according to your region. If you have the option or the ability, make sure that you chose the grass that you plant carefully. Not all grasses are going to grow equally well in all regions. In addition, when choosing your grass, make sure that you do not choose a single type, but rather a mixture of grasses that will thrive in your particular region. This way your grass will be more resistant to succumbing to diseases or pests.
• Shorter isn't necessarily better. Be careful as you cut your grass that you don't cut it too short. The taller the grass, then the deeper the roots, which means the healthier the grass. Another benefit of having longer grass is that it can help "shade out" the ground, and make it more difficult for weeds to grow.
• Perform maintenance on your equipment. Periodically check your lawnmower blades and make sure that they are nice and sharp. The reason for this is that sharp blades will cut your grass rather than tear it which is more traumatic. Grass that has been torn rather than cut is also more susceptible to disease, and will look somewhat ragged after it has been mowed.
• Leave your clippings. When you do cut your lawn, leave the clippings. Despite what many people think, lawn clippings do not necessarily increase the chances of thatching. Rather it can help protect your grass, but if you are worried then use a mulching mower. This will cut the grass finer, and help ensure that they decompose quicker.
• Keep an eye out for problems. Keep an eye out for any thatching, diseases, or pests that can cause problems for your lawn. At the first sign, make sure that you deal with it appropriately. Also keep an eye out for any weeds, and get rid of them the minute they begin to show up. The surest way is to simply pull them out by the roots.
• Aerating helps. It is a good idea to aerate your lawn annually. This will help to ensure that your lawn and soil doesn't become hard, or have dry spots. If you do not know when the last time your lawn was aerated, stick a pencil into it after you have watered. If it doesn't sink to a depth of between four and six inches, then your lawn needs aerating.
• Water properly. As much as possible, water your lawn around natural watering cycles. This will help ensure that you do not over water your lawn. When you do water, make sure that it is deep, but not overly frequent. If your lawn begins to look dull green, or doesn't exactly spring back after walking on it, then you need to water.
• Feeding is good. Everything that lives needs to be fed, and your grass is no different. Use a natural, slow acting fertilizer when feeding your lawn to avoid damage or burning the grass. You should only need to apply the fertilizer once or twice a year, usually in the spring and fall. Do not use too much, since over feeding is as bad as not feeding.