Is your lawn looking a little sad these days? Do you see bare patches, discolored areas, and weeds? Have you been considering tilling the whole thing under and starting over? If so, you might want to explore lawn renovation first.
Perhaps you remember when your lawn was thick and green with hardly a weed in sight. Over the years though, some bare spots have appeared and the weeds have really taken hold. It’s time to determine then if lawn renovation is for you.
First, you need to walk outside and really scrutinize your lawn. You’ll also need a few simple tools: a soil testing kit found at any garden center, a knife, a trowel, and a good weed reference guide. I have included two links that should assist you in identifying weeds.
If the soil is not frozen, take soil samples from several different areas of the lawn. Make sure you dig down several inches for your samples. Then follow the directions included with your testing kit. These kits, though not as accurate as what you would get from a university or testing lab, will still give you a very good idea of your soil’s fertility, pH, and humus content. If you don’t want to perform the test yourself, then, by all means, submit your samples to a lab or university.
Next, pull out that knife and insert it into the turf. Note the effort required to penetrate the soil. Having to put some muscle into the process indicates soil compaction which means it’s time to aerate.
Now, cut a 2×2 inch square piece of sod with soil attached. Examine the area at the soil line because this is where you’ll find thatch.
Thatch is a layer of dead stems and roots usually looked upon as detrimental, but a thin layer can actually be beneficial to the turf. It’s only when the thatch layer exceeds 1/2 inch that troubles can arise. If the thatch is too thick, arrange to have your lawn dethatched or if your lawn is small and you like a good workout, purchase a cavex rake and remove the thatch yourself. If thatch is not removed, it can harbor diseases and pests, and even repel water. Sometimes the grass will root into the thatch and not the soil. When hot weather arrives, the lawn quickly becomes thirsty, and begins to wilt and die.
Finally, figure out what types of weeds are invading. Weeds in a lawn signal an imbalance of the turfgrass environment. The type of weed is a good indicator of what that imbalance might be. Below is a list of common lawn weeds and what their presence can mean.
You may notice that compaction, low fertility, acidity, and poor drainage show up often on our weed list. These factors are exactly the opposite of what turf needs to thrive and crowd out those weeds.
For lawns to remain healthy and free of problems, keep a few things in mind: turf grows best at a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 which is neutral to slightly acid. Grass also needs proper feeding to resist disease and weed infestation, yet not overfeeding as this will encourage soft vulnerable growth. A home lawn requires 2 to 6 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year, depending on the grass variety and cultural factors.
You should also be able to figure out the actual amount of nitrogen in a bag of fertilizer. To do this, look at the three numbers on your bag. This is called the fertilizer analysis and each number is expressed as a percentage. You are interested in the nitrogen which is always the first number. Convert that number to a decimal, then multiply that number by the weight of the bag. For example, the actual nitrogen in a 50-pound bag of 10-2-8 would be shown as .10 x 50= 5 pounds of actual nitrogen in that bag.
Another rule to remember is to use caution when applying nitrogen fertilizer or you could burn the grass. This is less of a concern if you use a fertilizer with a slow-release or natural, organic nitrogen source. If you wish to apply 5 pounds of nitrogen to your lawn, spread that amount out evenly over the course of the season. Avoid applying more than 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of actual nitrogen at any one time. This means you will be feeding two or three times a year. Incidentally, if you do not bag your clippings, you can reduce the amount of fertilizer by 20 percent.
Though it seems weeds can grow anywhere, they, like other plants definitely have their preferences. One of your first steps in controlling weeds is making sure conditions favor turf growth and not weed growth.
Most homeowners have probably spent hours looking at the different types of garden seeders. You may have even come across…
When it comes to vehicle lovers, cleaning their cars on a regular basis is essential to maintaining the paint job's…
Gas chainsaws are the perfect tool for a variety of outdoor tasks, including chopping up logs for firewood, clearing brush…
A home can be a daunting project, one that takes some time and energy to maintain. With hard work, determination,…
Today ginger is grown all over tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, in parts of Africa and South America, and…
Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world, and growing onions is a snap in the home…