7 Landscaping Tips to Keep Your Lawn Pristine
The first rays of sunshine are always a welcome sight after a long and dreary winter. As the weather slowly gets warmer, it seems like everything is suddenly bursting to life, especially in your front and backyard. Soak up nature’s vitamin D and take advantage of the longer days to perk up your garden. With these simple tips, it’s easy to maintain the health and beauty of your lawn all year round.
It’s important to first clear out any debris that may have accumulated on the area. Spread a thin layer of compost over after to give your lawn a boost.
There’s nothing more unsightly than bare patches of dirt in an otherwise lush lawn. Loosen the soil by about 2-4 inches, then level with the back of a rake. Spread the grass seed evenly, mixing with compost or additional soil as needed. Tamp down the seeded area with the flat side of your rake and water thoroughly.
Make sure your layer of mulch is around 2-3 inches. Besides aesthetic appeal, mulch is important for maintaining the condition of your soil by moderating temperatures, moisture levels, and deterring the growth of weeds. It also increases the population of beneficial soil microorganisms. Look to compost, shredded bark, or leaves for effective mulches.
This step is relatively simple with the use of a soil conditioner, which will fortify your soil with beneficial microorganisms and increase nutrients. Aerating allows for oxygen, water, and nutrients to easily reach the roots of your plants. The result is an overall lusher and healthier garden.
Dull blades rip rather than cut your grass, potentially leading to infection or water loss.
A good way to gauge how often you should mow your lawn is make sure that no more than 1/3 of the grass’s height is cut each time you mow. Keeping your lawn height slightly higher but mowing more often encourages a lusher, more resilient lawn that crowds out weeds and is less susceptible to heat or drought. This in turn saves you time and money.
This can be done easily with a soil testing kit purchased from your neighborhood gardening store. Generally speaking, a pH level of 6 to 7 is ideal for most plants.
Keeping your lawn beautiful all-year-round can be achieved by even the most novice of gardeners with these seven simple tips. By putting in a little time and effort, your lawn will become an investment that looks great and brings joy to you from season to season.
Erica is an avid lover of the outdoors, and transformed that love into a partnership running Valley West with Ryan 2012.
