A
dazzling green lawn is a mark of homeowner pride in any neighborhood, and can
be achieved in a few simple steps. Householders who don't have time can achieve
the same results by hiring a lawn care company
to do the work for them.
Start
off by testing your soil. You can get a test kit at your local garden center. Once
you have accessed your nutrient status, by the appropriate fertilizer. In
general, a pound of nitrogen will provide enough fertilizer for 1,000 square
feet. Lightly water following fertilization to allow the nutrients to settle to
the roots.
Follow
fertilization by consistent watering. Add one inch of water per week, slightly
more if it is really hot. Be sure to water in the morning, so the blades are
dry by nightfall. Wet blades in the night are conducive to fungus growth.
Mow
blades weekly, aiming to achieve sharp blade edges. Before mowing check that
the soil is dry but not arid. Insert a screwdriver into the ground, up to its
handle. If it goes in without serious resistance this is a sign the ground has
the proper moisture. The cut should go
straight across the top, as if cut with scissors. Avoid jagged edges. If the
grass appears to have a white cap after mowing, sharpen your lawn mower blades.
Leave your grass 2-3 inches high,
depending on the type. The correct grass height permits nutrients to reach the
roots, and protects from weed growth. Alter
the direction of your mowing every couple of weeks. Leave the cut grass in
place as it makes good fertilizer.
In
the fall, be sure to rake fallen leaves promptly, as leaves weaken the lawn by
blocking access to the sunlight. And
here's one last tip. Human hair makes great free fertilizer for your lawn.
Resources: Call the Turf Barbers, 914 302 2469; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY; http://www.theturfbarbers.com; for experienced lawn care in the Yorktown Heights, NY or Westchester County area.
