Let’s not kid ourselves, we all want the greenest lawn in the neighbourhood such that we can hover on google maps to appreciate our delicious emerald lawns. I’m not the only one that does that right? Well, if you aren’t completely sure on how to get the perfect lawn then here is an expert guide to try and achieve it.

Mowing

The most common error in the mowing process is participants thinking that they have to cut their lawn as short as possible. NO! Of Course if you’re lazy and want to mow as infrequently as possible then go for it but we are here for the perfect lawn so we need to rid of the buzz cuts. Short cuts will put stress on the grass and limit deep root growth. What I recommend is positioning the blade 3 inches tall and to cut your grass whenever it reaches 4.5 inches. Keep grass in shady areas ½ an inch to 1 inch taller than in the sunny parts of your yard. This gives each grass blade a greater area to conduct photosynthesis, which is the process that fuels grass growth.

lawn mower

Fertiliser

Organic and synthetic fertiliser is what you will all need. This promotes lusciousness, strengthens the roots and prevents the dreaded weeds and pests. The granule and liquid form is the best type and this should be applied with a broadcast spreader. A spreader is necessary because large concentrations of fertiliser in a small area can kill the grass. Follow the instructions on the packet you choose to buy and remember on average, you need to give shaded lawn areas roughly one-half to two-thirds less nitrogen per year compared to sunny lawns.

Lawn Maintenance and Repair

Bare spots, dead patches and weed infested grass are the most common lawn problems. Bare spots are obviously the most noticeable, however they can be repaired with a little persistence and patience. Simply rough up the soil, pre-mix seed with a little compost and then throw down the mixture. Run the back of a rake over it to get the seed down into the soil and then your only job will be to keep it moist to minimise its growth time.

Dead patches can form due to lack of water, pet urine or fertiliser misuse. To repair these spots, remove all of the dead grass right down to the bare and then apply grass seed. Keep the area watered and if you think the cause was due to fertiliser then get rid of any fertiliser granules before planting the new grass seeds.

Weed Control

Dandelions are the most common type of lawn weed however whatever the weed is here are the simple steps to get rid of them. The most effective but longest way is to dig them out from its roots. Any bad patches that are produced as a result of this should be replaced with grass seed and kept watered as stated in the previous section. If you don’t have the willpower to do that however, then you can use lawn and garden sprayer which contains a herbicide to spray as they appear. It is however important to limit the use of these and you should always follow the instructions on the label.

meadow

So with your lawns all up and ready to go, remember to keep off them as much as possible and keep it hydrated whenever rain droughts occur. Follow all these steps and you should be in good stead to have the most luscious lawn in your neighbourhood.