Difference between revisions of "Get and Maintain a Healthy Lawn"
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A beautiful lawn doesn't require a flood of chemicals. Careful watering, mowing, and fertilization can keep your lawn healthy, along with annual de-thatching and aerating. With the right approach, your lawn can be healthy enough to resist disease, weeds, and drought on its own. If you still encounter these problems, adjusting your soil or gardening habits can often bring about a recovery. | A beautiful lawn doesn't require a flood of chemicals. Careful watering, mowing, and fertilization can keep your lawn healthy, along with annual de-thatching and aerating. With the right approach, your lawn can be healthy enough to resist disease, weeds, and drought on its own. If you still encounter these problems, adjusting your soil or gardening habits can often bring about a recovery. | ||
| − | [[Category:Lawn Care]] | + | [[Category: Lawn Care]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
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#*Remove old grass and weeds using a grape hoe or sod cutter. If necessary, apply glyphosate or another broadleaf herbicide to remove these weeds. Follow label instructions and wait the required time after applying before breaking and prepping the soil. | #*Remove old grass and weeds using a grape hoe or sod cutter. If necessary, apply glyphosate or another broadleaf herbicide to remove these weeds. Follow label instructions and wait the required time after applying before breaking and prepping the soil. | ||
#*[[Grade-Your-Yard-Away-From-Your-Home's-Foundation|Grade your soil]] to a 1 or 2% slope running away from buildings.<ref name="rf1">http://extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/planting/soil_and_site_preparation.cfm</ref> | #*[[Grade-Your-Yard-Away-From-Your-Home's-Foundation|Grade your soil]] to a 1 or 2% slope running away from buildings.<ref name="rf1">http://extension.illinois.edu/lawntalk/planting/soil_and_site_preparation.cfm</ref> | ||
| − | #*[[Do | + | #*[[Do a Home Soil Test|Perform a soil test]] or send soil samples to a local university extension or a garden center that offers soil testing services. |
#*[[Improve-Soil|Improve soil]] if necessary based on soil test results, then gently rake in starter fertilizer. | #*[[Improve-Soil|Improve soil]] if necessary based on soil test results, then gently rake in starter fertilizer. | ||
#*Water the soil and let settle for one week.<ref name="rf2">http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/TURF/SITEPREP/soilprep.html</ref> | #*Water the soil and let settle for one week.<ref name="rf2">http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/TURF/SITEPREP/soilprep.html</ref> | ||
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#*Put on gloves and hand spread fertilizer in corners, edges and small, tight areas to avoid spreading fertilizer outside the lawn. | #*Put on gloves and hand spread fertilizer in corners, edges and small, tight areas to avoid spreading fertilizer outside the lawn. | ||
#*If you want the perfect lawn, you may fertilize three or four times per growing season. It's easy to burn your lawn or cause excessive quick growth with this strategy. For best results, contact a local university extension for advice specific to your climate. | #*If you want the perfect lawn, you may fertilize three or four times per growing season. It's easy to burn your lawn or cause excessive quick growth with this strategy. For best results, contact a local university extension for advice specific to your climate. | ||
| − | #[[Aerate | + | #[[Aerate a Yard|Aerate your yard in fall or spring]]. Annual de-thatching and aeration is very important for the health of your lawn. Once a year, remove plugs of soil using a lawn aerator with ½ in (1.25 cm) diameter tines. Remove them to a depth of 3 inches (7.5cm), passing over the lawn until you have about 8 plugs per square foot (88 per square meter). This fights soil compaction, disease, and thatch buildup. |
#*Aerate while the soil is on the dry side, but just wet enough to allow the tines to penetrate. | #*Aerate while the soil is on the dry side, but just wet enough to allow the tines to penetrate. | ||
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#*Thatch buildup can also be caused by poor drainage. Aerating the soil as described above can help. | #*Thatch buildup can also be caused by poor drainage. Aerating the soil as described above can help. | ||
#*Contrary to popular belief, grass clippings do ''not'' contribute to thatch growth. | #*Contrary to popular belief, grass clippings do ''not'' contribute to thatch growth. | ||
| − | #Adjust soil pH and nutrients. In many areas, including most of the Eastern US and Midwest, soil is too acidic and needs a light annual sprinkling of pelletized calcium carbonate lime. For a more accurate approach, [[Do | + | #Adjust soil pH and nutrients. In many areas, including most of the Eastern US and Midwest, soil is too acidic and needs a light annual sprinkling of pelletized calcium carbonate lime. For a more accurate approach, [[Do a Home Soil Test|conduct a soil test]] and adjust pH until it is between 6.0 and 7.0. Your soil test kit may also indicate nutrient deficiencies, such as low phosphorus or iron, which can be adjusted with a different fertilizer or soil addition products. |
#*Any time of year is fine for liming. | #*Any time of year is fine for liming. | ||
#*If your soil is too alkaline, lower the pH with sulfur gardening products. | #*If your soil is too alkaline, lower the pH with sulfur gardening products. | ||
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#Reduce use of struggling lawns or lawns in winter. Any time your lawn looks damaged, minimize the amount of foot and vehicle traffic until it returns to health. The same applies to lawns during frost, which are especially vulnerable. | #Reduce use of struggling lawns or lawns in winter. Any time your lawn looks damaged, minimize the amount of foot and vehicle traffic until it returns to health. The same applies to lawns during frost, which are especially vulnerable. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
