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Five Basic Steps to a Lush, Green, Weed-Free Lawn

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Are you finally ready to get serious about getting your lawn greener and healthier? See these basic grass care tips.

I spent years trying to figure out how to get rid of annoying weeds and get a healthy looking grass lawn—now I’m a bit of an agricultural maven. If you’re struggling with your lawn year after year, use these five basic steps to achieving a lush, green, weed-free lawn. You must implement each step with consistency and be patient—with time you’ll see positive results.

Green Grass

1. Understand Your Lawn

The first step to having a green lawn is to understand what makes your lawn tick. Grass is a plant like any other plant. It has roots that need nourishing and support. Understand that your lawn needs three basic things to stay lush and green: water, sun and quality fertilizer. These three elements work together to strengthen your grass roots so that they each blade of grass can thrive. If one of these elements isn’t in the picture, it’s difficult for the lawn to continue to grow healthy and green.

2. Treat with Fertilizer Starting in Early Spring

As soon as the last frost is over, it’s time to start feeding your lawn. Fertilize it with a good lawn fertilizer. Pick the kind of grass fertilizer that comes in granules that you can spread evenly—granules are the best when it comes to coverage in my opinion. If you have a major issue with weeds each year, pick a good Weed and Feed fertilizer (granules that you can work into the dirt). Sometimes weeds grow year in and out because there are dormant seeds in the soil. Apply the granules exactly according to the instructions on the product bag and on your spreader. Always take that extra few minutes to read the instructions because it can make all the difference.

If you have spots in your lawn that are light or turning brown, add new grass seed in addition to the fertilizer. Water thoroughly right after the first feeding. Feed your lawn every 4-6 weeks after that all the way into the fall season. The way you treat your lawn in the fall will have an impact on how it develops in the early spring.

3. Water on a Schedule in the Summer

As soon as the temperatures start to hit about 60-65 degrees, it’s time for more regular watering. Experts suggest watering at least twice per week for at least 15-30 minutes. The goal is 1.5 inches per week, which you can measure by putting a small tuna can near the watering area. Rainfall should take care of the rest, but if there is a long period of time without rain, add an extra day or two to the watering schedule. Use a water timer, hoses and sprinklers to ensure that the lawn is watered consistently.

4. Spray for Weeds Every Other Month

Unfortunately, weeds don’t need that much to thrive. All they need is just a little water and sunshine. And they really love it when it rains. You have to actively spray for weeds while they’re growing to keep them at bay. I suggest using an effective weed killer at least once every other month and a bit more frequently in stubborn cases. Use a product that you can spray evenly over the weed prone area. Don’t overapply—again, take the time to read the label of your weed killing product for guidance.

An important note: Try different lawn-friendly weed products until you hit the sweet spot. I tried a number of different brands and formulations until I finally hit the jackpot and found a product called Ortho Nutsedge Killer that eliminated all of the weeds in my yard within days.

5. Mow Every 10-14 Days Instead of Every Week

Why recut an already low cut lawn? If the grass is still low, why cut it again? Maybe it’s to always have that perfectly manicured look. But instead of mowing weekly, try a schedule of 10-14 days — especially if your lawn is struggling a bit at the moment (dry and brown). If you hire someone to mow, see if you can get them to come two or three times per month instead of weekly.

It takes time, patience and regular attention to get your lawn green, healthy and weed-free. It took me close to 10 years of trial and error to finally get an effective schedule together. Follow these basic steps to a greener lawn starting in the early spring of each year.

Posted by Louise

Photo credit: Flickr/Sam DeLong

 

Product Review: Spectracide Weed Stop For Lawns

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I was in desperate need of a fast-acting weed killer, like yesterday. I have family members who are allergic to bee stings. The problem with one variety of weed that was overgrowing on my grass was that it had a white flower that attracted bees everyday. After looking around for an affordable and proven product I gave Spectracide Weed Stop For Lawns a try. I’m glad I did, especially considering that many weed products on the product are hit and miss.

Spectracide Weed Stop for Lawns
This one worked for us. Keep in mind that the product labeling may be different in certain areas.

Benefits
~ one gallon size container
~ easy to use sprayer
~ kills over 200 types of weeds (see full list here)
~ doesn’t harm or burn lawn in any way
~ results shown within 24 hours – fast acting
~ rain resistant

After applying this product on a Tuesday, I saw the  weeds dying off the very next day. Everyday thereafter, I saw a great difference in the amount of weeds. I was also very pleased that none of my grass was affected by the weed stop. I even have enough product left over for next season. Keep in mind that this particular bottle is best for spot treatments–if your lawn is overrun with weeds, use the Spectracide Weed Stop Concentrate instead. Pour the recommended amount (see the label for instructions) in a spray bottle with a hose hook up. Fill the rest of the bottle with water and hook it up to a hose for widespread application. But be careful not to use too much — about a minute in each area will suffice.

* Keep in mind that some lawns and weed mixtures are different, so certain products will work better than others on your unique lawn. Try out various brands to find out which one is most reliable for your own lawn, then you can just stock up on that brand each year.

I recommend Spectracide Weed Stop For Lawns if you want something that will help keep your lawn green while getting rid of annoying weeds.

Review by Lorraine

 

Yard Workout: Burn Calories Doing Yard Work

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It’s estimated that you can burn as many as 450 calories per hour while doing yard work.Think about that the next time the grass needs trimming or the garden needs some tending!

How awesome is it that you can burn calories while beautifying your property. Here are a few ways to turn common yard work duties into an intense full body workout.

Preparing for Your Yard Workout

Before you begin any exercise it is of the utmost importance that you are well hydrated before, during and after the activity. You should also consume a well-balanced meal a couple of hours before beginning. It’s also important to stretch your legs, back and arms before getting started. If you have health concerns, consult a doctor before beginning any new health regimen.

Raking the Yard

Flickr/donhomer

One common outdoor chore is raking the yard when it’s full of leaves. Stand with your feet a little more than shoulder width apart while maintaining good posture. Use long sweeping motions to gather debris with the rake, and as you stretch forward bend your knees and engage your core. Make sure that you alternate sweeping motions from left, right and front. Do this at a pace that will raise your heart rate. These motions also force you to engage your legs, back and arms. Make small piles of debris and move onto the next area.

When all the piles are completed, it’s time to throw the debris into the trash bin. Do squats. With your feet shoulder width apart, stand over the pile of debris, do a power squat down as low as you can go, grab debris with both hands, lift your body up and throw the leaves into the bin. Repeat these steps for all piles (take a break if needed).

Tidying the Yard

Even if it’s not the fall season, you probably have debris on your property that accumulates throughout the week, such as papers, branches and sticks. Every time you find something new, do five jumping jacks or 10 standing leg lifts (put your hands on your hips and alternate lifting your legs forward or to either side). When you’re done doing your reps, bend at the knees to pick up the debris.

Mowing the Lawn

Flickr/seanhobson
Most modern day stand up mowers are self-propelled, meaning there is no need to actually push the mower (it goes on its own; you just guide it). Turn off the self-propelling feature so that you’ll be forced to actually push the mower for a period of time. You can always turn it back on if you get tired. Mowing the lawn using your own power will raise your heart rate and make you burn calories. Remember: it’s important that you periodically take breaks and rehydrate with either cold water or a sports drink that contains electrolytes.

It’s totally possible to get a great full body workout when doing yard work. When you think about your chores in this way, they are less daunting and go by faster. While doing your yard workout,  concentrate on your breathing, good posture and hydration.

Have fun losing those pesky pounds!!

Posted by Eve

 

Photo credits: Flickr/donhomer, Flickr/seanhobson

 

 

3 Yard Work Cheats / Short Cuts

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If you are fortunate enough to have a house with a yard, you know that it can be both a blessing and a “curse.” The effort it takes to beautify and maintain your property can be strenuous, but it is also rewarding. Whether, it is general maintenance or beautification, it can be time consuming to keep your yard looking wonderful. Here are a few yard work short cuts/cheats that will help make your yard work more manageable each year.

Make a List

First off, it helps to get everything down on paper. When you see the list of chores on paper, it doesn’t seem as difficult a task. You can then take each chore and divide them up over the weekend. So take a bit of time walking your yard to detail the chores that need to be done. This includes everything from leaf removal to trimming hedges and bushes to spraying your trees. Writing the items down will ensure that your precious time is not wasted and help you envision the process of completing each task.

Hire the Neighborhood Teens

In years past, it was commonplace for homeowners to hire neighborhood kids to help them with yard tasks. Chances are that you have at least one trustworthy, hard working teen in your area who would love to earn some extra cash on the weekend. Not only will it make your yard work easier to manage, it can also be beneficial to your relationships with neighbors. Cordially speak to the parents of the teens you may want to hire to negotiate a fair rate. $20 for a few hours of work is usually considered fair for a young person. With your written list in hand, ask your teen helper to do all of the bending, stooping, kneeling and heavy lifting that is required to complete the job.  For your privacy and continued safety, have all of the materials and tools on the outside of your house, ready to be used.  For a job well done, a tip may be in order. Keep relations friendly so that you have a good rapport with neighbors and teens for future years.

The Water Timer

As a yard owner, you realize that there are specific times that your lawn and garden needs water in order to thrive. Invest in an outdoor water timer that is easily attached to your water spout to make your yard tasks easier. Most modern timers allow you to set a start time, an end time and even have the water turn on at multiple times during the day. Human error can cause a yard to dry up when you forget to turn on the water — a timer is your safest bet. A quick note: some homeowners make the mistake of watering their lawns at the hottest time of day.  All that does is cost you money because the water evaporates when the sun is at its peak, so you do not give your lawn the proper nourishment and hydration needed to keep it looking green and healthy. The best time to water your lawn is at sun up +\or sundown.

Use these yard work shortcuts/cheats are not difficult to accomplish.  With a plan and a bit of effort, you will soon be entertaining more in your backyard instead of working!!
Posted by Eve