Your Lawn - Caring for Your Soil
So, you have tested your soil and now know the pH level and the type of soil you have. Good for you. Now you may be asking yourself how do I care for this soil so that the grass and the plants, the flowers, and the trees will grow? You have come to the right place.
Since good, healthy soil is the foundation of a beautiful yard, you will need to start with the basics.
Watering
If you have sandy soil, then you will have to pay particular attention to this section. If you have loam soil, then you can read this with a smile - but remember that even loam soil needs water or it will quickly turn to sand. If you have silt or clay soil, the next section on drainage will also be useful to you.
The first rule of watering is that it must be done often, especially during the warmer months when there is less rain fall. You should water your lawn each day in order to make sure that the soil is receiving enough moisture.
Many people invest in watering systems which are underground sprinklers that are set on timers that will water the lawn each day. While these systems can be expensive, if you are the forgetful type, this is an option. If not, buy a hose that is long enough to reach the lawn or buy a sprinkler that can be moved around.
It is important to water your lawn enough, but not overeater it. You have watered your lawn too much when puddles begin to form. This is why you should move around your lawn and try to get an even amount of water on the entire lawn.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your lawn is the best way to provide nutrients and help keep the weed population under control in order to create a healthy lawn. When fertilizing your lawn, you keep in mind the following:
Types of grass that are on the lawn
pH level of soil
Type of soil
Types of weeds
There are different types of fertilizers for different types of grass. Also, there are fertilizers that should be used at different times each year. If you have recently planted seed grass, then you should already know the types that are on your lawn, but if you have moved into a home that was previously occupied, you may not know exactly which types of grass are on your lawn. You should ask your neighbors about their grass since the same grasses are typically used in an area.
Read the instructions on the bag of fertilizer before using it. This will tell you when to use the fertilizer, how to apply it, and also suggest other fertilizers that should be used during the year. Each season, you should be using a fertilizer.
In order to spread the fertilizer evenly, you should buy or rent a spreader. This will evenly distribute the fertilizer. They are very easy to use. Simply put the fertilizer into the hopper and push the spreader in even lines across the lawn.
Liming
If your soil is acidic, you will need to put lime down in order to bring the soil to a more neutral state. If you decide to send a soil sample to be tested, you will receive advice on how much lime to use and when to use it on your lawn.
Lime can be found at most home and garden centers and can be used the same way as fertilizer.
Once you have placed lime on your lawn, DO NOT repeat the process. If you put too much lime on your lawn, you will cause the soil to turn alkaline, which is not good for most plants and flowers.
Mulching and Composting
What better way to combine helping the environment and using fancy lawn equipment than by mulching and composting! This is a fun activity for the entire family.
In order to create mulch, you will need to buy or rent a mulching machine. These little machines will grind up leaves, small branches, and bark. The material that shoots out the back of the mulching machine can be used to decorate your lawn or be used as fertilizer. Since mulch is made from organic materials, it is full of nutrients that will help plants and flowers grow. It will also replenish nutrients in the soil.
You will have the opportunity to mulch each fall as this is a great way to get rid of all of those leaves.
Composting is a little different from mulching in that you will be recycling not only dead leaves and other organic matter, but also your trash. Yes, your trash. Instead of throwing away left over food, you can create a compost pile outside where food will decompose with other matter to create a nutrient rich mix that you can add to your soil. For many people the idea of composting sounds disgusting, and in many ways, it is. You will need to turn the pile every few days to make sure that all of the materials are decomposing at the same rate. This will also reduce the odor. When you have a large enough pile, you can use it on your lawn. This is an inexpensive way to fertilize your lawn by using materials from the environment.
Many people would rather use compost than chemicals on your lawn. The choice is up to you.
lawn care
Related Tags: gardening, lawn, lawn maintenance, garden lawn
Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of blog www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com. Author of "Your Perfect Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care and Maintenance. Find it at www.lawnsurgeon.com
I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Online Gardening Store Diy Matters Launch New Product Terram Root Guard
One of the largest importers of landscaping fabric and weed control fabric in the UK has launched a - Snow Removal Burlington
When deciding on a company to provide professional snow removal in Burlington and the surrounding Go - Important Aspects Of Slate Stone Tiles
Slate stones are found in large deposits in the coastal regions, due to random mixture of different - How To Choose Between Asphalt Or Concrete Driveway Pavers
Beautifully designed driveway pavers can undoubtedly improve the appearance of your house. If you ar - Sandstone Export From India
Sandstone is produced when natural cement such as silica, iron or lime makes dense large lumps of sa - Granite Suppliers In India
Amongst all stones used for building, Granite must be the most exclusive. It is put to various uses - Packers And Movers In Hyderabad
When it comes to Packers and Movers, YReach is the first choice to reach. As with any other service - Choosing Pool Cleaner And Maintaining Your Pool
A pool automatic cleaner is very useful equipment that can help you to reduce the difficulty for mai - Create A Backyard Getaway
A few years ago, we were landscaping our new home and had a consultant come in to give us some ideas - How To Keep Your Outdoor Landscaping Safe In Cold Weather
When you think of Florida you probably picture sunny days, pristine beaches and hot days on the golf
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Gazebo Blueprints
In order to use existing open spaces in the backyard or lawn, people opt to install gazebos. They ar - The Best Deck Material
It is always nice to have a backyard at your home and if you are one of the lucky ones to have a dec - Psychic Garden Rapport
A psychic garden is an adventure of many different dimensions. It is a personal relationship: with t - The History of the Tomato
Tomato history has had its origins traced back to the Aztecs around 700AD, therefore it is believed - A Greenhouse Kit for Both Amateur and Professional Gardeners
What is a Greenhouse?Greenhouses are garden structures designed to cultivate plants by harnessing th - History Of Grapevines
The first documentation of grapevines growing in the Americas was discovered in researching the logb - Lawn Mowers Power
Keeping a clean and nice garden or lawn is not an easy task, it is always a source of great pride to - Organic Gardening with Compost - Using Compost for a Naturally Healthy Lawn and Garden
'Mature' organic compost is a natural and simple choice for solving those problems. An application o - Lawn Aeration Benefits
Aerating your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep your lawn healthy and attr - The Most Important Components for Your Deck Rail Plans
For anyone who isn't aware about creating a plan for the deck railings, you should know that a deck