Keeping your Lawn Healthy and Green Year Round

As I drive through the streets of St Louis I am often asked why some lawns are beautiful and green while others are brown and dead. After enduring the warmest and driest summers on record, the challenge to have a healthy green lawn seems like a monstrous task. I'd like to share with you five ways to ensure you have a healthy and green lawn even in the most stressful situations

First of all start out by getting a soil test of your lawn. Understanding the composition of the soil it is important so that you understand the mineral composition of your soil. Once this is understood then you will be better able to determine the proper fertilizer to use. This information will help you to answer 4 basic questions

1. What nutrients does my soil need?
2. What type of fertilizer should I use?
3. How much fertilizer should I use?
4. How often should I fertilize?

This is a great stating point to creating a healthy green lawn even in the most stressful conditions.

Secondly establish a balanced fertilization and weed control program. Feeding your lawn 3 to 4 times a year will result in a healthier turf and a stronger root zone. Well-established root zones can help you to avoid many of the stresses that over time take a toll on your turf. A regular fertilization schedule will leave your neighbors green with envy.

Weed control throughout the season is critical to the overall health of your turf. Weeds in your lawn zap the energy from healthy turf and if left untreated over time will lead to a stressed lawn. Eliminate weeds and keep your lawn thicker and greener year round. 

Thirdly proper mowing is critical to a healthy turf. Make sure you do not remove more than one third of the grass blade when mowing. Immediately blow off or rake any patches of heavy thatch after mowing as this can suffocate and kill your lawn over time. It’s like putting a plastic bag over your head. Over time the lack of oxygen will lead to certain death and the truth is the same for your lawn. Make sure to complete routine maintenance on your mower including sharpening the blade and changing the oil. The mower is meant to run at a certain rpm to ensure the turf is cut cleanly. Failure to do this will result in the turf being torn resulting in stress conditions throughout the turf. This also applies to fall leaf and debris removal

Fourth is to Aerate and Overseed your lawn on a regular basis. Aeration helps the exchange of oxygen with the root system and results in healthier turf. A healthy turf also reduces stress and helps to eliminate weeds. Over seeding on a periodic basis helps to repair and restore areas throughout the turf that have been damaged throughout the year.

And finally proper watering is critical to the health and appearance of your lawn. A typical lawn requires at least 1 inch of water per week. Whether or not done manually or with a systematic irrigation system it is important that your turf gets the proper amount of water each week. As important as getting the proper amount of water it is equally important to water your lawn at the right time of day. Typically watering in the early morning between 6 am and 9 am is ideal. This allows the moisture to be absorbed into the root system, allows excess water to evaporate eliminating the possibility of disease and fungus. Proper watering even in the stress of summer will leave your lawn healthy and green.

These tips will help you to maintain a healthy and green lawn even in the most stressful conditions.