We've all heard the line "the grass is greener on the other side". What that means is stop looking at your neighbors yard and start watering your own. We delve into the top ways to get that amazing sod-quality look. Keep reading for helpful tips and tricks to really bring out the emerald in your lawn and keep it looking show-quality, even in this atrocious heat!
To get the most out of every step to a thicker lawn, take a tip from lawn pros and test your soil. Soil testing is a simple process that yields big returns in thick, healthy grass growth. A soil test gives you an accurate starting point for your lawn's unique needs, as well as recommendations to fix any underlying problems. If you're new to testing, contact your local extension office. They can help with simple kits and information to get you started.
Testing reveals your soil's pH and other soil conditions that can inhibit thick, healthy growth. By following test recommendations, you can improve your soil without guesswork. If soil pH is too low, for example, your grass can't take up nutrients it needs. Testing lets you know if your lawn needs lime or other soil amendments to restore pH balance and nutrient availability so grass can grow thick and lush. It also tells you the composition of your soil and helps you make adjustments. Clay or rocky soil is just terrible for lawns. You may need to hire a professional (ahem!) to scrape the existing soil and apply a good top dressing before proceeding to step two. If you're uncertain, give us a ring, and we'll take all the guess work out of this process for you!
2. OVERSEED
Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick—or keep them from getting thin. New grass fills in between what's already there, creating a thicker, lusher feel and look. Routine overseeding is the pro secret to a great lawn. Fall and spring are the best times for overseeding cool-season northern lawns, while thin warm-season southern lawns are best seeded in late spring.
Overseeding provides an opportunity to improve your lawn's quality and make it thicker. With premium grass seed such as Pennington Smart Seed, you'll add superior performance from grass varieties developed through industry-leading grass seed research. Always choose a grass that's appropriate for your grass growing region and climate and the conditions of your soil. For example, if you're growing grass in the shade, shade-tolerant grasses help deliver the thick grass you're working toward. Again, if you have any doubts, we can do all the work for you and help you make the best decision for your particular situation.
3. FERTILIZE
Lawn grasses need food, just like other plants, but nutrients in soil often leach away with rainfall and irrigation. Regular fertilization throughout the growing season helps provide the nutrients your grass needs for thicker, healthier growth.
When overseeding your lawn, a starter fertilizer such as Pennington Ultra-Green Starter Fertilizer 22-23-4 helps promote vigorous root growth for the fast establishment of new grasses. For established lawns, Pennington Ultra-Green Fertilizer 30-0-4 provides the nitrogen your lawn needs for thick, green grass.
Half the nitrogen in these special formulations releases slowly to keep feeding your thickening lawn for up to three months. The other half is stabilized to limit leaching. This means less fertilizer is lost to the environment and your thick lawn gets more of the nutrients in the fertilizer you apply.
For the fast track to a thicker lawn, you can take the all-in-one route and combine the previous three steps in one convenient, do-it-yourself lawn boost. Pennington Lawn Booster, available in Sun & Shade or Tall Fescue versions, combines seed, fertilizer and soil enhancer all in one simple product.
With Lawn Booster, you get lime-enhanced, drought-tolerant Smart Seed and a professional-grade fertilizer to improve seed germination and the overall texture and color of your lawn. The nitrogen-stabilized fertilizer feeds your grass immediately and for up to eight weeks after planting. Plus, soil-enhancing gypsum in this product improves your soil's health and condition without affecting soil pH, so your grass can take root and flourish.
With Lawn Booster, boosting your lawn entails three simple steps: Prepare your site, apply the all-in-one product, and water according to label instructions. Your lawn will grow quicker, thicker and greener than ordinary grass seed in just one application.
The Bottom Line:
There is nothing "fast" or a "quick fix" for a lawn that's been left to it's own devises for a long period of time. Most of the "bad" lawns we've seen require at least 6-8 weeks of TLC to get it to a lush, full, thick carpet of green. While you CAN do this on your own, we see many clients get frustrated or skip steps (like the soil test) as they don't think it's "necessary". Think about this: Soil is your lawn's foundation, just like your feet. If you don't take care of your feet, they start hurting and soon, you can't do the things you need to do. Foundational work of the soil is the absolute MOST important step that should never be skimped on. Which is why it's a smart idea to have a professional Landscape company come out and help you through the process and make sure all is well before you begin throwing seed down onto a dirt patch.
It's always a good idea to consult the professionals before starting any project.
What is it worth to have a lush beautiful lawn you can be proud of? Give us a call at (208) 697-6651, or send us an email and we'll get your side of the fence everyone's looking at, saying "it's definitely greener over there!"
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