Many homeowners are frustrated by lawn maintenance. Too much time is required to keep grass green and smooth, weed-free, and mowed. Others bemoan wear from foot traffic or visits from pets that make things look less than perfect. However, this whole subject can be made easier by analyzing soil conditions in the yard.
Read up on this topic during the winter, when gardening is done from your armchair. Instead of mooning over colorful seed catalogs, do some research on weeds. That's right, weeds. These vibrant and invasive plants can reveal a lot about your soil. Actually, weeds and grasses are just as interesting as flowers and veggies.
Soil is the foundation of all that goes on in the garden. Healthy soil means strong, healthy plants that can resist insects, disease, and competition from weeds. Weeds, which can thrive in conditions that defeat plants we think more valuable, tell you a lot about your soil. The color of the foliage of both weeds and grasses, the kinds of weeds, and the luxuriance of growth helps you read conditions in your yard.
If you identify the weeds that are competing with your grass, you can discover whether your ground has a high, low, or neutral pH. Acid soil defeats grass, which likes neutral conditions, An alkaline soil is more rare in temperate regions, but this also can make grass weak and shallow-rooted.
There are also weeds which thrive on compacted soil that smothers grass from the roots up. Others, like moss, grow where drainage is poor or water puddles after rain or irrigation. Many grow in conditions of low fertility where grass can not compete and gets crowded out. Of course, there are other ways to check pH levels, mineral deficiency, and moisture levels. Soil test kits can be ordered or obtained at the local extension office, and electronic monitors also answer questions you'll have.
Choosing the right grass for your region and the kind of lawn you want is very important. Grasses, like other plants, grow only in certain zones and precipitation conditions. For example, Blue Springs, Missouri, is in zone 6. Its temperate climate and plentiful rainfall makes fescues and Kentucky Bluegrass good choices for that region.
Know the best times to fertilize, aerate, and compost your soil. However, it's never wrong to add nutrients and to loosen your soils, even if it might not be the best time. Find the right grass seed mix for optimum results in your area, and learn which mowing and watering methods foster growth in those particular grasses. Tall fescue does best when it is three and a half to four inches tall. Everything in your garden will grow better if you water in early morning, from six to nine AM. Watering in the evening encourages fungus and other disease organisms that like damp conditions.
You can turn all yard care over to professionals, but it's so satisfying to do lawn maintenance yourself. Be an informed gardener and enjoy the best-looking grass in the neighborhood, for which you can take the credit.
Read up on this topic during the winter, when gardening is done from your armchair. Instead of mooning over colorful seed catalogs, do some research on weeds. That's right, weeds. These vibrant and invasive plants can reveal a lot about your soil. Actually, weeds and grasses are just as interesting as flowers and veggies.
Soil is the foundation of all that goes on in the garden. Healthy soil means strong, healthy plants that can resist insects, disease, and competition from weeds. Weeds, which can thrive in conditions that defeat plants we think more valuable, tell you a lot about your soil. The color of the foliage of both weeds and grasses, the kinds of weeds, and the luxuriance of growth helps you read conditions in your yard.
If you identify the weeds that are competing with your grass, you can discover whether your ground has a high, low, or neutral pH. Acid soil defeats grass, which likes neutral conditions, An alkaline soil is more rare in temperate regions, but this also can make grass weak and shallow-rooted.
There are also weeds which thrive on compacted soil that smothers grass from the roots up. Others, like moss, grow where drainage is poor or water puddles after rain or irrigation. Many grow in conditions of low fertility where grass can not compete and gets crowded out. Of course, there are other ways to check pH levels, mineral deficiency, and moisture levels. Soil test kits can be ordered or obtained at the local extension office, and electronic monitors also answer questions you'll have.
Choosing the right grass for your region and the kind of lawn you want is very important. Grasses, like other plants, grow only in certain zones and precipitation conditions. For example, Blue Springs, Missouri, is in zone 6. Its temperate climate and plentiful rainfall makes fescues and Kentucky Bluegrass good choices for that region.
Know the best times to fertilize, aerate, and compost your soil. However, it's never wrong to add nutrients and to loosen your soils, even if it might not be the best time. Find the right grass seed mix for optimum results in your area, and learn which mowing and watering methods foster growth in those particular grasses. Tall fescue does best when it is three and a half to four inches tall. Everything in your garden will grow better if you water in early morning, from six to nine AM. Watering in the evening encourages fungus and other disease organisms that like damp conditions.
You can turn all yard care over to professionals, but it's so satisfying to do lawn maintenance yourself. Be an informed gardener and enjoy the best-looking grass in the neighborhood, for which you can take the credit.
