Everyone wants a lush, green lawn that’s the envy of the neighborhood. Here are five quick tips for making the most of your lawn this year. Regardless of the type of lawn you have, the tenets of great lawn care remain the same. Test your soil, fertilize as required, keep it weed-free and the right length, and keep bugs and disease at bay. Start in the fall with testing levels so you’re ready when the spring comes around. Also, look up specific instructions for your type of grass. If you have a special blend you may want to ensure you cater to its needs. Follow these guidelines and get ready for a great lawn this summer!

Soil Testing: Grass needs the right combination of nutrients and pH to thrive. Testing your soil is key to understanding your lawns needs. You can obtain a cheap kit at any garden store than can tell you pH levels and nutrient levels. Unfortunately, these kits give poor, ballpark results. Also, they do not help at all to remedy your problems. Instead, try a university in your area that provides soil testing. These testing facilities use equipment that not only tells you whats wrong but how to fix them with exact amounts of additives for your specific need.

Proper Mowing: A sharp blade and the right lawn length are also key to a healthy lawn. Each type of grass has slightly different requirements but, in general, you want to keep your grass about 3″-4″ in length. Any shorter and you may damage the grass by cutting too much and allow weeds to take root. Keeping the blade sharp minimizes damage to the plants and can reduce the incidence of disease and pests.

Fertilizing: Proper fertilization is key to consistent growth and color. Ensure you do some soil testing and follow a fertilization schedule. Too much fertilizer can be as bad as too little and can end with severe burning of your lawn. During periods of slow growth grass still requires nutrients. Grass will go dormant during the winter months with warm season grasses entering this stage sooner than the cooler season varieties. Prior to this period of dormancy its vital to provide the proper levels of potassium. This will strengthen the grass and its roots for the winter months. The grass will emerge much stronger when spring arrives.

Watering: Different grasses require different levels of water. Cooler season grasses go dormant later than their warm weather counterparts and require more frequent watering. Generally, most grass requires water around once a week. Long, infrequent watering is better for grass since the roots will penetrate deeper into the soil. Do not water at the hottest part of the day to avoid burning your lawn. Also, avoid watering late in the day as the grass may remain wet overnight allowing fungus to take hold. Early morning is the best time of day to water if the need arises.

Keeping Disease and Pests Away: The sad truth is that nobody is safe from pests and disease effecting their lawn. Disease and fungus can spread very quickly and be devastating to lawns if not identified and treated quickly. Keep and eye out for any strange patches or changes to your lawns color. Call an expert or visit a garden store at the first sign of a problem. You can reduce the incidence of these problems by keeping weeds at bay with a herbicide applied in the spring and fall.

If you’re looking for the best Morristown Landscaping stop by the site to browse the galleries.