Contents
Lawn Care Basics
How to Improve Your Soil
Types of Grass
Lawn Care Tools
Professional Lawn Services
Natural Lawn Care Approaches
How to Water Your Lawn
How to Fertilize Your Lawn
How to Mow Your Lawn
How to Dethatch Your Lawn
How to Control Weeds
How to Control Insect Pests
How to Overseed Your Lawn
How to Start a New Lawn
How to Install Sod
10 Ways to Make Lawn Care Easier
 |
- Improve your soil and choose grass that’s appropriate for your climate
- Water, fertilize, and mow your lawn to keep it healthy
- Control weeds and insects, either on your own or using a lawn service
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
Lawn Care Basics
A lawn that’s well maintained looks, feels, and smells great when it’s freshly mowed. But lawn care does take an investment of time and money to get the best results.
Lawn Inspection
The first step in good lawn care is inspecting your existing lawn and checking its condition. You can usually tell just by looking at your lawn what condition it’s in: if it’s relatively free of weeds and bare spots, and your grass is dense and deep green in color, then it’s likely in good shape. Here are a few more specific ways to diagnose your lawn’s condition:
- Test your lawn: The best way to know your soil’s true condition is to test it. Many do-it-yourself kits are available at local garden suppliers, usually for less than $20, and give you results right away. Unfortunately, their results aren’t very complete, and they rarely give specific recommendations for improving the soil.
- Consult a professional lab: Professional labs are listed in your local phone book. These labs offer much more information than DIY kits. But lab consultations can also cost more, depending on the types of tests the lab conducts. The lab will usually want you to collect the soil in a specific way, so contact them before you take any samples.
- Consult your local USDA cooperative extension agent: Phone numbers for local U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperative extension offices are usually listed in a phone book’s county government section. Their soil tests generally cost between $10 and $30, depending on what you want tested. Typically, an extension office can also make soil improvement recommendations for you.
How to Take a Soil Sample
- Take small soil samples from 7–8 different areas on the lawn. Use a clean trowel and dig down about 6".
- Mix all the samples in a clean container. Then let the soil dry overnight and pack it in a clean plastic bag or bottle.
- Test the soil with a DIY kit, send it to a lab, or drop it off at your local extension service office to find out its pH and mineral makeup.
| Acknowledgments & Disclaimer |
Tags
No one has tagged this page yet... Be the first.. Log in using the link below and return to add your tag
