How to Grow a Lawn that's Lush, Green and Thick

By Mary M. Alward

If you want a lawn that's lush, green and thick, think organic. This means low and alternative maintenance and less cost. When growing an organic lawn, the way you mow, fertilize and water is very important.

Mowing
When you mow an organic lawn, the mower should be set as high as three or four inches. Longer grass is healthier than grass that is mowed close to the ground. The longer it is, the more stamina it has to fight off disease. Longer grass uses extra sugar that's available to increase growth, which will make your lawn lush and thick.

Weeds
Use mowing methods to fight weeds. Mow high and frequently. This will affect the weeds, but will not have any affect on the grass. Weeds have a sensitive growing point near the top. When you cut it, they will die. This keeps unwanted weeds out of your lawn.

Grass Clippings
If you have an organic lawn and want it to stay lush and green, don't remove the grass clippings after you mow. The grass clippings provide organic matter, which in turn provides the soil with important nutrients.

Watering
Only water your lawn when it shows signs of thirst. When you do water, add a least one inch of water. Watering deeply forces the grass to set down deeper roots. This makes the roots of the grass deeper than those of the weeds. When the soil dries out, the weeds will die from lack of moisture, while the grass stays lush and green.

Another benefit of watering deeply is that your lawn will require less frequent watering. Weeds grow well when you water your lawn on a daily basis. Deep watering only benefits the grass, not the weeds.

Watch your grass for signs that it needs watering. Grass will usually curl before turning brown - water deeply when grass curls. Administer 1/2 inch of water, then wait three to four hours and give another 1/2 inch. This gives the soil time to absorb the water between waterings.

Fertilizer
Fertilize in the spring and fall with an organic fertilizer, only if your lawn requires it.

PH Levels
Have the pH levels of your lawn tested annually by a lawn care expert. PH testing equipment purchased in department and lawn care stores tend to be inaccurate. This can cause errors in lawn maintenance that can completely destroy your lawn. The perfect pH level for grass is 6.5. When pH levels dip below 6.0, add lime to the soil. If the pH levels increase above 7.0, add gardener's sulphur to the soil. If you keep the pH level perfect, your grass will be lush, green and thick.

Sun
Sun is an important aspect of having a healthy lawn. Weeds and grass will compete for sunlight, so mow your grass high so it will keep weeds in the shade and prevent them from getting enough sunlight to grow. Without sunlight, weeds will die and you will have a weed free lawn.

Keep your lawn healthy, lush, green and thick by following the tips in this article. You will be amazed at the results.

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