The Living Lush

By DoItYourself.com Staff

The most important aspect of any endeavor is presentation. When you're trying to sell a home, hosting a party, or simply reading the paper on your porch, the first thing visitors notice is the vast expanse of a well maintained and manicured lawn. The possession of such a lawn can greatly increase the value of a home. It serves as a reflection of the character of the inhabitants within the home. It can also represent an invitation to venture past the green meadows and seek what lies beyond.

There are several things to consider in the promotion of a lush, green lawn. First and foremost are the plants' dire needs: water and sunlight. All grasses need a minimum of one inch of water per week. If this doesn't occur naturally, by means of rain, it's time to break out the hose or sprinkler. Watering earlier in the day (before 10:00 am) allows the water to penetrate the blades and travel further into the root system before burning off from the rays of the sun. Excessive watering coupled with the absence of sun and heat can be harmful, and promote the formation of mold and disease.

Sunlight is also required to establish a green lawn. Sunlight is the main food source for grass - without it, the process of photosynthesis cannot occur. Chlorophyll, existent in every plant, converts sunlight into proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and other nutrients needed for growth. If a lawn is without sunlight, it will die. If a section of the lawn is deprived of sunlight due to tree branch or bush overhang, pruning is necessary so that the grass receives some sunlight during the course of the day.

Fertilizing

If a lawn does not receive the prescribed amounts of sunlight (nutrients) and water necessary for healthy growth, you can compensate by applying fertilizer. Fertilizer contains many nutrients; however, the most important nutrients present within a fertilizer are nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K). Nitrogen causes green-up and leaf growth. Phosphorous promotes root growth, and potassium enables the grass to spread. Generally a lawn requires four pounds of total nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year; however, depending upon the region you live in, as well as the type of grass in the lawn, you should consult with a local agricultural college for specific nutrient application rates.

Fescues, bluegrasses, and ryegrasses (typically classified as Cool Season Grasses) could use an application of a slow release fertilizer in early to mid-spring. This will aid top growth and thicken blade development. In the early summer, again, a light application of a slow release fertilizer will encourage top growth and blade thickness. From mid to late summer, fertilizer should not be applied. In the fall, two feedings (at least one month apart) of a slow release fertilizer will provide a healthy dose of carbohydrates that will be stored in the root system. This will ensure the plant's survival over the dormant winter season and promote strong growth for the following early spring.

Bermuda and Zoysia grasses (typically classified as Warm Season Grasses) have their largest growth spurt from late spring to early summer. At this time, additional nutrients provided by slow release fertilizers are most important. An application should occur in mid-spring, and another in mid-summer. Once these grasses go dormant (determined by the extreme change in color from a lush green to a straw brown), any application of fertilizers should cease. This will prevent the grasses' susceptibility to cold weather injury. For seeded, plugged, and new sod lawns, slow release fertilizers should be avoided completely. Instead, use a fertilizer that is rich in phosphorous and potassium but relatively low in nitrogen. The phosphorous and potassium will establish healthy and strong root growth (the most important factor with new lawns).

Mowing

Often overlooked is the importance of mowing a yard. Mowing practices hold great significance in the promotion of a healthy lawn. Lawn mower blades need to be sharp to provide a nice, clean cut. Dull blades will rip the grass rather than cutting it, damaging the vein within the grass blades, thus disabling the feeding paths to the roots and the rest of the plant. Ripping, rather than cutting, also increases the likelihood of the grass contracting disease.

Grass requires a sufficient surface area to catch the necessary sunlight for growth. Generally, grass should be cut short during periods of heavy rainfall and left longer during periods of little or no rainfall. One half inch differential is sufficient. Lawns should not be mowed when the grass is wet. After mowing a lawn, any grass clippings left behind should be raked and picked up. Failure to do so will increase the build-up of thatch, a tightly woven layer of decaying grass. Thatch build-up can literally suffocate a lawn, preventing air, water, and sunlight from penetrating either the leaf blades or the roots below the surface. Mowing is a practice much like feeding. It needs to occur in a routine manner, as well as in frequent doses.

Thatch build-up may also be prevented by aerating the lawn once or twice a year. This should take place in early spring and late fall. Aerating a lawn will also allow air, nutrients, and water to penetrate the soil. This will provide a more accessible passage to the root system of a lawn.

The last thing you need to consider for a thick, green lawn is the amount of traffic that the lawn recieves. Heavy traffic, due to dogs running back and forth along a fence line, or children excessively playing in one area, can cause the matting down of an area. This decreases the surface area of the lawn, depriving the necessary amount of nutrients from penetrating the grass blades and soil.

If all of the above practices occur, there’s no reason you can't enjoy a lush, green lawn. The benefits vary from personal satisfaction to an increase in value of the home. In any event, the presence of a healthy green lawn will provide everyone, including the home owner, a welcoming invitation to explore that which lies beyond.

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