The sprawling lawn at your home is your oasis for spending quality time with family, relaxing and rejuvenating in the open air. Moreover, a well-maintained lawn enhances the curb appeal of your property, besides raising its market value should you decide to sell. But, knowing how to care for a lawn is crucial to getting one that grabs the eye-balls of passers-by and offers you a peaceful environment. So, here are a few lawn care tips that horticulturists and lawn care experts vouch for to help you create an envy-inducing lawn.
Maintaining an established lawn
Your lawn requires a methodical maintenance regime comprised of mowing, feeding and aerating. Mow the lawn at the highest setting possible to allow leafy growth that eventually will smother weeds. During the growing season, provide nourishment to your lawn with an organic granular feed every quarter. Additionally, fortify the lawn by spraying seaweed tonic every month. You also need to take care of the soil, maintaining the pH balance between 6 and 7. Check the soil condition every autumn and aerate it once in spring and autumn for better water penetration and strong root growth.
Growing a new lawn
If you’re growing a new lawn, ensure that the ground is moist round-the-clock. Mandate foot traffic off the lawn until it is fully rooted. Further, do not mow a new lawn for 6 – 8 weeks and when you do, make sure not to trim the lawn too short.
Watering the lawn
Lawn regulations in Australia dictate no watering between 10 AM to 4 PM. The ideal time to water your lawn is morning before the sun is too bright to prevent instant evaporation. Further, during drought situations, when water restrictions are on, check with your city council about the rules of grey water usage to keep your lawn hydrated. Moreover, during water restrictions, it makes sense to use moisture retention agents every 4 – 5 weeks to extend the effect of watering.
Choose the right lawn type
Considering that most regions of Australia are on Level 1 water restrictions, choose the lawn type that can withstand the summer heat and stay alive even in drought-like conditions. Check with your local lawn suppliers for suitable alternatives that will not guzzle water but still provide you adequate green comfort.
Know what plagues your lawn
Numerous diseases, pests, and weeds can afflict your lawn. Study them to understand the causes and their practical solutions, besides learning how to prevent the afflictions. Being knowledgeable about lawn diseases and pests can help save you from the agony of watching the lawn die out. The common conditions that affect Australian lawns are brown patch, black spot, powdery mildew, and fairy rings. Besides, you have to control unsightly weeds before they take over the lawn. Not to forget the pesky pests that eat away at the lushness, thus spoiling the fruits of your labour.
Raise a serene green lawn with the help of these tips!