How to Take Care Lawn: Lawn Care Calendar for Beginners

Who doesn’t want a healthy and beautiful lawn? It is one of the most desirable things of those who have eyes.  But it is impossible to achieve a clean, thick, and green lawn without regular care and maintenances.

Don’t worry! you don’t need to spend all your time maintaining a lawn. Only you have to know what steps you should take and when?

In this article, I have discussed how to take care of a lawn and also have added a lawn care calendar that will help to tell what work you have to do all year round.

9 Lawn Care Tips to Maintain a Healthy Lawn

1.Cleaning Lawn

Rake your lawn to remove the yellowed grass and leaves. This will allow a faster recovery or greening of the lawn. The very beginning of spring (usually in April, depending on the year) is a good time to weeding and cleaning the grass.

1. Manually(by hand): after putting on a pair of gloves, go hunting for moss or weeds and pull them out manually
2. A Weeder Knife: Ideal for small areas and short grass.

After removing weeds, sometimes the foam appears on the lawn. Why does foam appear on the lawn? It may be moss. Here are the factors that promote the appearance of moss in turf :

• Shadow and lack of sunshine;
• Poorly ventilated soil;
• Soil low in potash, magnesium, or calcium;
• Excessive acidity.

How to eliminate the foams?

– Apply a defoamer on the affected areas.
– Leave for 10 to 15 days then scarify the grass.

2.Grass Scarification

It is a barbaric term, but essential work for the good health of your lawn. For aeration, nothing like better than scarification. It refers to removing thatch (loose, intermingled, and dead parts of grasses) and aerating the surface layer of soil; it facilitates rootwork. Note that scarification is also an excellent way to fight the proliferation of moss.

Best Time for Scarification

Mid-April and September is the best time to scarify a lawn. Don’t scarify when the grass is not thriving. It damages your lawn.

3.Aeration of Lawn

The roots of the grass need air to breathe and grow properly. The soil of a lawn is not sandy enough to allow the roots to get enough air (oxygen), which delays the growth.

Aeration refers to perforating the soil with pony holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grassroots. It should be done for the roots to grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn.

Importance of Soil Aeration

This practice allows:

1. Better infiltration of water and nutrients.
2. Increase the level of oxygen in the soil.
3. Better decomposition of organic matter and enhance the activity of soil micro-organisms.
4. It helps to root the development of grasses.

How to Aerate Lawn?

1. Apply 1 inch of water to soften your lawn.
2. Push a mechanical aerator on your lawn when the soil is slightly wet.
3. Make holes in the lawn and insert coarse sand.
4. Leave plugs of soil on the ground so they can be used as topdressing. It is recommended to break them up and distribute the soil evenly on the grass with a rake.

You can buy the best-rated aerator or use the services of a professional. If you are in the UK, You can ask Greensleves lawn care expert for help.

What Are The Ideal Times For Aeration?

Spring and autumn ideal time for aeration. Avoid aeration on the frozen or soggy ground.

4.Topdressing Lawn

Topdressing involves a thin layer (1 cm or less) of soil mixture that is spread to the surface of the lawn. Topdressing improves the texture of the soil, promotes the work of earthworms, improves the microbial activity in the soil, and makes the grass more resistant.

Why Should We Topdressing Our Lawn?

• To gradually improve the quality of the soil.
• Repair damaged areas.
• Increase the density of the lawn.
• Stimulate the decomposition of organic matter.
• Change the soil structure.

Which Substrate to Use for Topdressing?

Compost, garden soil, sand, and peat moss can be used together.

Ideal Times for Topdressing

Spring and autumn are good times for topdressing.

5.Renovate or Replenish a Lawn

Sowing can be done in the spring, from March to May. It’s also an excellent time to replenish a damaged lawn. To repair areas where the lawn is damaged, we use a re-grinding turf. It allows easy and quick replacement of surfaces where the earth appears.

Renovation of the Lawn with Turf

1. First, you have to prepare the soil, scratching the soil slightly where you want to sow. You can easily do with hand claw (small areas) or a rake. Remove the dead and surplus lawn.
2. If necessary, adjust the ground level and apply some peat moss
3. Sowing the seed
4. Water the renovated area thoroughly and keep it moist for the first 15 days.
5. Mow when your lawn reaches 7.5 cm for small areas.

The turf grows very fast. In a few weeks, the bare areas start to become green. Your lawn should look better! Let pass a few more weeks before mowing.

This process can be done at any time of the season. If you think about additional watering, The ideal times is spring and autumn.

In prolonged periods of drought, grass goes dormant and turns yellow but not dead; they do not need extra watering. Once the precipitation returns, it will return to regular appearance.

6.Mulching The Lawn

Mulching is the distribution of a special fertile mixture of organic matter or inorganic substances on the surface of the soil to improve the availability of nutrition and reduce the evaporation of moisture from the soil.

Mulch mixtures generally contain sand, peat, and fertile soil mixed in different proportions, sometimes with the addition of leaf humus. Though it varies depending on the soil type.

Why It is necessary to maintain a healthy lawn?

1. Mulching prevents the evaporation of moisture from the soil.
2. Protects roots from freezing in the winter cold.
3. Regulates the level of acidity of the soil.
4. Enriches the soil with useful substances and nutrients.
5. Prevent weeds from growing in the lawn.

When to mulching the lawn?

Once a year, usually at the beginning of autumn, after mowing and cleaning. It is equally important to add the soil to the lawn once every five years in spring or autumn. Sprinkling soil with organic fertilizers(7-10 kg per 1 m²) that will improve the tillering of herbs.

7.Mowing the Lawn

Mow at 7.5 cm (3 in.) or even a little higher and leave residues in place. It works as food for the lawn. Do not always pass in the same direction. Change directions each time you mow. Never mow in hot weather. If possible, mow every three days (or at best once a week) to invigorate the lawn.

For areas of 150 to 200 m2 manual mowing is preferable, because the motorized mowing destroys 90% of the life which is nestled (insects, snails, lizards, shrews).

How often Mow The Lawn?

Mowing the lawn is done once every 1-2 weeks so that the grass gets the time to grow and transmit energy for the development of the root system.

8.Fertilize Lawn

Mowing the lawn eliminates all its nutrients, nutrients that need to obtain optimal growth. So from the beginning of spring, you must fertilize the lawn every four or five weeks. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are needed, and special lawn fertilizer blends are readily available in the fertilizer stores. It is advisable to use a spreader to ensure even distribution of the fertilizer.

9.Watering The Lawn

If you want your lawn to stay lush and green all summer, watering is essential. How often to water your lawn depends on the temperature and humidity. When the grass needs water, its color starts to be blue-grey and the oldest limbs begin to curl or fade. If you have planted a new lawn, you usually need to water it once a day to allow the seeds to germinate and well root development. Watering the lawn is now possible with a minimum of hassle. You can water your garden manually or using automatic sprinklers.

What Is The Best Time Of The Day To Water My Lawn?

You should water your lawn in the early morning, between 5 am and 10 am, or in the early evening. Don’t water your lawn at night. It causes many diseases. Remain the wet lawn for a long period to enhance the growth of fungus.

The best time for watering in the early morning. Because lack of evaporation, low wind, high humidity, and morning dew helps to prevent some diseases and quick dry of your lawn.

How to Take Care of New Sod Lawn

Sod lawn needs more care because of its developing shallow roots. Without proper care of the new sod lawn, it turns yellow. Here is a video that will help you to learn how to take care of new sod lawn:

Lawn Care during Drought

In extreme heat conditions, with prolonged periods without precipitation, it is important to remember that your lawn is stressed. In this situation, it is best to let the grass become dormant.

Several types of grass survive in hot, dry weather, including Manila grass, Bermuda grass, St Augustine grass, Bison grass, Bahia grass, and Fescues. They become dormant in dry weather, no longer needing food or water. When the rain and cooler temperatures come back, your lawn will turn green and healthy.

Remember the following tips during a drought:

1. Do not apply herbicide, fertilizer.
2. Do not cut more than one-third of the grass height. When grass height is higher, it provides more shade on the ground, allowing your lawn to develop deeper roots.
3. Leave the cut grass on your lawn as mulch that maintains the moisture of your lawn.
4. In arid regions, where every drop of water is valuable, consider planting drought-tolerant grass species. Also, you can cover the lawn as much as possible with drought-tolerant plants.

After Drought Yellowed Lawn Turn Green Again?

YES. During a period of drought, grasses stop growing due to dormancy. The lawn may be completely yellowed for a few weeks, but after sufficient rain or as soon as the weather returns to normal, it will turn green again. However, during this period, avoid any unnecessary traffic on the lawn.

Bonus: Best Practices to Take Care of Lawn

1. Fertilize

Try to apply a blend of 100% natural or organic fertilizer in spring or late summer. Watch your lawn first. If you like it, no need to add fertilizer

2. Mow High

A lawn cut to 8 cm (3 in.) Prevents the germination of most weeds, makes watering more efficient, and promotes root development. Mow the lawn regularly with sharp blades and never cut more than one-third of the height at a time.

3. Do Not Pick Up-Cut Grass

Leave the residues in your lawn for a few days. Mowed turf contains a lot of minerals, which can reduce the amount of fertilizer by 30%.

5. Do Some Testing

Inspect your lawn and find the cause of the problems you are having. Know that 90% of insects are beneficial and can naturally control occasional parasites. Do not hesitate to inform yourself before taking any action to eliminate these insects.

Lawn Care Calendar for a Beautiful Lawn

How to take care of your lawn in the winter, in fall, or in summer? It is the burning question to the homeowners. Because good practices help reduce insect and disease and limiting weed growth.

Here’s a practical calendar to tell you what work to do year-round.

April

• Remove the trash and dry grass.
• Do not walk on wet grass.

May

• Level the land with good garden soil.
• Perform aeration and ventilation.
• Renovate the lawn.
• After the first or second mowing, feed with complex fertilizer.
• Water the lawn immediately after top dressing. Do not feed the lawn in hot, dry weather.

June

• Get rid of weeds.
• In the middle or at the end of the month, carry out the second top dressing.
• Water 1-2 times in a week.

July

• In dry weather, Water 2-3 times in a week.
• In the middle of the month, apply fertilizer.
• If signs of fungal diseases are detected, treat with fungicides.

August

• In the first half of the month, top-dressing your lawn if necessary.
• Remove the weeds.
• At signs of the disease, re-treat with fungicides.
• In dry weather, regularly water the lawn.
• Carry out aeration, sanding, liming.
• Remove fallen and dry leaves.

The autumn-winter season is a time of complete rest. At temperatures below 5 ° C, the grass stops growing. So, don’t walk on the lawn until it is covered with a thick layer of snow.

Conclusion

Whatever the condition of your lawn today, maintain the tips that we discussed. I wish you were a beautiful lawn. And someday your colleague will ask you how your lawn is so green, healthy, and beautiful. Don’t forget to mention the “How to Take Care Lawn” article with your friends.

Stay Green! Be Green!