Very common in most landscaping, grass requires special care. Follow this eco-responsible maintenance guide to obtain a beautiful green and dense lawn, resistant to stress such as drought, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
1- Adopt these mowing rules
These few easy-to-follow rules will make your lawn more resistant to heat, droght and the invasion of pests and unwanted weeds. You will get a healthy, vigorous lawn with deep rooting.
Mow it regularly, never removing more than a third of the total height of the lawn each time.
Adjust the cutting height according to the time of year.
In the spring , make the first mowing at 5 cm in height to facilitate the cleaning of the lawn.
In summer , mow to a height of 8 cm. The grass will be more resistant to drought and will require less watering.
In the fall , make a final mow to 5 cm in height to help reduce disease development.
Sharpen mower blades regularly for a clean cut that promotes recovery and reduces the risk of disease .
Avoid mowing when grass blades are damp or wet.
Do not mow when the soil is very wet to avoid compacting the soil.
2- Recycle your grass clippings
knklawncare
Grass clippings are a food source for beneficial soil organisms.
Practice “grasscycling” which consists of leaving grass clippings in place to nourish the lawn.
If you mow the lawn regularly at the correct heights, the clippings will degrade quickly and won’t affect the beauty of your lawn.
Use a rake to pick up grass clippings that are too long and compost them or spread them evenly over the lawn.
From now on, consider the grass clippings as 100% natural fertilizer for your lawn. This technique saves up to 25% of lawn fertilizer .
To speed up the decomposition of grass clippings by soil microorganisms, preferably choose a mulching mower that grinds the grass in place.
3- Adopt responsible watering techniques
modernlawnservicellc
Water your lawn according to these good practices to preserve as much drinking water as possible, this resource that many people unfortunately believe is inexhaustible.
Find out about your municipality’s regulations on watering lawns in the summer.
Promote the root development of the lawn by first adopting the good cutting practices mentioned above. This increases the lawn’s drought tolerance because the soil retains its moisture.
Water early in the morning or in the evening, when the temperature is cooler and there is less wind. This time of day reduces water loss through evaporation.
When watering, allow water to penetrate to a depth of 10-15 cm. Check after an hour or two of watering. Light and frequent watering is undesirable, as it encourages the development of shallow roots and makes the lawn more vulnerable in times of drought.
Use an electronic timer to save drinking water and automate the switching on and off of your sprinklers and watering cans .
In times of intense heat and when the ground is dry in summer, the grass will stop growing and turn yellow. Have no fear, he does not die. It will come back to life as soon as the rainy weather returns.
4- Choose sturdy watering accessories
Go for rugged products that resist knocks, corrosion, and leaks while requiring little maintenance. These accessories can make watering your lawn easier:
A stake sprinkler is ideal for even irrigation and large ground coverage.
A range of casings to meet the needs of any consumer:
The all season hose for weekend gardening.
The ultra-flexible hose for the serious gardener.
A reel allows you to always reel the hose properly to keep it in better condition for longer. There are models on wheels or fixed to the wall. Before using a wall-mounted reel, make sure it is securely attached to the foundation of your home. To do this, drill holes using a drill fitted with a carbide-tipped bit. Use a 5/32″ drill bit with 3/16″ Tapcon screws or a 3/16″ drill bit with ¼” Tapcon screws. Make sure the depth of the hole is the same as the length of the screw.
An automatic watering system .
A programmable timer to save water.
5- Choose your ecological fertilization technique
Like all plants, lawn grasses need certain minerals for their growth and to compete with unwanted weeds.
You can opt for “ grasscycling ”, which we talked about earlier, or even topdressing , which can provide the soil with up to 25% of the lawn’s nitrogen needs. This is an interesting saving to be made on the fertilizers that we usually have to apply each year. Topdressing consists of aerating the soil as needed, then spreading good lawn soil or compost on the ground, then spreading seeds on top.
You can choose an equally eco-responsible lawn culture by using natural fertilizers rather than chemical fertilizers. They are composed of elements of plant or animal origin:
bone meal
blood meal
feather meal
seaweed
manure, etc
For several years now, a natural fertilizer based on corn gluten has been available on the market. In addition to providing nitrogen (the first number), it helps reduce the establishment of unwanted weeds, such as dandelion and plantain, which are often found on the lawn. Corn gluten works by preventing root formation during the germination of unwanted grass seeds.
6- Use the right fertilizer at the right time
Most natural fertilizers release their nutrients throughout the season through the activity of beneficial soil organisms. In addition to nourishing the lawn, these fertilizers stimulate the biological life of the soil and there is no risk of burning.
In the spring , use a fertilizer with the first number higher than the other two, such as 12-0-4 or 9-3-4.
In late summer or fall , use a fertilizer that contains more potassium, such as 4-0-12, to prepare the lawn for the harsh winter weather. Always strictly follow the dose and directions for use on the manufacturer’s label.
7- Fertilize less often with granular fertilizer
Note that fertilizing with natural granular fertilizers generally only requires one or two applications per year .
Make the first application in the spring as soon as turf growth begins, as it is at its peak at this time.
Make the second application , if required, according to the directions on the label of the chosen fertilizer. It is usually recommended to do it in late summer or early fall.
Apply them using a fertilizer spreader , to a dry, freshly mowed lawn. This equipment allows easy and uniform distribution over the entire surface of the court. You can also use it for applying lime or grass seed .
Choose a model of spreader equipped with a safety stop to avoid spills and a metering device to adjust the quantities of fertilizer. Tank size varies from spreader to spreader.
Make sure that the spreader tank is suitable for the fertilizer used and the size of your land. Follow the instructions for use written on the back of the bag of fertilizer and respect the quantity to be spread per m2.
To ensure even distribution over the entire surface, spread half of the recommended rate in one direction of the ground, and the other half in the other direction.
Before using an amendment, fertilizer or pesticide, always read the product label and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Pay particular attention to the directions for use, precautions to take before, during and after using the product, and storage conditions.
