How I Keep My Lawn Thick and Green

My lawn is thick and green. I like it that way, but the truth is, I do not like to spend very much of my time maintaining my yard. Many people enjoy spending hours primping their landscaping but not me! I follow a few simple guidelines, and it keeps my yard healthy without too much effort on my part.

1. Fertilizer, weed killer, and bug prevention. – Twice a year I go to the hardware store and buy the fertilizer that is on display. The store displays the appropriate fertilizer type for my area at the right time; that’s what they do. I use a broadcast spreader, and around September/October, I place a “winterizer” type fertilizer. In February/March, I put down a fertilizer/weed killer combo to prepare for spring, and in March/April, I will spread some combo insect killer to prevent ants, grubs, and other lawn pests. These treatments are generally all I do unless there is an insect problem that I am trying to control.

2. Cut at second highest mower setting. – I raise my mower all the way. Then I lower it one setting and leave it there for the entire summer. I read a description once that said, “Cutting the grass high is like giving the grass a haircut and chopping off the heads of the weeds.” Essentially, the important part of the weeds is at the top, and on grass it is lower. By mowing each week at the same level, I only cut off the tips of the lawn each week, allowing the grass to flourish and the weeds to fail. I mow my lawn once a week and edge once every 2-3 weeks.

3. Use a mulching mower. – I always set my mower to mulch the clippings and return them to the lawn. It is food for the grass, and best of all, I do not have to bag all of the clippings. It takes me 25 minutes to mow my front lawn, but when I bag the clippings, it takes almost an hour and a half. I do not want to spend all day mowing my lawn.

4. Water about 1″ each week. – I want to give my lawn 2 or 3 waterings each week, putting down about 1/2″ of water each time, but I also try to save money by not watering my lawn too often. If I skip a watering, I keep a close watch on the lawn, and if it looks dry or if my tracks stay on the grass when I walk across it, I water right away. I do not have an automatic underground sprinkler system. If it rains enough, I do not water, but if it is dry, I use my sprinklers. I placed a flat bottom, straight-sided pan on my lawn while I watered one day and found that in 1 hour, my sprinklers put 1/2″ of water into that pan. Now I know if I water for 1 hour, I get 1/2″ of water. I do that twice-a-week to keep my lawn watered.

5. Make it easy. – I have looked at what tasks take the most time to take care of my lawn and found ways to simplify them.

I found that I was spending 5-10 minutes aiming the lawn sprinkler every time I watered. One day I looked around after getting sprayed while running from the sprinkler that I had thrown into my lawn, and a neighbor was watching me and laughing. Why didn’t my house come with some sensible method to water my lawn? I now use a sprinkler that stays aimed in-between waterings. The Watering Made Easy Sprinkler Stations (https://wateringmadeeasy.com/) are available for about $30.

I put 3 of these in my front lawn, and they are great. I have not messed with a surface sprinkler since I got them. These sprinklers are very cool. They hide underground while they are not in use. When I am ready to water, I plug my garden hose into the sprinkler and it pops up and waters. It is like the underground sprinklers, but I did not have to bury long pipes. It was very easy to put in my lawn and use; I am about to put in 2 more for my back yard.

It seemed like too much trouble to hang my hose, so I often left it out on my lawn, or piled it up behind my fence. Now I use hose reels to store my hoses, and it is much easier and quicker to roll them up than it was to hang the hose. I plan to get the new hose reels that use water pressure to automatically roll in the hose, but I have not gotten one yet. Maybe I’ll get one for Father’s Day!

I put a shut off timer on my spigot and then a 4-hose adapter. Now I can run 3 hoses to 3 sprinklers and still have one extra spigot to use without unscrewing a hose. I set the timer for 1 hour, and I plug in the sprinklers. It automatically shuts off in an hour, and I roll up the hoses when it is convenient. I usually start the sprinklers when I leave for work and roll up the hoses when I get home. I have heard it is best to water in the morning.

I use a micro-sprinkler system in my front flowerbed. It is basically tubing that I ran under the mulch, and it has spikes that stick up and spray water. I got this kit at Lowe’s too. It connects to the spigot on the other side of my house, and I have a timer that shuts it off.

That is all I do, but it keeps my lawn looking great. Easy!

How to Choose an Irrigation Sprinkler System

Author: Jason Cecil

Did you know that studies have shown that homeowners can expect a 7-18% increase in property value with the addition of a sprinkler system? Experts agree that the increase in property value is not a direct result of the sprinkler system but the curb appeal that the sprinkler system creates. Green grass sells homes for more money.

If you are thinking of installing a sprinkler system for your home or business, you may hesitate if you have seen how many offers and products are on the market now. How are you going to choose the right irrigation sprinkler system for your needs?

In this article I will try to answer at some questions which arise when you are thinking to install an irrigation system.

Aren’t all sprinkler systems the same?

With any product or service there are always different brands of quality. Be careful, there are a lot of consumer grade products on the market. Thinking that you would like to not repair your irrigation system very often you should think at high quality products, as Hunter for example. Hunter Industries is the world’s leading manufacturer of residential and commercial irrigation equipment, their products being known worldwide for their exceptional features and performance. Rainbird, Nelson, Toro, Weathermatic are other brands well known for their quality too. All these products are latest technology, and this is what you are looking for. But keep in mind that no matter how awesome the technology is, it should be used as part of a complete solution in order to be effective. Be sure that you know the right installation procedures proven to ensure reliable and efficient performance.

Shall I install an irrigation sprinkler by myself?

Yes and … no. If you do it yourself you will enjoy it (100% sure), you will understand the system very well and it will be cheaper BUT it will take longer time than if a contractor will do it for you, it will require hard work and most probably you will not design and set up the system as well as a long time experience contractor.

How long will it take to install a sprinkler system?

Depending on the system size and type, soil condition, time of the year, the area type (hills area or with a lot of trees) it can take few hours up 2 days. A residential area usually takes 1 day.

Should I think at the maintenance from the beginning?

Annually you will need to winterize your system against freezing. Look for a company which provides this kind of services, which includes blowing out the lines in the fall and then restarting the system in the spring and any other necessary adjustments.

Will the installing procedures damage my lawn? How long it will take for it to recover?

Depending on the technology you use to install the sprinkler, your lawn can be less or more damage. You will not need to worry about the mess and the inconvenience caused by PVC pipe placement if you choose to have a sprinkler system installed through trenchless technology.

How much a sprinkler system costs?

The irrigation sprinkler system’s cost depends on few factors:

– The size of the yard – if you have a larger garden or a grass lawn, you’ll definitely need a good quality spray nozzle or sprinkler. For small areas, the most efficient is rotary sprinkler that waters the lawn from the tips of few spray arms that spin.

– The source of the water – wells or water city, local ponds or rivers, all of them could be used as water source for an irrigation system. You need to know the water pressure and flow rate; these are measured in a different way for different water source.

– The concept of the system – depending on the zones of the sprinkler, your system can be les or more expensive. For some yards it is impossible to water all the area with the same sprinkler. The entire area should be divided in zones in this case, and a pipe network should be used.

– The type of the sprinkler system needed – it can be a low cost sprinkler system (as little as $20) or a high price one. Of course you get what you pay for. A low cost sprinkler usually wastes a lot of water; require turning the water on/off manually and moving the sprinkler around the yard to guarantee that entire area is properly watered. On the other side, an automatic underground lawn sprinkler system costs more, but it is completely programmable; what you have to do is to set up the timings and the system will turn on/off the system at certain times.

There are a lot of companies ready to customize the irrigation system for your needs. If you do not have a lot of experience in this field, it’s wise to request a quote from a sprinkler company.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-choose-an-irrigation-sprinkler-system-260638.html

About the Author:

In 1990 Jason Cecil founded Southern Sprinkler, a landscaping care company which offers residential and commercial irrigation, irrigation sprinkler systems installation, maintenance and repair.

Installing Lawn Sprinkler the Easy Way

Author: Robert

When you want a lawn for beautification, the responsibility that comes with it is not just monetary expenditure but time consumption. If you have a lawn sprinkler in mind then consider the following sprinkler system DIY installation guide. The easy do-it-yourself sprinkler system eliminates the issue of additional expenses. If you can find time to spare in the installation of the sprinkler system then brace yourself as we journey to the step-by-step guide installation process.

Steps on Sprinkler System Installation

1.Build the manifold. The manifold is the set of control valves which you attach to the PVC lengths. When the water comes to the manifold it reroutes the water accordingly. Manifolds can either be designed above ground level or buried underneath for cleaner lawn areas.

2.Excavate the V-shape channels where you can position the sprinkler system DIY. Dig an 8-inch deep channel for the pipe at a straight and practical level.

3.Connect the tees’ to complete the water line pipes. There are 3 main locations which you need tees’ attached to be able to connect the pipes to the waterline. One is after the water meter basement. Second is right before the outside hose bibb and the third is right along the supply line before the house pipes. It is vital that you put a shutoff valve for the following purposes: cleaning and emergency cases. If you need sprinkler system troubleshooting then the shutoff valve will also serve that purpose.

4.Mount the drain valves. It is important that you mount drain valves or what we call the anti-siphon valves to prevent contaminated water from entering the whole system causing polluted water to run through the household pipe.

5.Position the valves and pipes in the channels made. Start placing the pipes in its corresponding positions, but don’t forget to measure and test the riser before fully screwing the tees. This is to make sure that the risers are positioned at a 90-degree angle from the ground.

6.Install the risers. When you are done with the final pipe connections and curing of the joints, attach the risers at its exact height and then the sprinkler head. Now your sprinkler system DIY is ready for use.

7.Finally, find the exact spot where you want the controller mounted. Commonly, the control is placed in safer areas. Just run the wires to the control valves and check individually for wiring safety. Then cover the channels with soaked water to make it more compact.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/installing-lawn-sprinkler-the-easy-way-551670.html

About the Author:

The author recommends IrrigationTV for all sprinkler system troubleshooting tips. You can also find useful information on sprinkler system DIY in this content rich site.

How To Install a Lawn Sprinkler System

Author: S Mckenzie

Scott Young reveals his tips and techniques in a new guide that
shows how to install an automatic lawn sprinkler system in 6
days or less and save 67% of the cost.

‘As a lawn sprinkler service professional for over 7 years, I
have seen many people waste hundreds, if not thousands, of
dollars on unnecessary installation fees. The very same job
could have been done by them with the same quality for a
fraction of the price.’ says Young ‘ I have managed my own lawn
sprinkler business for 3 years as a licensed irrigation
contractor in Florida. Having designed, installed, and repaired
sprinklers systems in hundreds of homes, I ran into many clients
who wanted to learn how the system worked, so they could either
do their own repairs or even build a system of their own.’ More
http://tinyurl.com/4w7wg

‘I then decided to put together this guide to help the average
homeowner design and install his or her system quickly and
without the headache or hassles of doing complicated
mathematical equations. Not to mention cutting out the costs and
difficulty with dealing with contractors. I looked around on the
Internet to see what kind of information was available to the
average person looking to design and install their own sprinkler
system. To my surprise, I could not find anything anywhere that
was accurate or easy to understand. People don’t want to, nor
have the time to, take classes to learn sprinkler design when
they just want to water their lawns!’

‘How To Build Your Own Automatic Lawn Sprinkler System’ is
tailored for the everyday homeowner. Topics covered include:
Explanation of the ease of installing your own sprinkler system
in 6 days or less, Discover the ‘make or break’ secret that
could cost you hundreds each month on your water bill, The 16
no-hassle steps to cut your installation time in half, How to
set a watering schedule to maximize the efficiency of your new
automatic sprinkler system and more.

For more information, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/4w7wg

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-install-a-lawn-sprinkler-system-1491.html

About the Author:

Lawn Sprinkler System

Author: Kathleen Chester

Just as the gardens, the lawns are of supreme importance for any homemaker. The lawn which runs parallel to the house is considered as its main entrance and a guest’s first impression. To decorate it, you need to keep those indispensable plants alive without which your lawn would not look so much lively. There are websites that come up with brilliant ideas and has actually revolutionized the lawn sprinkler system.

The lawn sprinkler system has been devised in such way that a large quantity of time is saved and people can actually save a lot of their manual labor as well. If the sprinkler is installed, then there will be no such hazard as to carry to hose all around, with drenched legs and soiled feet.

The bushes usually grow in huge quantity and trimming them is one of the vital functions of the gardener. In spite of all the care, the plants may eventually dry up and die down if there is scarcity of water. Thus spraying of water is one of the essential parts of maintaining a lush flowery lawn, graciously welcoming guests with their adorable presence. Regular watering ensures a better thriving of herbs and flowering plants and if proper care is taken.

The sprinklers are devised in such way that there is lesser chance of spilling over and runoff. Optimum soaking is also another basic feature of the sprinkler system. The nozzles are devised in such way that they can spread the water uniformly over the entire surface without spilling effect. The sprinkler system has been devised in such a way that during rainy season, there shall be no unnecessary wastage of water, since the entire system is water sensitive.

There are few basic things that are required to be present in the lawn sprinkler system. They are the following:

  • Sprinkler Rotors comprises an integrated rubber cover with sockets covered with membranes. The main function of the sprinkler rotor is to drive out the dirt and dust. The grip is easily adjustable and the radius can be altered according to will.

Example: WST3PC Weathermatic Turbo 3 Adjustable Arc Rotor. It is of an advanced type and can be used both at home and outside.

  • Sprinkler Nozzles: is a type of spray nozzle which is offered online. It can be obtained at and ensures maximum droplet size. The most vital thing is its superior performance level and is competent enough for the market.

Example: HN8Q Hunter 8 ft Radius Quarter Circle Pattern

  • Sprinkler Spray:It prevents water erosion and corrosion level and is a favorite among gardeners.

Example: HP437400 Hunter Pro-Spray and Institutional Spray Check Valve

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/lawn-sprinkler-system-493957.html

About the Author:

Sprinkler Mart is one of the largest internet retailers for selling the best Lawn sprinkler system parts & irrigation system parts at wholesale prices. Free shipping

The Lowdown on Lawn Sprinklers

Author: Richard Gilliland

Did you know that professionally-installed lawn sprinklers are one of the best investments you can make in your home? There is no easier or more cost-effective way to beautify your home, increase its value, and save yourself a lot of time and money, not to mention water. If you are contemplating an investment in automatic lawn sprinklers, this decision can ultimately be of great benefit to you, your neighborhood, and the environment, in more ways than you might imagine.
Automatic lawn sprinklers can benefit any Orlando homeowner by making the tedious job of watering your lawn a lot less time-consuming than it used to be, as well as adding to the value of your property. Your neighbors will enjoy the benefits as well, because a well-manicured, healthy lawn increases the curb appeal of your home and adds great beauty to any neighborhood.
One of the more important reasons that Orlando homeowners should consider investing in automatic lawn sprinklers is the peace of mind enjoyed by knowing that you’re benefiting the environment by conserving large amounts of water. Your lawn sprinklers will place exactly the right amount of water on specific lawn and garden areas, while decreasing the amount of water used. Lawn sprinklers are now available with moisture-sensing devices on the controllers that can automatically turn your system off when it rains.
System design and installation of your lawn sprinklers are critical factors that will affect your system’s performance and longevity. This is why it is important to have a landscape professional design and install the right system for your home. You can count on a professional to do the job right the first time.
Why do most homeowners face challenges with their watering habits? Because it is so easy! How many times have you turned on the sprinkler with the firm intention of being back in fifteen minutes to turn it off, but forgot about it until an hour later? Or, maybe you forgot which part of the lawn you watered and which one you didn’t…was it Tuesday or Thursday when you last watered the garden? It may seem silly, but these basic mistakes happen easily and can ultimately damage your lawn. Another benefit of having lawn sprinklers is that they do not water as “heavily” as hand watering. Lawn sprinklers offer a lighter spray of water, allowing your lawn and yard to soak up water better, leading to healthier plants. This can also lead to less runoff, saving you money, while conserving water.
Automatic lawn sprinklers may be expensive, but isn’t it worth the investment to completely erase all of your watering worries? Think about it…by adding automatic lawn sprinklers:
§ YOU’LL SAVE TIME: Your lawn sprinklers will do all the watering for you.
§ YOU’LL SAVE WATER: Lawn sprinklers use less water than watering by hand.
§ YOU’LL SAVE MONEY: Your water bills will be lower and your plants will live longer.
§ YOU’LL REST EASY: Knowing your lawn is getting exactly what it needs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/the-lowdown-on-lawn-sprinklers-486751.html

About the Author:

Richard Gilliland works with GreenMark Landscaping in Orlando and provides expert advice on Lawn sprinklers and Kissimmee landscaping

Keeeping a Perfect Lawn, Ten Top Tips

Author: Roger Wakefield

There’s nothing better than a lush green, weed-free lawn in your garden. A lawn can be used for so many things – sitting out on, playing games such as croquet or cricket on, as a soft area for children to play on and it also adds colour to your garden. Learn how to care for your lawn properly and you will be rewarded with a lovely dense green lawn.

Here are some tips on how to care for your lawn properly:-

1. Mow your lawn regularly – Nowadays, there are so many lawnmowers available and you can find one to suit any budget. If you have a large lawn, it may be best to use a petrol driven lawnmower so you are not restricted by electrical leads. You could even invest in a ride on mower. If you really don’t have time to mow your lawn then you could hire a gardener to mow your lawn regularly for you.
Mowing regularity depends on the time of year and the growth rate of your lawn. You need to mow it regularly enough so that you never cut more than a third of the height in one mowing session.
2. Cut your lawn correctly – Your lawn should be about 4cm (1 and a half inches) when mown. Cutting your lawn to the correct height will keep it healthy, more resistant to disease and weed seed germination and will keep it green. Keeping the grass this long will also cut down on water evaporation, help the lawn to feed itself and keep the soil shaded. If you cut your lawn too short you may end up with a brown lawn – not a good look!
3. Keep edges tidy – However good your mowing, your lawn will look scruffy if you do not tidy the edges. Use a strimmer or edging tool to keep the edges neat.
4. Rake your lawn – Use a wire rake to remove dead leaves and to scarify the lawn so that sunlight can get to the grass. You can buy an electric scarifier if you have a large area.
5. Aerate the lawn – To aerate a lawn is to add air to it. You can use a garden fork to make holes in your lawn and you can even buy special forks or machines which remove cores/cylinders of soil to introduce air into the lawn. You need to make holes at regular intervals – every 10cm or 4 inches is ideal. Aeration helps to prevent soil compaction and enables oxygen and water to get to the roots of the grass.
6. Water your lawn – Water regularly with sprinklers, if you can, to keep your lawn healthy.
7. Feed your lawn – Grass needs nutrients such as phosphorous, nitrogen and potassium so feed your lawn with a good quality lawn feed. Follow the directions carefully.
8. Renovate – If you lawn is in poor condition, you may want to seed it. First, you need to aerate the lawn, then you should scarify it. Make sure that you remove all leaves and moss by raking them up or using a leaf blower. After this, you can see your lawn. Scatter grass seed thinly and consistently over the area and brush into the aeration holes with a brush or broom. If you have seed left over, go over the area again. You can then top dress with some soil if you want, making sure that this is also well brushed into the holes. Cover the whole lawn with fertilizer and make sure that you water the lawn regularly.
9. Cheat and use artificial grass – Some artificial grass can look very realistic and is great if you don’t have much time to spend on caring for a lawn.
10. Enjoy your lawn – It’s pointless having a well-manicured lawn if you never enjoy it!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/keeeping-a-perfect-lawn-ten-top-tips-462777.html

About the Author:

R.Wakefield works for for Japanese Knotweed Solutions Ltd, (http://www.jksl.com), who are experts in japanese knotweed removal. Japanese knotweed is widely considered one of the most virulent species of weed, and is responsible for millions of pounds worth of damage each year to gardens, walls and our natural countryside.

Why Lawn Sprinklers are Great for Irrigating Large and Medium Lawns

Author: Muna wa Wanjiru

Lawn sprinklers are used to discharge water to grass lands, foot ball grounds, Golf grounds and so on.

Single stream lawn sprinkler:

These sprinklers are ideal for medium to large grass lands. They are designed after years of research. They offer smooth operation. They are safe for kids. They have 360 degree arc that rotates in all direction. So no place will be left dry. They are also called rotators as they are continuously rotating in all the directions. They can retract when they are not in use.

Dancing flower sprinkler:

Dancing flower sprinkler provides an excellent way to water your lawn or garden. The sprinkler itself looks like an ornament. You can use it for decorative purposes also. Just connect them to the hose. It will spray water up to 100 square feet. It sprinkles water by twisting the water pressure. So gardening and maintaining lawn is a funful experience for you and your children now.

Portable sprinkler system:

Portable sprinkler is great for lawns or for watering seedlings or shrubs. You just fix them anywhere in the garden and connect a hose to it. Water will sprinkle from its 3 heads. It is safe and comfortable.

Oscillating sprinklers:

It provides lawn watering gently. It assures watering even to all areas. It is suitable for spraying water in large lawns. It is corrosion resistant and thus ensures long life. It is free from maintenance cost. It is light weight. It has built in needles for cleaning spray nozzles. It has 17 holes to spread water in wider areas.

Impulse sprinklers:

Full or part circle impulse sprinklers rotate in an arc to provide water to wide spread lawns. It supplies water through the metal nozzles. As it is rotating, no area will be left as dry patches.

Plastic sprinkler:

It is an adjustable 3 arm sprinkle with spike base. Its plastic body assures long life and flexibility. Just fix them in your garden and connect with a long hose. Its sharp edges ensure proper fixing in the soil.

Ornamental sprinkler:

Ornamental sprinkler is made up of plastic and it has spike base. It is suitable for gardening and watering lawn. It looks like a large yellow flower. This will attract the children. So make your gardening experience an entertainment with ornamental sprinkler.

Plastic oscillating sprinklers:

It has 19 holes that will spray water at height. This is great for irrigating large and medium lawns. Its plastic body assures long life. Its total weight is 2.5 kgs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/why-lawn-sprinklers-are-great-for-irrigating-large-and-medium-lawns-308955.html

About the Author:

Muna wa Wanjiru is an Agricultural Engineer and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Irrigation for Years. For More Information on Lawn Sprinklers, Visit His Site at LAWN SPRINKLERS

Lawn Maintanance

Author: Vera Pappas

Maintaining a nice green yard can be a chore. Cutting, fertilizing, weed, insect and disease control, where does it end?

Maintaining your yard can be simple… Go Organic!

The use of organic products on the lawn takes all the guess work out. By using natural products that come from the earth, you don’t need a chemistry degree. One does not need to worry about applying too much and burning the turf. Organic fertilizers are naturally balanced, easily absorbed and leave no residual chemicals that are harmful to people, pets, water or wildlife. They also release evenly and over a period of time so less applications are needed. Organic fertilizers can be applied most anytime during the growing season, even in summer.

Compost is also another great way to keep your lawn healthy naturally. By spreading a thin layer of compost over the yard, you are putting back valuable, natural nutrients into the ground.

Using natural products on your lawn, the turf will become healthier and stronger, thereby becoming disease and insect resistant naturally. The healthier the turf the easier it is for the lawn to resist infestations. The lawn will also have less weeds. A strong thick turf will choke out weeds. If the grass is thick, the sun can’t reach the weeds seeds, and they simply don’t germinate.

Using a mulching lawn mower or a reel type mower is actually healthier for the lawn than bagging the grass. By leaving clippings (not when the grass is long) on the lawn, it acts as a natural fertilizer as the grass decomposes. The blades of the grass are the nutrient center of the grass itself. It is important not to cut more than 1/3 of the turf at a time, as this is where photosynthesis takes place and allows the turf to grow and be healthy. When too much of the blade is cut off the grass cannot grow effectively.

Turf that is strong and healthy will also be more drought resistant than weak, stressed turf.

Watering is also a key element to a strong, healthy, green lawn. It is important to know how and when to water the lawn. Watering the lawn deeply and infrequently is the best for the lawn. By watering deeply and only once or twice per week, the roots will grow deep into the soil thereby becoming more drought resistant. If you water for short periods of time 4 or 5 times per week, for example, the roots will stay at the surface of the ground, where the water is. During periods of drought and water restrictions, your lawn won’t have a fighting chance. Watering frequently also causes thatch to build up and the turf will become thin and weeds will begin to invade.

So, with that said, I’ve just cut down your lawn chores by about half. You will save money on fertilizers, control product and your water bill. By using organic products, not only are you going to have a beautiful, lush lawn naturally…you will have the time to enjoy it!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/lawn-maintanance-525981.html

About the Author:

This article may be reproduced and/or distributed. This article was written by Vera Pappas, Owner of GreenNationGardens.com, suppliers of unique and eco-friendly garden supplies.

Top 7 Common Lawn Care Mistakes

Author: Mary Ann Porsuelo

There are top tips to care for your lawn. Just as important as lawn care tips are the lawn care mistakes that we should know how to avoid. Lawn care and maintenance takes more than just the usual cutting and watering.

Here are the top ten lawn care mistakes that many people make. Some are so common that we think it’s just normal, when in fact it is actually damaging to your lawn.

1. Cutting the lawn too short. Many of us would like to save time in mowing our lawns so we opt to cut them too short. This will give us a longer break between mows, but this does not bode well for your lawn. The idea here is that removing more than a third of a grass blade will weaken its root system. This will gradually result to future lawn problems.

2. No or very little preparation on the planting strategy and methods. Keep in mind that plants grow better when they are planted at the appropriate depth and spacing. Naturally, this would require some research about the plant and its most favorable conditions and some preparations to take better care of it. Conducting soil tests is particularly relevant because the pH balance can help determine which type of grass is best to grow on your lawn.

3. Disregarding the difference between mature plants and the young ones. It may not seem like a big thing, but noting which plants are new and which are mature is important. This concern involves the water intake of the plants. The water needs of the new and young plants tend to be bigger. They need more water and they may need to be in a sun condition different from that of the mature and established plants.

4. Watering and fertilizing at the wrong time and schedule. A watering schedule is recommended for homeowners who would like to maintain a healthy lawn. Watering amounts will depend on the seasonal changes, the weather and climate, and the area. Generally, the best time to water your lawn would be early in the morning, when you will have the least amount of evaporation. Timing and scheduling also applies to fertilizing you lawn. Depending on your location, fertilization of the lawn varies.

5. Ignoring the importance of mulch. Mulch is important for lawn care and maintenance because of its various uses. Mulching can help add or retain nutrients in your soil, repel insects, control weeds, and can reduce fertilizer needs by a third.

6. Mistaking when to use seed and sod. Most homeowners choose one or the other based on the amount of time to build a lawn. The truth is, you should choose between seeding or sodding by the its most advantageous purpose in lawn care. Sodding helps against soil erosion and is the most effective in building a new lawn. Seeding is better in filling gaps and bare parts of a lawn.

7. Using powder products and “green” products. Power products may be cheaper but they can get blown away before it can get into the soil. Using organic products, or “green” products, can be time-consuming since it takes longer to work and a lot of applications are needed to get results.

We can see that these are all normal mistakes. But we can also see how each of these lawn care mistakes can hinder us from making a great and healthy lawn.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/top-7-common-lawn-care-mistakes-532721.html

About the Author:

The author of this article is a webmaster and is currently working on Boise Lawn Care. Feel free to contact her at keywriterm@gmail.com for any inquiries or concerns.