Lawn Care ABCs: Basic Steps to Green Grass

By Lynn Coulter

A lush lawn can add to the value of your home. It’s not only a living carpet that your family can enjoy, but it’s also a beautiful and important feature in your landscape. If you’re selling, you’ll find that it’s high on the shopping list for many buyers.

Fortunately, “good lawn care isn’t complicated,” says Bruce Holliday, senior landscape architect for Atlanta-based Pike Family Nurseries.

First, you do need to know what kind of grass is underfoot. Fescue is a cool season grass, while Bermuda, Zoysia, centipede, and St. Augustine are warm season grasses.
Any grass needs three basic things, Holliday says: proper mowing, watering and fertilizing. How often you’ll do each step depends on the kind of grass you have and where you live. A county extension agent or local nurseryman can advise you on specifics.
Mow regularly, to keep the grass three inches tall. Removing more than 1/3 of the blade at a time stresses your lawn, and it struggles to recover.
Fertilize regularly, as recommended for your type of grass. Most lawns need fertilizing two to three times a year.
Avoid overwatering. Holliday says that one inch of water, once a week, is ideal. What’s an inch? You can measure by placing empty cat food or tuna cans, which are about an inch deep, under your sprinklers. Keep watch, and time the sprinklers to see how long it takes to fill up the cans. Then you’ll know how long to water each time.

Take care of your grass before weeds get a foothold, and you’ll enjoy a thick, healthy lawn for years to come.

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Lawn Care ABCs: Basic Steps to Green Grass