Curb Appeal
Here is a question that I keep getting. How do you have such a nice yard? Teach me to grow grass like yours?
Well these pages will be designed to do just that.
Now I have to admit that I do not have the nicest yard in the neighborhood. My target is to be in the top 20%. That means your yard is going to be noticed. I learned a long time ago that the other 20%, if you want to be the best, is going to cost you time and money that is best served doing things of greater importance. Like what? How about wooing your bride!
There are three things that you cannot see that can defeat you in your attempts to grow grass. Soil compaction, soil insects and soil ph. If you notice moss growing in your yard, that is a sign. If you have no grass in places that is a sign.
Soil compaction is common with new construction. The heavy equipment used to dig foundations and clear lots compacts the soil. Also simple things like animal paths or family sporting events that involve volley ball games and such will cause soil compaction. This is why soil aeration is so important. Core aeration is the by far the most effective remedy. I have found that a spike aerator can contribute to the compaction problem. That does not mean I never use spike aerators, because I do. My point is that if you having trouble growing grass, the core aerator is the only way out of soil compaction.
Grubs, you can't see them, but they are down there feasting on your lawn's roots. If you have moles, there is a good chance that you have grubs. August and May are your grub treatment months. Tempted to skip this? You will not get the results you are looking for.
Soil ph, where I live the soil is naturally acid at a 5.5 ph. Grass wants a ph of about 6.5. At my house I have found that once your soil ph is corrected to 6.5; mother nature is fighting its way back to 5.5. So I have to repeat lime applications every season. Why bother? If you have acid indigestion do you want to eat a slice of pizza? Of course not. Well if your grass is in acid soil, it will not eat the fertilizer that you are appling.
One other thing, the nitrogen in fertilizer and your lawn soil don't attract one another, in fact, the opposite is true. You need to know that your nitrogen applications will leach out of your soil with every rain. Find fertilizers which contain coated nitrogen, read the bag.
Contributors: Indiucky