Did you know that 79% of people still believe the lawn is important when buying or selling a home? If your lawn is imperfect, now is the time to make changes.
While it will take some time and work, your reward will be a beautiful green lawn. Also, don’t worry- you don’t have to do all the work on your own (more on that later).
If you have been wondering how to get green grass that looks lush and beautiful, you have come to the right place. Here, you can find a few tips to help you get the greenest lawn in the neighborhood.
Tip 1: Choose the Right Grass
If you want a healthy green lawn, you must start by picking the right grass. Not all grasses grow well in every place.
Some like it hot, and some like it cool. Think about the kind of weather you have where you live.
In Chicago and surrounding suburbs, you might want to pick a cool-season grass like Kentucky Bluegrass. This type of grass likes the chilly winters and warm summers in Chicago.
Tip 2: Water Wisely
Water is like a magic potion for grass. It makes it grow tall, green, and strong. But you need to water it in the right way.
The best time to water your lawn is early morning when it is cool. This way, the water will not quickly evaporate before your grass gets to drink.
You also need to give your lawn just the right amount of water, not too much or too little. About 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week is perfect.
If you are not sure how much that is, try this trick. Place a small, empty tuna can on your lawn while you water. When it’s full, that’s about an inch of water.
Tip 3: Don’t Cut the Grass Too Short
Have you ever had a short haircut? It feels cool initially, but your head might get too cold or hot, right?
The grass feels the same way. If you cut it too short, it cannot protect its roots from the hot sun.
When mowing your lawn, you should aim to keep your grass about 3 inches tall. This might seem a little tall, but it is the perfect height. The taller grass creates shade for the roots, keeping them cooler.
Also, when the grass is a little taller, it is healthier and can fight weeds better. So, when you are mowing your lawn, remember to set your mower to a higher setting.
Tip 4: Feed Your Grass
Just like we need food to grow strong and healthy, grass does too. The food for grass is called “fertilizer.” Fertilizer is full of nutrients that help your grass grow tall and green.
You can buy many types of fertilizer, but one of the best is slow-release fertilizer. It is kind of like a time-release meal for your lawn. It feeds your grass a few nutrients at a time over several weeks.
But remember, just like overeating food is not good for us, too much fertilizer is not good for your grass. Always follow the fertilizer bag instructions to ensure you are feeding your lawn the right amount. When done correctly, feeding your grass with fertilizer is a key step in knowing how to get a green lawn.
Tip 5: Aerate Your Lawn
Aeration means making tiny holes in your lawn’s soil. These holes let air, water, and nutrients easily reach the grass roots.
A professional landscaping company like Martin John Company can do this for you or you can rent a machine called an aerator to do this job. This machine pulls out tiny plugs of soil from your lawn. It is like giving your lawn a bunch of little breathing holes.
Aerating your lawn is one of those lawn care tips that may seem strange, but it does wonders for your grass. After aerating, your lawn can eat, drink, and breathe easier.
Tip 6: How to Get Green Grass with Overseeding
Sometimes, our lawns can get thin or patchy spots where the grass is not as thick or green as we would like. That is where overseeding comes in. Overseeding is like filling in a coloring book page with extra color.
You take new grass seeds and spread them over your existing lawn. This adds more grass to your lawn and helps fill the thin or bare spots.
Before you start overseeding, mow your lawn a bit shorter than usual and rake it well. This helps the new seeds reach the soil and grow better.
Remember, after you overseed, you will need to water your lawn more often as new grass seed need lots of water to grow. Follow the watering guidelines for the grass seed you choose to use.
Tip 7: Control Weeds
Weeds are like party crashers on your lawn. They pop up uninvited and steal food and drink (or, in this case, nutrients and water) from your grass. Too many weeds can make your grass less green and healthy.
There are two main ways to control weeds. One way is to pull them out by hand. Ensure to get the whole weed, including the root, or it might grow back.
The second way is to use a weed killer. You can find this at a garden store. Just be careful to follow the instructions on the bottle and only use it on the weeds, not your good grass.
Tip 8: Watch Out for Pests
Tiny creatures like bugs and grubs can cause big problems for your lawn. They can eat your grass and its roots, leaving behind ugly brown spots.
You might have pests if you see brown spots or the grass pulls up easily like a carpet. Do not worry; there are ways to get rid of them.
You can use natural or chemical pest control. Natural controls might include using other bugs that eat the pests. Chemical controls are sprays or granules that kill pests.
Always be careful when using chemical pest controls. Follow the instructions and keep them away from pets and kids.
Tip 9: Test Your Soil
Did you know that dirt, or soil as scientists call it, is important for your grass? Soil is where your grass gets a lot of its food. Just like you would not like eating the same meal daily, grass likes different nutrients to be healthy and green.
You can find out what nutrients your soil has and needs more of by doing a soil test. You can get a soil test kit from a garden store. The test will tell you what kind of food your soil needs.
Once you know this, you can pick the right fertilizer for your lawn. Remember, healthy soil means a healthy lawn.
Tip 10: Care for Your Lawn Equipment
Taking care of your lawn means also taking care of your lawn equipment. If your lawn mower, rake, or other lawn tools are not well-cared for, they can’t do their job and might even hurt your grass.
For example, your lawn mower blades need to be sharp. Dull blades can tear your grass instead of cutting it neatly. Torn grass can turn brown and make your lawn look less green.
Cleaning your lawn tools is also important. Just like washing your hands keeps you from spreading germs, cleaning your tools keeps them from spreading lawn diseases.
Finally, remember to store your tools properly when not in use. This helps them last longer. They should be kept in a dry place, like a shed or a garage.
Tip 11: Hire a Professional
After reading all these tips, you might think getting green grass is a lot of work. And you are right; it can be.
But do not worry; Martin John Company is an expert in keeping lawns healthy and looking great all summer long.
They can choose the right grass, water it correctly, control weeds, and fight off pests. They also know how to use all the fancy lawn care machines.
Hiring a professional might cost money, but it can save you time and effort. You can learn from them and maybe do lawn care yourself next time.
Now You Know How to Get Green Grass
By following these tips on how to get green grass, you will be on your way to creating a stunning, verdant space where you can relax and enjoy. Remember, caring for grass is a rewarding task that pays off with a beautiful, lush lawn.
You can also find all types of backyard ideas to enhance the space even more. While caring for grass is important, there are all types of other things you can do.
However, if you are not confident you can handle the job, contact us. We can provide the professional lawn care services you need to get the beautiful green lawn you want.