In order to have perfect grass, you have to start from the ground up. Having managed a landscaping business in southern California, I know many of the tricks of the trade of lawn care, and what things you need to have for perfect grass. In basic terms, the fundamentals of grass are proper soil conditions, proper type of grass for your region, proper watering, and proper maintenance and fertilization. We'll go through each step by step so that you can have a good handle on exactly what you need to do to take your yellow, patchy lawn and turn it into a perfect lawn. Let's face it, there's nothing like a beautiful lawn. And those of us with bordering perfect lawns know that feeling of jealously that sometimes arises when driving up the road to our own yellowing, under-watered plot of lawn.
1. Right Soil Conditions. Most people think that fertilizer is enough to take care of the soil for grass. But this isn't really the case. Fertilizer only gives the grass the proper nutrients. Fertilized soil is definitely very important, but grass also needs other things, such as slight acidity to the soil, slightly sandy soil, and good drainage. You can fertilize your grass till kingdom come, but if you have large deposits of clay and/or rocks in your ground, your grass is never going to thrive. Taking care of the clay can be done without having to rip up existing grass. Gypsum can be applied on top of the grass twice a year and watered in. The only problem with this method is that gypsum will take about 3 years to work into the clay and break it up, and many people are willing to wait that long to get a nice looking lawn. So if you're in a state that has a lot of clay in the ground, like many southwestern states, you should definitely look into gypsum.
As far as acidity goes, there are a few other things you might try. Used coffee grounds will turn your soil slightly acidic, as will garden sulfur. Just be careful not to overdo it. Grass only likes a slight acidity to the soil.
2. Growing Grass in the Right Region. Knowing what kind of grass does well in the region where you live is very important. Most garden shops should be able to tell you, and there's a link below to a regional chart that can help you decide. Also important is the specific area where you'll be planting the grass. Mainly what you want to determine is how much shade vs sunlight the grass will have. Grasses in general love sunlight and many grasses don't do well at all in the shade. But some varieties of grass stand up better to shade than other varieties. So take a bit of time to diagnose your property and decide how much shade vs sunlight your grass is going to be exposed to.
3. Right Watering. This can get a bit tricky. In a lot of states, such as California, there are laws against over-watering, which can make it very hard to keep your grass well-watered, especially during the summer. Nothing can kill a lawn faster than drought. Fortunately in modern years, varieties of grass have been created that need less water than others. The type I'm thinking specifically of is Dwarf Fescue. Fescue is a very popular kind of grass for residential lawns, and there are many varieties that thrive nationwide. Fescue in general is a pretty big water drinker. Dwarf fescue is a variety that needs less water, which is ideal for yards in states that have restrictions on watering.
4. Right Maintenance and Fertilization. This is essential for keeping your lawn vibrant and green. Often, when grass doesn't have everything it needs, it will yellow and fade. Having a vibrant, thick, green bed of grass can only really be achieved through seasonal fertilization. When I was the manager of the landscaping business, I had a practice of fertilizing once per season on average, meaning four times a year. And I would use a slightly different fertilizer depending on the season. Your local garden shop or garden center at Home Depot will be able to give you good advice on fertilizer for your region, especially if you describe the particular ailment your lawn seems to be suffering from.
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I hope you got the information you needed in order to grow that perfect grass. If you want to read more about grass and sod, read another of my articles on fescue sod.