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Lawn Care |
Lawn Care - A Little Knowledge Goes a Long Way
by Debbie Wilson
Home Improvement Ideas Columnist
Keeping your lawn in tiptop shape is not as difficult as it might seem. All it takes is a little know how and routine care. In fact, you can keep your lawn looking its best by focusing on three major areas: watering, mowing, and fertilizing. Once you've mastered these three areas, you'll be sporting the lawn your neighbors envy and your family enjoys year-round.
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Watering
Watering actually falls into two categories, either too much or too little. Symptoms of inadequate water are easily seen. Your grass slowly loses its bright green color and starts to fade to a yellow/brown. You may also notice wilting of the grass blades themselves. On the converse, if you walk across your lawn and your footprint remains in the grass without rebounding upright, then your lawn is over-watered.
Mowing
Mowing also falls into two categories: too infrequent and too short. Avoid letting grass grow tall and then removing more than 1/3 of the leaf blade. Mowing the grass extremely short can cause problems by cutting into the crowns of the plants, producing irreparable damage. Make sure your mower blades are sharp and clean. And, avoid cutting wet grass and raise the mower height a notch to keep your lawn full and healthy.
Fertilizer
Before applying any fertilizer to your lawn, determine the square footage of lawn in question, identify your grass type, and assess your climate. Picking the right fertilizer will actually depend upon your soil's particular chemistry. You will need pre-emergents to prevent weeds from germinating, balanced fertilizers to deal with nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium elements, and weed and feed fertilizers to contain and eliminate weeds once they begin. Additionally, many of these same fertilizers will control lawn pests as well, as long as they are used on a routine basis.
About the Author
Debbie Wilson owns and operates a lakeside resort, managing all aspects of operations, including marketing and promotion. Her previous experience includes management and profitability consulting for a national healthcare company. In this capacity, she oversaw a five-state operation, utilizing her extensive knowledge of healthcare billing, A/R management, and human resources. Debbie holds a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in Physical Education.
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