Does your lawn look weedy, patchy, or brown after a long winter? Are you looking for some quick ways to spruce your lawn up this year? Getting your lawn into tip-top shape is one of the common goals of many homeowners. However, this isn’t always easy to do. Here are some tips for getting your best lawn faster this year:

Start with a Soil Test

Knowing the pH and nutrient levels of your soil will help you determine the best fertilizers and soil amendments for your lawn. Once you understand more about your soil, you will be able to choose amendments that can help to balance the PH and add missing nutrients.

Choose the Right Grass Seed

The type of grass you choose should be suited to your climate and the amount of sunlight your lawn receives. If your lawn wasn’t planted with the best kind of grass or grass mix for your climate you might never be able to get the golf course lawn of your dreams. Try using plugs or seeds to begin introducing new kinds of grass into your existing lawn anywhere there are bare patches. If you’re struggling to get your lawn to grow at all you might need to remove it and start over with a different type of grass.

Mow Your Lawn at the Correct Height

Mowing your grass too short can damage your lawn and make it more susceptible to pests and disease. It’s important to make sure that you are cutting your grass at the best height based on the type of grass you’re growing and your area. In general, you don’t want to cut your grass less than three or four inches tall.

Water Deeply and Infrequently

Watering deeply and infrequently will encourage deep root growth and help your lawn withstand drought. The last thing you want is a lawn that can’t handle hot temperatures or dry periods without drying, browning, or going dormant. In order to make sure that your lawn is as healthy as possible and stays resilient during harsh summer weather, give it at least an inch of water each time you irrigate and then wait until the top inch of soil is dry before you water again. In some climates, this will mean watering once or twice a week, but in other areas, you will only water occasionally during the driest parts of the year. If you’re not sure whether your lawn needs irrigating, you might want to buy a rain gauge and use it to evaluate how much water the grass is getting both during storms and when you water.

Fertilize Regularly

Fertilizing your lawn with the right nutrients at the right time will help it grow strong and healthy. It’s important to make sure that your lawn stays fed so that the grass can keep growing at a healthy rate and that the soil will not be deleted. Use a fertilizer that is designed for your soil type and the kind of grass you have. Be sure to follow all of the directions on the fertilizer package. If you don’t follow the directions you will risk burning the roots of your grass, under-fertilizing, or contaminating local water sources.

Aerate Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn will help water and nutrients reach the roots more easily. If your lawn seems to be developing areas of hardpan or thick thatch aerating can help to break up these areas and permit water and roots to permeate the soil. Aeration can also make it easier for fertilizer and nutrients to reach the soil where they are needed.

Remove Weeds and Thatch

If your yard is full of weeds, your grass might have a hard time competing, which can cause the grass to be patchy. Grass can slowly disappear over the years as the weeds take over. In addition, many people dislike the look of weeds and the way they break up the even green of the lawn. Weeds can be removed threw hand weeding, attentive mowing, and carefully applied herbicides designed not to harm lawns. Some weeds are very persistent and difficult to kill while others only need a little pesticide application and they will not come back.

Keep an Eye Out for Pests and Diseases

Any time you suspect that you might have some kind of insect or disease attacking your lawn it’s important to diagnose the problem as soon as possible. Catching pests and diseases early can prevent them from causing serious damage to your lawn. Many diseases and insects are very difficult to eradicate once they have established themselves, but if you catch them early it can be much easier to control them. If you are unsure what kind of insect or disease may be causing problems in your yard, consider consulting with your local extension agency, or landscaping company, or talk to someone from a local university.

Use Organic Lawn Care Products

If you are concerned about the use of dangerous chemicals or keeping your environment as safe and clean as possible, consider using organic lawn care products. These products can help help you maintain a healthy lawn without harming the environment or endangering your children or pets. Make sure that you follow all of the package instructions on any lawn care products you use, even organic ones. Organic products can still be harmful if they’re used incorrectly or the instructions are not followed. Remember, organic does not always mean safer.

Hire a Professional

If you’re not sure how to get your lawn looking its best, consider hiring a professional lawn care service. They can help you assess your lawn’s needs and provide expert advice and services. In addition to being more knowledgeable and experienced in caring for lawns under a variety of different circumstances, lawn care experts often have more time and can attend to your lawn more consistently than you can. Consistent watering, fertilizing, and mowing are the most important things that can help your lawn to thrive and look its best. Finally, If your lawn develops any diseases or diseases or pest problems a professional lawn care person will be more likely to spot the issue quickly and be able to identify and remediate the problem.

Conclusion

No matter what your lawn currently looks like or the skill level that you have, you can learn how to take steps that will improve the look of your lawn quickly. While it can be overwhelming to learn these new skills if you apply them one at a time and learn how to be consistent with your lawn care you will experience success and be able to enjoy a beautiful green expanse of grass.