5 Techniques for Thicker and Greener Yards

What’s the secret to a perfectly green, smooth lawn? asks the experts at TrueNest Management.

There are plenty of correct answers to that question, and they all boil down to this: you need healthy grass. From watering to mowing to balancing the soil’s pH, all of the strategies discussed below are meant to do just that. This isn’t about little-known tricks or gimmicks, although these techniques aren’t all necessarily common knowledge. Instead, they’re a way to help you refine your lawn-care routine so you can get the best results possible.

Of course, some yards need a jump-start towards their journey to perfection; if your yard has sections that are especially scraggly or bare, you may want to have sod installed. This will essentially give you a shortcut to a more uniform yard, rather than requiring you to wait entire seasons for your grass to grow back. Just remember to match the new grass variety to the old if possible, and get something that grows well in your area. For example, someone in the Houston area could look at Houston grass stores; these companies will recommend the best options for the climate, and even help with the sod installation in some cases. In the meantime, you can see for yourself how these techniques can improve your yard.

1. Topdress the Lawn with Compost

When most people think of compost, they think of it as something that goes onto the soil to help new plants get a stronger start. However, it can also be used to boost an already-established lawn. Compost is full of nutrients and microorganisms that improve nutrient uptake, which results in more robust growth. 

The technique is simple – it’s just a matter of evenly distributing the compost over the grass. The goal is to distribute up to 0.5 inches of compost over the lawn; it doesn’t take much. Small piles of compost should be arranged at regular intervals, and then spread out with a rake. Make sure you rake gently; you don’t want to pull out blades or roots while you’re trying to help the grass grow! A moderate watering will help the compost settle into the soil, and the microorganisms will take it from there. Organic solutions like compost are a great way to build a healthier yard without resorting to chemicals. Plus, you can even make your own compost at home with a little time and effort. Golden State residents living near the Mexican border are always looking for the best grass for southern California turfs that will make sure their lawns stay green and healthy all year long. Furthermore, adding compost also helps with soil retention and erosion prevention. It’s a win-win for both your yard and the environment.

2. Optimize Your Watering Techniques

How complicated can it be to water grass? Not that complicated, but there are a couple of points to keep in mind.

• It’s always best to avoid a scenario in which excess moisture sits on the grass blades for hours at a time. For this reason, watering in the morning is preferable to watering in the evening. With a morning watering time, the heat of the day evaporates any extra water that hasn’t soaked into the ground. With an evening watering time, on the other hand, the extra water may cling to the grass all night. This makes the grass more vulnerable to fungal diseases, which of course won’t help your lawn grow thicker and greener.

• Find out the right quantity and schedule for your grass, and stick to it. Some grasses need just a couple of inches of water per week, and prefer getting it all at once. Other grasses need a few inches of water each week, and grow best when they’re watered every other day. These factors can make a big difference in the health of your lawn, so if you don’t know what’s right for your grass, make sure you find out!

3. Balance the Soil’s pH

Here’s another technique that may not be as common as watering or mowing, but is still important. Fortunately, it’s also simpler than it sounds! Due to a combination of reasons, soil can become either too acidic or too alkaline for plants to flourish. Most grasses can tolerate pH-imbalanced soil up to a point, but would also benefit from a more balanced growing environment.

First, you’ll need to test the pH balance; you can find simple test kits at most nurseries. If the soil is acidic (which is the most common type of imbalance), you’ll have to apply the right amount of an alkaline substance to cancel out the acidity. Just like acidic vinegar is neutralized by alkaline baking soda, acidic soil can immediately be fixed with an alkaline substance like lime.

To figure out how much lime you’d need, just search online for an easy-to-use calculator. This will tell you what concentration of lime will balance out specific levels of acidity. Apply the lime, water moderately, and test the soil the next day to make sure everything looks good.

4. Mow Properly

For many people, the default lawn-mowing schedule is “as infrequently as possible”. This may work better for your free time, but it isn’t great for the grass. You’d think that mowing more frequently would mean more stress for your lawn, but it’s actually the opposite. Grass should ideally be mowed when it reaches 1.5 times the recommended height; for example, grass that should be maintained at 2 inches gets cut at 3 inches. Even for fast-growing grasses, this usually means mowing about once per week. 

Another important part of your lawn-mowing technique: use sharp blades! Dull lawnmower blades are more traumatic for the grass, and can even make it more susceptible to disease. 

5. Fertilize the Lawn Regularly

According to some sources, it’s enough to just let the grass clippings compost back into the soil – this will provide a nutritional boost that can take the place of fertilizer. While it’s true that grass clippings from each mowing will act as a natural compost, fertilizer is still needed if you want the most vibrant lawn possible. 

This can be done once-yearly, or a few times a year; it depends on the nutrient levels that are already in the soil, as well as the strength of the fertilizer you’re using. Always test existing nutrient levels (like phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.) before applying fertilizer, since too many nutrients can be just as harmful as too few.

By following these techniques, you won’t just have a thicker, greener lawn; you’ll have the kind of yard that’ll make all the neighbors jealous!

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