Green Alternative Blog Post Date: Jun 04, 2007
Your Lawn - Caring for Your Soil
Author: Terry Blackburn
So, you have tested your soil and now know the pH level and the
type of soil you have. Good for you. Now you may be asking
yourself how do I care for this soil so that the grass and the
plants, the flowers, and the trees will grow? You have come to
the right place.
Since good, healthy soil is the foundation of a beautiful yard,
you will need to start with the basics.
Watering
If you have sandy soil, then you will have to pay particular
attention to this section. If you have loam soil, then you can
read this with a smile - but remember that even loam soil needs
water or it will quickly turn to sand. If you have silt or clay
soil, the next section on drainage will also be useful to you.
The first rule of watering is that it must be done often,
especially during the warmer months when there is less rain
fall. You should water your lawn each day in order to make sure
that the soil is receiving enough moisture.
Many people invest in watering systems which are underground
sprinklers that are set on timers that will water the lawn each
day. While these systems can be expensive, if you are the
forgetful type, this is an option. If not, buy a hose that is
long enough to reach the lawn or buy a sprinkler that can be
moved around.
It is important to water your lawn enough, but not overeater it.
You have watered your lawn too much when puddles begin to form.
This is why you should move around your lawn and try to get an
even amount of water on the entire lawn.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your lawn is the best way to provide nutrients and
help keep the weed population under control in order to create a
healthy lawn. When fertilizing your lawn, you keep in mind the
following:
Types of grass that are on the lawn
pH level of soil
Type of soil
Types of weeds
There are different types of fertilizers for different types of
grass. Also, there are fertilizers that should be used at
different times each year. If you have recently planted seed
grass, then you should already know the types that are on your
lawn, but if you have moved into a home that was previously
occupied, you may not know exactly which types of grass are on
your lawn. You should ask your neighbors about their grass since
the same grasses are typically used in an area.
Read the instructions on the bag of fertilizer before using it.
This will tell you when to use the fertilizer, how to apply it,
and also suggest other fertilizers that should be used during
the year. Each season, you should be using a fertilizer.
In order to spread the fertilizer evenly, you should buy or rent
a spreader. This will evenly distribute the fertilizer. They are
very easy to use. Simply put the fertilizer into the hopper and
push the spreader in even lines across the lawn.
Liming
If your soil is acidic, you will need to put lime down in order
to bring the soil to a more neutral state. If you decide to send
a soil sample to be tested, you will receive advice on how much
lime to use and when to use it on your lawn.
Lime can be found at most home and garden centers and can be
used the same way as fertilizer.
Once you have placed lime on your lawn, DO NOT repeat the
process. If you put too much lime on your lawn, you will cause
the soil to turn alkaline, which is not good for most plants and
flowers.
Mulching and Composting
What better way to combine helping the environment and using
fancy lawn equipment than by mulching and composting! This is a
fun activity for the entire family.
In order to create mulch, you will need to buy or rent a
mulching machine. These little machines will grind up leaves,
small branches, and bark. The material that shoots out the back
of the mulching machine can be used to decorate your lawn or be
used as fertilizer. Since mulch is made from organic materials,
it is full of nutrients that will help plants and flowers grow.
It will also replenish nutrients in the soil.
You will have the opportunity to mulch each fall as this is a
great way to get rid of all of those leaves.
Composting is a little different from mulching in that you will
be recycling not only dead leaves and other organic matter, but
also your trash. Yes, your trash. Instead of throwing away left
over food, you can create a compost pile outside where food will
decompose with other matter to create a nutrient rich mix that
you can add to your soil. For many people the idea of composting
sounds disgusting, and in many ways, it is. You will need to
turn the pile every few days to make sure that all of the
materials are decomposing at the same rate. This will also
reduce the odor. When you have a large enough pile, you can use
it on your lawn. This is an inexpensive way to fertilize your
lawn by using materials from the environment.
Many people would rather use compost than chemicals on your
lawn. The choice is up to you.
lawn care
About the author:
Terry Blackburn. Internet Marketing Consultant, living in South
Shields in the North-East of England. Author and Producer of
blog http://www.lawnsurgeon.blogspot.com Author of "Your Perfect
Lawn," a 90 Page eBook devoted to Lawn Preparation, Lawn Care
and Maintenance. Find it at http://www.lawnsurgeon.com
I would be very interested to have your comments on this Article.
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