A Green Lawn in 5 Easy Steps

 

Spring is here and it's time to repair the damage the winter caused on that front lawn. I will show you 4 easy steps to bring back that lush green lawn and make your neighbors jealous. The 5 steps are Rake it, Seed it, Cover it, Mulch it and Water it.

 

 

RAKE IT

The worst and most labor intensive step is to do a thorough job of raking that dead grass. Put some elbow grease into it and make sure that you are diligent in this step.

 

SEED IT

Make sure you buy the proper seed depending on the amount of sunshine and rain your lawn receives. A great choice is Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra Grass Seed. It is a fast germinating and should produce that healthy green lawn in 4 to 6 weeks.

 

COVER IT

Cover the seed with a layer of top soil between 1/8' and ¼'' deep. That is enough to protect it from hungry birds, wind, and the heat from harsh direct sunlight, yet shallow enough to allow the seed to break the soil barrier and not be suffocated. Remember, a seed is tiny and fragile and can't penetrate a deep layer so be sparingly with the top soil. In particularly hard soil areas, I do like to put down a thin layer of soil before scattering my seed so the roots have an easier time taking hold especially if I didn't aerate the soil with a rototiller.

 

MULCH IT

A thin, sparse mulch layer will help maintain moisture and prevent erosion. To mulch the lawn properly, spread enough Mulch so when you look down it looks like its, 50% mulch and 50% top soil mix. Hay is an excellent substitute but you will need 50 to 80 pounds to cover a 1,000 square foot area. Easier to use commercial grade mulch found at the Home Depot or your local garden and nursery store.

 

WATER IT

Ten minutes a day, twice per day for the first two weeks is an ideal watering schedule. In two weeks, you should start to see some growth. A Kentucky blue grass could take twice as long so check the packaging on your seed mix. After the third week, you can reduce the schedule to once a day. Keep in mind, not enough or too much water are both damaging. Use your discretion but the goal is to keep the seeds moist but bear in mind, all seeds will be at varying depths, and different maturity levels because most seed sold is a blend. Adjust the watering obviously by where you live and the weather. Until the lawn is densely showing grass growth, make sure to keep the soil moist, the worse thing for any seed is for it to dry out. But Remember, NO DROWNING THE SEED.

 

There you are, 5 easy steps to that beautiful lawn that will increase your home's value and curb appeal. If you don't get around to taking care of your lawn before the summer, you always have a second chance every year in mid-October before the first frost. But, remember, that the new grass has to be strong enough to survive the brutal winter ahead so leave time. Good luck.