4 Steps To Get a Greener Lawn Without Professional Help

Is your lawn looking a bit patchy and brown?

It is often advised in magazines and professional gardening articles that if you have an issue with your lawn, your best bet is to call in a gardening team to assess the damage and give you advice.

Of course, this is not always required. For many people, it can be a costly expense, and they could have figured out what they need to do with a bit of insider knowledge, which is not hard to obtain. So if you want to get a greener lawn without having to hire a professional gardener, read on; below, you will be given four tips on how to get the lush lawn that you want and deserve for your home. 

1. Mow Smarter

For some reason, many people assume that in order to get a greener lawn, you need to cut the grass shorter.

Grass is not the same as hair and you should avoid cutting your grass too short as this can cause the soil underneath to become scorched in hotter weather. Aim to keep the grass to a height of 2.5-3 inches, as taller grass will reduce water loss and discourage weeds from growing. Whether you are using Cub Cadet riding mowers or manual push mowers, make sure that the blades are sharpened, as this will ensure clean cuts and will not rip the grass out of the ground, which can cause patchiness and uneven growth. 

2. Test and Improve Your Soil

You should also test your soil's pH and your soil’s nutrient levels, which can be done at home using a DIY soil kit that you can get from most garden centers. The perfect soil for lush grass is usually between the pH levels of 6.0 and 7.0. When you are aware of your soil composition, you can look into any deficiencies that can be causing patchy growth or less than emerald green grass. You can add lime to raise the pH, add sulfur to lower it, and even incorporate organic matter like compost to improve the texture. 

3. Water Wisely

It is more important to water your lawn correctly than it is to water it often. Try to aim for deep but infrequent watering, as this will encourage your grass roots to grow deeper into the soil. Try to add around 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week, but make sure you include the rainfall, as you don't want to overwater the grass. Try to water it early in the morning, as this will minimize evaporation and will prevent fungal growth on the grass. 

4. Aerate and Overseed Annually

You will also want to ensure that you prevent the soil from becoming compacted, as this can suffocate grassroots. Therefore, it's worth investing in either a manual or mechanical aerator that can punch holes into the soil, thereby allowing water and nutrients to penetrate more effectively. After you have aerated, try to over-seed your lawn by spreading grass seeds evenly across bare or thinner areas. Choose a grass seed that is suitable for your region and lawn conditions and aim to water consistently until the seeds germinate. This will help to cover any balder patches of grass and will get the lawn looking striking by the next spring or summer.