| Great-Looking Lawns That Don't Take Much Time |
Master gardener Joe Lamp'l, host of Fresh from the Garden, doles out advice about lawns.
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A quality soil test, available from your county extension service, will tell you what is needed to get your soil ready. Then you may begin the rest of the work to get your yard green and keep it that way.
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By Joe Lamp'l
Oct. 15, 2007 — I have at least two personalities when it comes to gardening. One is the practical, prudent, efficient type. To be sure, it's the more intellectual one. The other is clearly motivated by emotion over sensibility, willing to sacrifice all but my first-born to the yard gods, in the name of beauty. Personality No. 1 looks for ways to save time, money and valuable resources at every opportunity. Planting mondo grass as a lawn alternative like my wise master gardener friend would be an example of this. Maintaining turf is clearly more like emotional personality No. 2. Unfortunately, personality No. 2 is the one that shows up most often, bringing with it a lot more work. For example, the lawn I just reinstalled (for the second time in a year), demanded time, money and energy to prepare the soil and plant the seed. This lawn could be an ongoing maintenance nightmare, but it doesn't have to be. Nor will it, which is why I am able to reconcile my affinity to having a small but traditional lawn, in spite of its notorious, chemical-dependant reputation. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure a great-looking lawn this fall and beyond while reducing the amount of resources invested there. Grass that starts out in the right soil pH range has a better chance of establishing and thriving, meaning less work later. A quality soil test, available from your county extension service, will tell you what is needed to get your soil ready. This is a good time to add the amendments suggested in the soil test, including compost or top soil. Loosen the soil enough to promote deep root growth while disturbing the ground as little as possible. This helps preserve the delicate structure of the soil food web below. Rake it smooth and remove any debris. Apply the seed at the recommended rate on the package. Use a crisscross pattern to ensure adequate coverage. The key to good germination is to keep the seed moist throughout the germination process. I use a timer on my sprinkler. It's set to go on four times each day, with each application lasting only a few minutes. Top dressing your seed bed with a thin layer of wheat straw is optional. It helps to retain moisture, keeps the seed in place and deters birds from eating it. However, look for straw that is free of seed heads to prevent germination of it as well. Weeds have a tough time competing for light within a lush stand of grass. Let your grass grow to the upper range of its preferred height and maintain it at this level. Lawns have a reputation as being heavy feeders, especially nitrogen, which gives it that rich green color. But nitrogen as well as other nutrients comes from many sources. Look for long-lasting natural options such as compost, blood meal, aged manures and other organic sources that not only feed your grass but also the soil. Get a jump on spring weeds by applying corn gluten, a natural pre-emergent herbicide, in late winter. The key to success is proper application rates. It takes 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet to do the job. You'll also get the benefit of additional fertilizer because corn gluten contains about 10 percent nitrogen. When you mow, allow the clippings to fall to the ground, where they rapidly decompose. They are high in nitrogen and will reduce the need for it by about 30 percent each year. It's an ongoing battle to attempt to grow grass in shade. It can look good for a while but requires constant upkeep. Instead, consider making those areas mulched beds or groundcover. It will save you a lot of headaches. The busier I get, the less time I have to devote to my lawn. Since I haven't figured out yet how to be personality No. 1 when it comes to my yard, at least I have ways to feel better about my vices. (Joe Lamp'l, a master gardener, hosts DIY's Fresh from the Garden as well as a gardening radio show. For more information, visit www.joegardener.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.) | Get DIY On Your TV. Just follow the instructions to see if DIY Network is available through your cable or satellite provider. |
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