Lawn Care in 5 Easy Steps

This is a free 5 part series brought to you from the guys here at LawnDomain.com. You can see the first part in the series below and then stick in your name and email address to receive the last 4 parts at the bottom.

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Step 1 - A Good Lawn Starts With Good Seed

It is the aim of every gardener and groundskeeper the world over to be able to create and maintain a magnificent looking lawn. What seems to stump many people is that they are thrown by the fact that not all lawns are the same. However, if you keep to a checklist of five strict fundamentals rules to adhere to you should have success with every lawn you encounter.

Some lawns look immaculate even though very little seems to have been done to them. There's never any sign of a mower or of a keen gardener tending to it. By following the tips in this series your lawn will be the envy of your neighbours.

This first element you need to attend to is the grass seed. The simple fact of the matter is that a good lawn comes from good seed. You think you may not need grass seed as you have a lawn already. In some cases you may be right but in many cases the type of grass is inadequate to keep a superb looking lawn. Not all grass is the same. You don't plant pansies expecting roses. The same is true for grass and the quality of lawn.

The right seed

Bargain basement seeds often contain very low quality grass and have a very high weed content. Both of these elements will give you an uphill battle from the start when trying to get that lawn perfect. Some low grade seed has been found to have a weed content of over 5%. Good grass seed will have weed content of under 1%. By going for the cheap seed you are opening yourself up to dealing with five times as many weeds.

Your lawn will be affected by this aesthetically as weeds are unsightly but weeds also starves your lawn from attaining the essential nutrients it needs from regular watering and feeding. Poor quality seed is also susceptible to disease that spreads to other grasses very easily. This is why it is crucial you try to not save any money here. Purchase the best quality grass seed you can as it will save you money on maintenance over time.

Laying the seed

Seeds need to be in soil to germinate. Seeds are unable to germinate if they lay directly on the turf. Before applying seed, rake the entire area so the seeds will fall into soil. If applying seed to an existing lawn add a layer of top soil and scatter the seeds. The seeds will take to the soil and then sink into the turf. Seeding existing lawns reduces and even eliminates visible bare spots and thickens the lawn significantly. If necessary layer a thin amount of top-soil to ensure the seeds are in some soil.

A major aspect of lawn establishment that is overlooked is air temperature. Grass cannot set its roots properly in extreme heat or cold. Grass seeds may not germinate. Sometimes you may get a growth rate of 50% or less of grass seed laid in temperatures that are not regarded as optimum. Good grass seed tends to have an 80% germination rate when the temperature is right. The optimum air temperature ranges from 12C-20C.

In the next part of this series you will learn how to use your lawnmower effectively and to get best results from your lawn.

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