Lawn Care : The Best Options for Your Home

A lush, beautiful lawn can be the defining feature of a front yard. It’s the first thing people see when they drive past your home and can add a good deal of curb appeal if you plan to sell soon.

However, most homeowners know that keeping a lawn looking its best can be tricky. From knowing when to plant your grass to getting your soil and seed combination just right, a lot goes into the perfect lawn.

Seed options

Your seed options are the first thing you should consider when planning your lawn. There are three regions in the United States for grass: the cool season zone, transition zone, and warm season zone. Each zone has specific types of grass that thrive best.

Some grasses are versatile and will thrive in multiple zones. For example, a fine or tall fescue mix or Kentucky bluegrass will do well in the cool and transition zones. Similarly, Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass work best in warm or transition zones.

Planting season

Once you choose your seed mix, you’ll need to confirm when you should plant it. Each region has its own rules, so to speak, about when to plant grass. You should do your best to follow them for the best chance of success.

You should plant cool season grasses in the fall or spring. You’ll want to put the seed down before the first frost, to ensure a root system develops. Warm season grasses do best when planted during late spring or summer.

Soil testing

Soil composition is a critical factor in growing your best lawn, which is why soil testing is a necessary lawn maintenance step. If your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, your grass might not thrive or could fail to grow entirely.

Soil testing involves using a testing kit to determine your soil’s pH. You can purchase a kit online or anywhere that sells gardening supplies, such as a home improvement store. When you test your soil, you want a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. You can adjust the pH by adding sulfur or peat moss to increase acidity or lime to decrease it.

Prepare the area

Clearing away any rocks, roots, or other soil debris is vital to ensure your grass can develop strong roots. A hardy root system will help your grass stay strong during the dormant season and absorb sufficient water during the growing season.

All you need to prepare your planning area is a pointed shovel and a bucket or wheelbarrow. Using your shovel, dig down and remove any plant remnants or rocks and break up any hardened soil chunks. Cart everything away in your wheelbarrow, then fill the holes with topsoil.

Wrapping up

Growing the perfect lawn can be a labor of love. Although it might take time, once you have a lush carpet of grass gracing your yard, you’ll know it was worth it. Fortunately, if you follow the guidance here, you’ll be all but guaranteed to have success.