Is the Grass on your side of the fence greener?
Summer is harsh on grass, if your neighbor’s yard is green and lush this time of year, chances are she/he has better species of grass, higher-quality topsoil, and automatic irrigation. You could probably get all that for $10,000, but if you are planning to sell your home now or in the near future, you may not want to make that type of investment. I decided to research the subject, in order to find less expensive options I could share with you.
I learned a lot! Here are three key pointers that will make your grass greener without spending a fortune.
Yard Maintenance
Advice from Mark Schmidt, principal scientist at John Deere: Taller grass holds more moisture and stays greener than short grass. Plus, it shades the soil, helping to keep the roots wet. Set your mower deck to three inches (or as high as it will go). Also, inspect the grass right after mowing. Jagged tears indicate that the blade is dull, and these wounds sap moisture from the plants. If that is the case, request your lawn service provider replace blades ($10 to $40 or have them tune-up their mower, $75 to $200, which includes blade sharpening.)
Fertilizers
Advice from Alec Kowalewski, Oregon State University horticulture professor: When a lawn turns brown, it’s not dead—it’s just gone dormant to save energy for cooler, wetter times. You may be tempted to apply fertilizer and weed control, but if not done right, those chemicals can burn a heat-stressed lawn.
Water
Advice from John Stier, playing-field consultant to several National Football League teams: Dragging around the hose and sprinklers to hydrate parched grass may do more harm than good. Coming in and out of dormancy can kill the lawn; so don’t water unless you’re going to be super consistent about watering all season long. That’s probably not realistic with manual efforts, so let nature take its course.
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Contact Marian ‘M’ Iglesias
305 342 5757 | m@marianiglesias.com
(M is for Marvelous)