The lawn is a very relevant part of any self-respecting garden. A soft and fluffy green blanket where you can play ball with the children or your pet, lie down to read or sunbathe or have picnics with your friends. However, for it to be in good condition it needs exhaustive maintenance. Otherwise, it can dry out, rot, and become infested by weeds.
Aware of the investment of time and money required to keep natural grass in good shape, more and more people are encouraged to install artificial grass, much more grateful and less demanding. But nothing compares to a fresh, natural grass garden if it is well cared for. We give you the keys to achieve it.
Mowing the grass is essential to keep it looking lush, thick and even. In spring and summer, the ideal is to cut it once a week or every two and with a cut length of between 3.5 and 5 centimeters. In autumn and winter you can space the mowed more.
Lawn scarifying removes matted grass, moss, and dry weeds, while aerating the soil to allow better uptake of water, oxygen, and nutrients. The ideal is to do it every spring and, later, fertilize the land.
Fertilizing the lawn should be done at least once a year. Ideally in spring, after scarifying. But if your grass and soil are in poor condition, you may need to do it more often. Look at the appearance of the grass, if it is yellowish or greyish, it is time to fertilize.
Look for one that contains the essential nutrients for a pristine lawn: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the amount and mode of application of your fertilizer. It is advisable that it is also slow release. After fertilizing, it is time to water so that the substrate penetrates the ground better.
Like all vegetation, grass needs water to survive. You must regulate the amount and frequency of irrigation depending on the weather. For example, in autumn and winter you can surely do without watering it, while in spring and summer you have to pay attention to heat and humidity or drought to match your watering habits.
Do not water it excessively, as this would decrease the oxygen in the soil and the grass could rot. It is best to water first thing in the morning, before the sun hits too hard. At night is not a good time either, as mold could appear.
Finally, you will need to pay close attention to weed infestation. These snatch oxygen, water and other nutrients from your precious lawn, so they must be eradicated as soon as possible. Depending on the type, size and magnitude of the pest, you can pull them up with your hands –always removing all the roots–, do it with a special tool or apply a herbicide, taking care not to damage the grass.