The Grass Doesn't Have to Be Greener on the Other Side

Have you ever noticed that every street, even in Studio City and Sherman Oaks, has one house with uncut grass that is neglected? You probably don't have to be the reason for the lack of green on your street, because if your lawn looks unattractive your house can't look attractive. One follows the other and it damages the value of your property. Consider considering these quick tips for keeping your lawn green and your property value on the green side too.

Lawns Need Water But Not too Often or in Tiny Rations at a Time

A common error is the belief that a lawn has to be watered on a daily basis. The problem with that is, it is not only unnecessary and moreover wasteful of water but it also does not help the roots. ***The suggested frequency of watering is two or three days a week. For each cycle, you should let the water run for about a half hour  so the roots can drink in all of the nutrients and go down deeper.

Los Angeles has put mandatory water restrictions in place for more information visit LADWP

Your Grass Needs Nutrition

Just like humans need four meals daily (Well, OK, three), turf grass needs four square meals a year. Regular treatment with good fertilizer is a necessary part of taking care of your lawn and it isn't so hard to keep on schedule. Feed the lawn in June for the summer, September for the fall, in November before the snow starts and finally around February after the snow is gone. This will provide your lawn with a healthy balanced diet that will have it coming to life once the weather warms up.

A Rule for the Length

There are different opinions on what length is best for your lawn. It may vary a little depending on the type of grass. Though experts will each give a varying opinion, a good rule of green thumb would be to keep it cut to about 3 inches (8 cm )high. This will allow each individual blade of grass retain water better, allowing you to keep it healthy with less effort. In the end though, it's a matter of your personal preference.

Keep Your Cutters Sharp to Cut That Grass

You probably think your lawnmower blades are sharp since you know they are capable of hurting you, but they might not be as sharp as you think, and dull lawnmower blades can lead to a brown, stressed and unattractive lawn. This can happen when the lawn isn't being cut but rather being torn. That makes for a stressful growing environment and it is more difficult for it to grow.

Raking After All

It is not often that you get a simple solution to a problem and it lessens the work as well. Here's one. For many of us one of the most bothersome parts of mowing the lawn is the raking and picking up the clippings from your freshly mowed lawn. Not only is it better not to do that, but it can be better for the lawn if you don't go to the trouble of doing it! The leftovers are a good natural fertilizer for the lawn. So unless you've left huge chunks and piles of clippings all over the lawn, it's probably best to leave the tiny clippings where they fall and honor their passing gracefully. Some extra effort may be needed every few years to remove thatch in the event it builds up too much and starts to impede water from going to the roots. The problem is minimized if you cut the grass regularly enough so the trimmings are small enough to decay quickly.

These quick and easy suggestions can help you to have a greener lawn without a lot of hard work, so you and your neighbors can enjoy a nice looking lawn. By just following these easy steps, you will be doing your part for the neighborhood.

***Effective June 1st Sprinkler Use is Restricted to Mondays and Thursdays