Lawn care for beginners doesn’t have to be hard or intimidating. In fact, you don’t have to be a pro to have success. However, there are a couple of ground rules you need to know to have success. Don’t worry though, we have you covered! Here are 6 basics you need to know to care for your lawn.
- Research your lawn
- Buy necessary tools
- Plant grass seed at the right time
- Water your lawn correctly
- Fertilize your lawn
- Upkeep your lawn
Research your lawn
Lawn care for beginners starts with research. There are a couple of things you need to know to be successful with your lawn, and if you want to start a garden as well. Knowing a couple of key details can be the difference between success and failure.
Find out pH soil level
Your soil’s pH levels will help you determine how healthy your soil is for the type of grass you would like to grow. Doing a pH test will let you know how acidic your soil is. Depending on this information, you can have a greater chance of success. Knowing your ph levels will also help you determine whether or not you need to treat your lawn for missing nutrients. You’ll need to do this every year before you start seeding your lawn to make sure your grass has nitrogen-rich soil to work with.
Know what type of grass grows best in your area
Not only does pH in your soil matter, but your climate does as well. Just as when you are starting a garden and looking for plants that will bloom in your area, it’s the same with grass. Look for grasses that do well in your climate. If you don’t do this, you can waste time and money planting grass that won’t grow.
Buy necessary tools
If you’re just starting to learn about lawn care for beginners, then you may not realize all the tools that are necessary. While you don’t need to buy every tool, make sure you have some of these items when you’re just starting out to improve your lawn.
- Sprinkler system
- Lawnmower
- Rake
- Bucket
- Spreader (handheld or push)
- Garden hoe
- Watering hose
There are more items you can find to help, but these are some of the basic items you will need to keep your lawn healthy.
Plant grass seed at the right time
To get the best result possible, you need to plant new seeds for grass to grow.
First, you’ll need to know which type of grass to plant, which we’ve already discussed.
Second, you’ll need to know which time of year you need to plant. Climate can also impact when you should plant your seeds as well. Make sure you know what does best in your area. If you plan on growing a different type of grass than what is common, be prepared. You may need to treat your lawn with special types of fertilizers or wait until another period of the year to plant. For example, instead of planting in the Fall, you plant during the Spring.
Third, you start to prepare! To prepare the soil, start raking your yard for seeding. You generally want to make sure you rake your topsoil and open up your dirt for the seeds to take hold. This can be a little hard to explain without seeing it in person, so here’s Stanley “Dirt Monkey” Genadek to break it down for us.
How to Plant a yard and grass seed like a pro – Grow a new lawn, overseeding, yard & sod care tips
Water your lawn correctly
One of the tenets of lawn care for beginners is to know that you can easily over water. Everyone knows that plants need water to survive and thrive. But how much is too much? According to Scotts.com, on average you should try to water your plants 1-1.5in. of water per week. This can fluctuate due to your climate and the grass you are growing. Going above this recommended level may mean that you overwater your grass. Overwatering can lead to your grass dying or becoming more susceptible to weeds and diseases.