Maintaining A Healthy Lawn

While it may seem prudent to apply tons of fertilizer to your lawn, the opposite is true. While fertilizer is indeed required for a healthy lawn, too much can make the grass grow too fast. This rapid growth can make the grass more susceptible to disease and infestation. Generally, one or two applications per year are best. Also, avoid fertilizers with high nitrogen content, which most grass fertilizers have (you want no more than 10 percent). This encourages the grass to grow very quickly. Rapidly growing grass does not develop a strong and deep root system. Organic fertilizers are best.

Grass is actually quite resistant to bugs and critters. Applying pesticides kills not only the "bad" bugs, but the good ones too, including worms. Worms convert dead plant material into nutrients that keep grass healthy. Worms also aerate the ground which allows greater root growth and water penetration. If you have healthy grass in the first place, it will be far more resistant to any infestations.

Technically, grass can survive for several months without water. It may turn brown, but the root deep inside can go into dormant mode and regenerate when the seasons change. However, most people want a green lawn all year long. The secret is to water thoroughly, but infrequently. Basically, it's better to water your lawn for 30 minutes twice a week than 5 minutes a day. The idea behind this is to encourage root penetration. If the grass has to hunt deep underground for the water, it will develop a deeper root system to do so. Frequently watered grass has no reason to penetrate the ground to find water, thus staying weak.

While it may not look as refined, mowing your grass on the tallest setting actually promotes a healthier lawn. The tall blades block sunlight from reaching the ground, making it difficult for weeds to take root. This additional shade helps the ground to remain cool, reducing watering frequency and allowing beneficial microorganisms to thrive. Encouraging grass to spread into bare spots becomes a lot easier when you have taller grass. Moister and cooler grass will help the roots to penetrate deep, accessing essential water reserves under the surface.