ReadersAisle.com | Reliable Information Simplified

9 Simple Steps to Create a Lush Green Lawn

The grass can be greener where you want it to be! Learning to take care of your lawn appropriately and maintaining it can help you create a lusher, greener yard for hosting cookouts, picnics, barbecues, or a relaxing yard for you and your loved ones. You can take some quick, easy steps to avoid faded or dead patches and create the lawn of your dreams. Check out nine ways to maintain a green lawn.

Test the soil
To create a vibrant green yard, you must start by caring for the most critical factor – the soil. Since grass needs nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to thrive, it is important to ensure your soil is enriched with them. To ensure the best grass growth, it is also important to have a soil pH level of 5.5 to 6.5. Using a home soil test kit or hiring an agency can help you take the guesswork out of soil profiling. These tests usually cost around $20 and are the foundation of a beautiful, well-nourished lawn.

Aerate the lawn
If your lawn is used to a lot of walking and trundling by your children or pets, it may be wise to aerate it before planting any grass. It is because the soil tends to become compacted or packed. It can affect grass growth as its roots struggle to get the right amount of air and food. It is especially true for clay soil. The grass can develop a healthy root system when you aerate the soil. You can rent a machine or hire a professional company which will cost $129 on average to aerate the lawn.

Dethatch the lawn
It may sound like this step would strip the soil of essential nutrients, but dethatching the lawn to remove dead grass can help your lawn look greener and more lively. Dethatching removes the layer of dead growth, which may impede root penetration for any new grass you plant. It also prevents moss growth and lets the moisture, air, and nutrients reach the depths of the soil. You can do this project yourself, hire a one-time professional service, or, for best results, make it a part of your regular lawn maintenance routine.

Fertilize
There is no one-size-fits-all fertilizing routine that works for every lawn. Based on your soil profile, work with a professional company to find the right fertilizer and dosage for your lawn. Following these metrics precisely can help yield better results for your lawn’s health over time. Fertilize immediately after mowing with a slow-release, organic fertilizer to promote absorption. Once done, water the lawn to help dissolve the fertilizer and amplify its potential.

Overseed the lawn
Overseeding means spreading new grass seeds on an already existing lawn. It helps cover any thinning or bare spots and achieve a higher germination rate. To find out which seeds to use, contact a local lawn specialist or a professional agency to help locate the best grass varieties for your climatic conditions. Once you are ready, follow the steps below to overseed the lawn-

Mow the existing grass short (under 2 inches).
Use a lawn-starter fertilizer over this to create a healthy bed of nutrients for the new grass.
Sow the grass seeds liberally.
Gently press the seed into the soil using a rake.
Sprinkle some high-quality compost and rake it once more.
Avoid mowing the lawn before it reaches a height of 3 inches.

Maintain a mowing schedule
The ideal mowing schedule for your lawn would depend on the type of grass and local climatic conditions. When new grass has been planted, it is best to avoid mowing for two to three weeks so it is tall and rooted deep enough for mowing. Create a mowing schedule that works best for you, but remember not to mow the grass to any more than one-third of its height, or you risk weakening it. Avoid mowing when the soil is wet, as you may compact it further and hurt nutrient penetration and airflow. Depending on the grass species, the change of seasons may also impact its growth rate, requiring you to alter your mowing schedule. Do not mow your lawn too short in the winter, as it may be affected by frost damage. Additionally, sharpen the mower blades at the start of every season, or you risk injuring the grass.

Water the lawn regularly
After overseeding the lawn, it is important to water it every one or two days to promote root formation. After two weeks, water the lawn once or twice a week depending on the type of grass planted and the local climatic conditions.

Pest control
Many insects and animals can ruin your lawns. These include chinch bugs, grubs, webworms, cutworms, armyworms, ants, billbugs, mosquitoes, ticks, mites, and bagworms. Common signs of pests in the lawn include yellow or brown patches and fragile grass blades. You can keep these pests at bay by balancing the moisture and thickness of your lawn and occasionally spraying an organic or chemical-based insecticide.

De-weed the lawn
Right after the spring rain, you will often notice weeds popping up. Make sure to pull these out immediately by hand or using a tool, especially while they are still small and the soil is moist. For bigger weeds, you can also use a non-toxic herbicide. Weeds compete for air and nutrients in your lawn or garden and can result in the death of your carefully-planted grass. Their growth depends on nature and may sometimes indicate nutritional imbalances in the soil. The most commonly occurring weeds include dandelions, crabgrass, quack grass, chickweed, white clover, ragweed, Creeping Charlie, and oxalis. Maintaining a proper aerating, watering, and fertilization schedule will deter weed growth, as unwanted plants may not find enough nutrients or space to thrive.

Popular Reads

Top 6 foods that may reduce dementia risk

Many individuals mistakenly believe that dementia is a disease, but it’s a term used to describe symptoms related to memory, social abilities, and thinking. These symptoms can be challenging to manage and can impact daily activities. However, healthcare professionals often recommend implementing a healthy meal plan as a way to improve management. If you’re interested in learning about how your food intake can reduce the risk of developing dementia, read on. What is dementia? As previously mentioned, dementia is not a specific disease. Instead, health conditions like Alzheimer’s disease are among its most frequent causes in older adults. Other known causes of dementia include damage to the blood vessels that supply nutrients to the brain, the formation of balloon-like proteins in the brain, and the breakdown of connections and nerve cells in the brain. While memory loss is one of its most recognizable signs, this symptom alone does not mean one has dementia. Most symptoms of this group of health issues can vary depending on the cause. Hence, here are some of the most common signs to look out for. Memory loss Difficulties while communicating Reasoning and problem-solving issues Poor control of movements and coordination Disorientation Confusion What are the foods that can help reduce the risk of dementia? Typically, dementia and Alzheimer’s are known to be caused by a combination of several factors, such as environmental, lifestyle, and genetic. Furthermore, developing issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease can contribute to cognitive decline in patients. Therefore, healthcare professionals suggest the consumption of nutrient-rich foods to reduce dementia risk as one grows older. Some of the foods that can be added to one’s meal plan are: Avocados Avocados are one of the most commonly known superfoods, which can provide the brain with the needed energy without a spike in blood sugar levels.

Avoid these 15 common shower mistakes

There is nothing a warm shower cannot resolve. Showering after a long day can be a stress reliever and enhance one’s mood instantly. It also has several other health benefits besides cleansing the body, including facilitating cold relief, boosting immunity, and relieving muscle pain. However, not bathing the right way can give rise to skin conditions such as rashes and eczema. Here are some common mistakes one should avoid while bathing and showering: Not moisturizing after a shower Wiping after a bath can reduce the body’s moisture, causing dry skin, which can lead to rashes and itching. Dermatologists recommend applying body lotion and moisturizer immediately after a shower to retain skin texture and prevent dryness. One should look for hypoallergenic moisturizers that do not have any added fragrances. Bathing in scorching hot water Scorching hot water can damage keratin cells in the skin’s outer layer. Consequently, the skin becomes dry and dehydrated. It is important to balance the water temperature before stepping into the shower. Ideally, the temperature of the water should be lukewarm. Using the wrong towel An absorbent towel that does not feel rough is ideal for wiping oneself after a shower. The most effective way to select the right towel is to check its density, measured in grams per square meter (GSM). Towels with GSMs between 400 and 550 are considered ideal for use after bathing. One should avoid towels below a GSM of 400, as these towels can be thin and rough, causing skin dryness. Moreover, towels made of superior-quality Egyptian or Turkish cotton are extremely soft and perfect for the skin. Soaping the arms and legs excessively While it is important to wash and clean one’s arms and legs, these areas typically do not collect much oil and dust. Hence, scrubbing them excessively can dry out these areas and hamper their natural texture.

15 signs of a weak immune system

The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells, and proteins that act as the body’s defense mechanism against diseases and infections. The system —the innate immune system that people are born with and the adaptive immune system, which develops due to exposure to toxins and microbes. Both parts work together to keep infection-causing germs and toxins. So, weak immunity can make the body susceptible to diseases and other health issues. High stress levels The American Psychological Association suggests that chronic stress weakens the immune system. This is because stress lowers the number of white blood cells (i.e., lymphocytes) in the body that fight infections, increasing the risk of infections such as the common cold. Persistent cold Most adults develop two to three colds per year, which usually last from 7 to 10 days. During this period, the immune system forms antibodies to fight the virus. However, if one keeps catching a cold or is dealing with common cold symptoms for a long time, it could be a sign of weak immunity. Slow-healing wounds When one develops a cut or a wound, the body immediately goes into damage control mode to stop any bleeding and regenerate skin. Immune cells in the body guide this process. However, when dealing with a weakened immune system, wounds take longer to heal. This can make one more susceptible to infections as well. Frequent infections Those with a lowered immunity are at a higher risk of contracting infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, bronchitis, and skin infections. They are also more likely to experience autoimmune disorders, organ inflammation, blood disorders such as anemia, and growth and developmental delays. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, some signs of weak immunity include: – Having more than four ear infections in a year – Developing pneumonia twice within a year – Dealing with chronic sinusitis or more than three episodes of bacterial sinusitis in a year Fatigue If one constantly feels tired despite getting enough sleep, it may be a sign of weak immunity.