by
Joe Cooper, All About Lawns Columnist
What is it that makes a lawn green? Is it a perfect balance between water, sunlight, and fertilizer? Love and attention? Constant verbal encouragement? The answer is probably a complicated equation of all of the above. For those of us who aren't experts in this kind of lawn math, consider the following tips for keeping your lawn green and vibrant during the drier, warmer months.
- Water first, fertilize later. Brown patches in your lawn aren't easily remedied, and fertilizing the heck out of them isn't the quick fix it sounds like. Fertilizer needs properly hydrated soil in order to benefit the lawn, so make sure you implement a consistent lawn-watering routine (taking care not to over-water) before applying fertilizer in small quantities to brown patches.
- Keep the nitrogen coming--if your lawn needs it. Scientifically speaking, nitrogen content of your lawn fertilizer is a large determining factor for how green your lawn is. All fertilizers contain nitrogen, but some have higher quantities than other. Looking out for nitrogen-rich fertilizers is an easy tip, and applying it exactly as the instructions dictate is another, often overlooked, must-do. Another good tip for getting your lawn green is Epsom salt, sprinkled over brown patches regularly.
- Not too much! Too much nitrogen can actually cause brown spots. If you have pets, watch out; pet urine has a very high concentration of nitrogen, and can burn grass, leaving pesky brown patches you'll only have to repair later.
- Mow "high" and often. The shorter a blade of grass is, the more water it needs to grow. When you mow, keep the height set at the maximum for your lawn in order to maximize the green and keep your watering under control. Be sure to mow on a schedule according to your lawn and your region; this means you'll probably have to mow more often, given how quickly grass grows in warmer temperatures, but the green you'll get is good and worth it. Set your mower an inch or two higher than usual, allowing blades of grass to get nice and tall.
Consistent care is really the best solution for lawn health, including keeping it green. Using fertilizer strategically and keeping your grass high will help galvanize your green and keep the brown away.
Sources
Joe Cooper writes education, home services, and design articles, and manages corporate communications. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.
