Are you tired of your lawn never looking as good as your neighbour’s? Today I’m going to give you 5 tips for a lush green lawn in Edmonton and Spruce Grove so your yard can become the envy of your neighbourhood. A beautiful green lawn is a trophy you get to admire every day. With these simple tricks, you can improve the look and health of your lawn with ease. I do want to let you know that I may use some unfamiliar terms or numbers in this video, but please, don’t be intimidated by them. Just know that I’ve got you covered as I’ve worked on hundreds of lawns in Edmonton and Spruce Grove over the past few years. This is tried, tested and true. Let’s get to it.
Sharp Mower Blades
To get a lush green lawn, keeping your mower blades sharp and following the one-third rule is crucial. Dull blades can tear the grass, which can create bad conditions for diseases to spread. I recommend sharpening your mower blades every 8-12 hours of mowing time, with a consistent angle of 30 degrees. To sharpen the blade, remove it from your mower and use a hand file, angle grinder, or bench grinder. Alternatively, you can contact your local lawn equipment dealer to have it done for you. Remember not to take off too much grass at once, as this can cause damage. Instead, follow the one-third rule, which means that the perfect height for a maintained lawn in our Edmonton area (where the grass is usually about 3-3.5 inches) is around 5 inches. Make sure to mow your lawn often to keep it at the right height.
Organic Fertilizer
The second tip is to feed your lawn with organic fertilizer. Every living and breathing thing needs food. Your lawn is included. The reason I recommend using an organic fertilizer is because it ensures the best growth and root development for your grass. You also want to go easy on the fertilizer, as nitrogen, the most abundant nutrient in lawn fertilizer promotes color and growth. Too much nitrogen or using quick release synthetic fertilizers will result in quicker growth and the need for more mowing, which means more work for you. Too much nitrogen can also weaken the grass, alter the soil’s pH level and promote disease, insect and thatch buildup. With an early spring and fall application of organic fertilization, your lawn gets most of the nutrients it needs. You can even have your soil tested to ensure you are using the right fertilizer to improve your soil. This leads us to tip number three, which is easier done than it may sound. Consistent feeding of high quality fertilizer is a big part of our tips for a lush green lawn in Spruce Grove and Edmonton.
Core Aeration
Aeration is the process of punching small holes into the lawn with a machine called Aerator. This process allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to the roots. Grass needs to breathe, just like any other life form, or it will die. To maintain a healthy lawn, it’s recommended to have it aerated once per year and leave the plugs of soil that are pulled out on the lawn. These plugs will break down over time and return to the ground. Additionally, it’s a good idea to add a compost application when aerating the lawn. If aerating in the fall or spring, spread up to one-quarter inch layer of compost over the lawn. Compost helps increase water retention, improve soil structure, stimulate microbial activity, break down thatch and neutralize the soil’s pH. Adding compost is the best thing you can do for your lawn, and it will help you achieve a lush green lawn. Now, onto tip number four.
Spring Cleanup
Our lawns take a beating during our long winters here in Spruce Grove and Edmonton. You may not realize it, but there’s a lot debris, old and dead organic matter sitting on your lawn. This can prevent your lawn from getting the sun and water it needs. If there are leaves leftover from last fall, now is the time to rake them up. As soon as the snow is gone, take them off your lawn or else your grass will get smothered and killed. After removing debris or leaves, you need to either hand rake the lawn vigorously or take out the dead stuff with a power rake. Not only does debris block sunlight. It can also dull the blade on your mower.
Regular Watering
And last but not least…our final tip for a lush green lawn in Edmonton and Spruce Grove: Proper watering is essential for a lush green lawn. Use a rain gauge to measure how much water your lawn receives from rainfall, supplement with an irrigation system or timed sprinklers. Your lawn needs about 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Avoid watering every day to prevent soil from remaining consistently wet, which can lead to fungus growth, shallow root growth, and wasteful overwatering. Instead, water deeply and infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to promote healthy root growth and a strong, resilient lawn.
In summary, these are 5 practical tips for homeowners in Spruce Grove and Edmonton to achieve a lush green lawn. By adhering to these straightforward suggestions, you can effortlessly enhance the appearance and health of your lawn: keep your mower blades sharp, use organic fertilizer, aerate your lawn, perform a spring cleanup, and water your lawn properly. It is important to follow the one-third rule when mowing your lawn, feed it with organic fertilizer in the spring and fall, have it aerated at least once a year, remove any debris with a spring cleanup, and water it deeply and infrequently. By applying these tips, you can achieve a stunning green lawn that will make your neighbours envious.