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Tips on Basic Lawn Maintenance

Lawn Maintenance is not as easy as you might think. It takes a lot of hard work and time to take care of your lawn. There are so many types of grass available and like all plant choices, climate, and factors such as soil type, rainfall etc. needs to be taken into account before selecting the best grass variety for your lawn. Check with your local nursery to determine which type of grass will work best for your lawn in Calgary.

As a beginner though, you just need to know that most lawns have the same basic needs, which are quite simple: sun, water, and fertilizer. Here are a few tips on elementary care of your lawn.

Preparing the Soil

To begin with, get the pH of your soil tested—there are testing kids are available at nurseries and local universities. Whichever planting method you plan to use, you need to set the soil by stripping the area of all weeds and roots. In addition, you may have to take quite a few inches off the ground. Then till the field to a depth of at least six inches to ensure soil does not crust over or compact into lumpy ruts. This also oxidizes it and improves drainage. Later, add loam and compost to enrich the soil. Finally, pack it down with a roller and grade the area using a rake.

Sodding Vs Seeding?

Although it is the quickest way to a beautiful lawn, carpet sod can prove expensive in case of a large area. Alternatively, you can either seed by hand or use a popular method called Hydroseeding.

Mowing

You can use a riding tractor or a push mower for lawn care. Most turf grasses should be around 1.5 inches high. Leave the clippings on the lawn after you mow, they will be vital nutrients for the soil.

Fertilizing

Yellow and faded lawns are caused by lack of essential nutrients leading to breeding pests and diseases. For best results, look at the soil test report before applying fertilizer products. Apart from popular N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphate-potassium) fertilizers, other micro-nutrients such as sulfur, copper and iron should also be used. It is recommended that you should apply fertilizers at least twice a year—in spring and fall as part of lawn maintenance Calgary.

Watering

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Water your lawn deeply. Use soil probe or shovel to determine how deep the root systems go. The water should reach the bottom of the roots. Again, watering frequency depends on the type of soil you have. However, do not over-water your soil. In fact, most grasses only require approximately 1.5 inches of water on weekly basis in Calgary.

Air Supply

When the grass is too compacted, you must aerate the soil to help nutrients penetrate to the root system. You can do this with the help of a simple tool that has two long tubes attached to the handle. Aerating the soil improves oxygen circulation in the grass roots.

Hidden Problems

Weed growth, grubs, and diseases are generally treated with various chemicals etc. However, these are only temporary solutions. The problems will arise next year again. The trick lies in identifying and correcting the conditions that lead to these symptoms.

These are just the basic tips for maintenance of your lawn as a beginner. For details, you can contact your local lawn maintenance company for professional help. Additionally, Calgary Horticultural Society provides many more resources on the subject.

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