Tips to a Nice Lawn

Having a great looking lawn is easy and wont cost you a fortune. Before starting my own business, Somerville Lawn and Landscape, I was your average homeowner in Grand Rapids, Michigan who had a strange obsession with beautiful looking lawns.

Having a great looking lawn can be one of the easiest and quickest ways to increase your homes value and leave your neighbors envious. I'm going to show you some easy tips that will leave your lawn looking wonderful and doesn't break the bank.

Spring:

First, you need to give your yard a spring cleanup. This can cost anywhere from $100-$500 if you hire a contractor. By doing this yourself it shouldn't cost more than the expense of a rake, trash bags, and trash fees. (Shouldn't cost more than $50)

- What you need to do is remove any of the debris that has accumulated over the winter season. This includes leaves, sticks, dead grass, etc...The easiest way to do this is with a rake. A self propelled de-thatcher can be rented from most rental stores for anywhere from $60-$120 for a day which makes the job much easier.

Second, aerate your lawn. This is one of the most important steps to a great looking lawn all year. Hiring a lawn company can run you anywhere from $90-$400 depending on the size of the lawn.

-You will need to rent a self propelled aerator which can range from $80-$150 per day. Make sure that the aerator is a pluger. This means that the machine pulls plugs of grass from the lawn instead of just putting small holes into the lawn. (almost all self propelled aerators are pluggers)

-The reason that aeration is such an important step is as follows. Aeration loosens compacted soil, breaks up thatch, increases oxygen to the roots, encourages new and deeper root growth, and reduces water run off.

Third, overseed your lawn. Overseeding your lawn every spring will help fill in any dead spots that have occurred over the winter. This can be done easily with grass seed and a spreader. Depending on type of grass this can range anywhere from $5-$100 per 5 lb. bag. (figure on $12 per 5lb. bag for most average grass seed) This should be spread at a rate of 2-4lbs. per 1,000 square ft. for most grass.

Fourth, Fertilize and spread pre-emergent granular on your lawn. I recommend the scotts fertilizer which can be found at most retailers for $20 per bag (covers 5,000 sq. feet) Pre-emergent crabgrass control should be applied at this time as well.

*Lawn should be mowed at 3" all season long*

Early summer:

Broadleaf weeds are a problem at this time of year. I would recommend spreading a scotts broadleaf weed and feed granular to the lawn. This should kill off most of your weeds and gives the lawn a small dose of fertilizer all in one.

Summer:

Apply an application of fertilizer and check for insect problems in your lawn. A combination of fertilizer and insect control can be purchased in these cases. Summer is the time of year that can put the most stress on your lawn. Make sure to water your lawn when it starts to show stress. If the lawn was aerated earlier in the spring your lawn should have less water run off and decrease your water bill.

Fall:

This can be one of the most ideal seasons for lawn growth. Cool nights, rain, and morning dew restores most lawns to its full beauty after the summer stress. Apply another application of weed and feed to the lawn during this period of time. The nitrogen in the weed and feed should be stored throughout the winter and show its worth next spring.

Your Costs for entire season (10,000 square ft. lawn):
-spring cleanup $50
-aeration $80
-overseeding $48
-fertilizer/weed control $80
Total: $258 for a beautiful lawn all season long.

These are just a few easy tips that will give you a nice looking lawn at a reasonable price.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/tips-to-a-nice-lawn-339913.html

Chris Somerville is the owner of Somerville Lawn and Landscape in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For more information on lawn and landscaping visit www.somervillelawncare.com