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Now that spring is just around the corner, it's the perfect time to consider the most important factors to keeping a healthy lawn. Is it your watering schedule? Your blades or cutting method? Is it your method for mulching and fertilizing?

Whatever your secrets are, please tell us your tips for maintaining a healthy lawn! :smile:

I'd like my lawn to look like this one posted by Lawndoctor:

It is because I am so good looking my lawn tries to imitate me.

possum said:

It is because I am so good looking my lawn tries to imitate me.

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Wow, that must be nice---minimal effort! Now if only the rest of us had that kind of charm... :wink:

Sharp blades, cut weekly and no less than 1/3 of the grass heigh to promote new roots.
A little dethatching or areating along with a 4 steps fertilizer wouldn't hurt.

Make sure your blades are sharp, mow weekly, and don't cut it too short. Sometimes in the spring I have to mow my own lawn twice a week.

I don't water my lawn since I have better things to pay for than a high water bill.

X-man said:

Make sure your blades are sharp, mow weekly, and don't cut it too short. Sometimes in the spring I have to mow my own lawn twice a week.

I don't water my lawn since I have better things to pay for than a high water bill.

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You should look at your bill closely watering your lawn doesn't actually cost much. In the summer my water bills goes up $15 a month. But my utility bill goes from $92 to $110 at least up here we only spend like $5 per 3000 gallons of water according to my bill. It's the company that tacks on water service charge per 1000 gallons. Water treatment per 1000 gallons (my water isn't even treated we have an aquifer) and other bs charges lol

Proper ph balance achieved by correct fertilizer. Proper watering technique. Sharp blades, clean mower, cut at 3" once a week, and watch that sunlight your lawn needs a healthy mix of direct and indirect sunlight for the best green you can achieve.

As for weeds spread corn gluten meal on your lawn once a month keeps weeds away and birds love it.

Corn gluten meal for weeds??? Can you give more info? Like how much to use? Do you only put it on the weeds?

Have you ever heard of using a certain type dish washing liquid on lawns to keep the gnats or skeeters away?
Thanks for the other info.

rustyblade said:

Corn gluten meal for weeds??? Can you give more info? Like how much to use? Do you only put it on the weeds?

Have you ever heard of using a certain type dish washing liquid on lawns to keep the gnats or skeeters away?
Thanks for the other info.

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Put the stuff in a fertilizer spreader and spread it all over the lawn! It must be done real early to not kill the young grass blades that are going to grow.

Dish washing soap works well on indoor plants that have gnats. I guess it could work on the lawn.

rustyblade said:

Corn gluten meal for weeds??? Can you give more info? Like how much to use? Do you only put it on the weeds? Have you ever heard of using a certain type dish washing liquid on lawns to keep the gnats or skeeters away? Thanks for the other info.

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Scotts corn meal is what I use on all my lawns...depending where your located will depend on application...in north bay Ontario Canada I apply twice a year usually end of April and again in august..your timing has to before weeds go to seed...corn gluten won't let a seed germinate. It works great when other around don't do anything to their yards..

lawnbarbers said:

Scotts corn meal is what I use on all my lawns...depending where your located will depend on application...in north bay Ontario Canada I apply twice a year usually end of April and again in august..your timing has to before weeds go to seed...corn gluten won't let a seed germinate. It works great when other around don't do anything to their yards..

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So, I guess if you lay it on in May, that is probably bad for the grass that wants to grow new shoots? That is what the garden centre told me...

If the new shoots are from existing grass, you are good. If the new shoots are from a seed, I would say no...as corn gluten stops seeds from germinating. It's all about timing...corn will last 6weeks then put your grass seed down after that.

lawnbarbers said:

If the new shoots are from existing grass, you are good. If the new shoots are from a seed, I would say no...as corn gluten stops seeds from germinating. It's all about timing...corn will last 6weeks then put your grass seed down after that.

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Ya excatly its a non herbicide pre emergent. That comment about neighbors who don't care is excatly right and that's when I use it when I have a neighbor who has a dandelion factory. And I can use it without licences because its not a herbicide its animal feed

Yea, I checked in a book and it says to not apply when you just put grass seeds. A trick could be to seed in the fall and put gluten in April/May.