New Year's Resolutions for Your Lawn

What will be your New Year’s resolutions for your lawn?  If your lawn could talk to you, what would it be saying?  I hope you are not hearing voices from your lawn talking to you, but if you could listen and if you observe, you can detect what your lawn needs and come up with a plan of attack.

I resolve to apply Jonathan Green grass seed this year.  After all, your lawn can only be as good as the grass seed you sow.  Most of us apply some grass seed to bare spots each year but when was the last time you over-seeded your whole lawn?  If you have not done this in the last 5-10 years it’s time!  Jonathan Green Black Beauty Ultra grass seed germinates quickly and fills in damaged lawn areas.  If you are tired of trying to maintain a poor quality lawn, you need to step up to the plate and start a serious seeding plan. 

Is your lawn soil unbalanced?  Have you not tested the soil for a long time or ever?  If your lawn does not respond to fertilizer applications or is looking sickly throughout the year, you need to test the soil.  Local garden centers and hardware stores usually have a variety of soil test kits available or you can contact your local county extension service for their soil test kit.  Jonathan Green Soil pH Test Kit is available in your local garden retailer and is easy to use.  We have talked about this a lot over the years and I am shocked when I speak to homeowners how many have never tested their soil.  How can you fix a problem when you do not know what the problem is?

Is my lawn hungry?  Feed me!  If you only fertilized once or twice your lawn is hungry.  We all need nourishment to survive; man cannot live on bread and water forever.  Review your fertilizer program or outline one for this year if you have never fertilized.  Jonathan Green offers a full line of traditional and organic fertilizers depending on which route you want to take.

Is it time for a change of hair style?  Perhaps your lawn needs a new look too.  Are you cutting your lawn too short?  Consider raising your mowing height to 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 inches.  This will help your lawn develop a deeper roots system for improved drought tolerance.   Higher mowing heights also help to shade potential weed seeds in the soil giving your turf a better chance of thickening up and crowding out weeds.  Be sure to have a sharp mower blade, no one likes a choppy hair cut that looks like it was done with a dull razor blade!

Is your lawn itching from fleas, ticks or bug bites?  Perhaps not, but your dog may be uncomfortable.  Monitor insect activity in your lawn to prevent damage to your lawn and bug bites to children and pets.  Spend some time understanding the life cycle of bugs in your lawn if they have been a problem in order to achieve the best timing for treatments and control.  Jonathan Green has several insect control products including Lawn Insect Control, Pest Kill and Grub Control.

Perhaps your lawn needs a visit to the spa for a massage?   You know how good a massage can feel, your lawn will feel better and love you if you aerate the soil.  Aeration reduces soil compaction and invigorates root growth for a healthier lawn.  It also allows for better air penetration. Yes, your lawn does need to breathe.  I bet most of you have never aerated your lawn.   The job will be easier if you rent an aerator from your local equipment rental store.  Better yet, ask a few neighbors to rent the equipment together one weekend and share the costs. 

Is your lawn thirsty or drowning in water?  Resolve your irrigation plan for this year.  There is usually no need to start irrigating until late spring or early summer and the lawn likes about one inch of water per week in the absence of rainfall.  Do not overdo the watering!     

Many of us vow to change our diet and lose weight each year.  Consider changing your approach to your lawn care this year and use Jonathan Green lawn care products.  Try applying Crabgrass Preventer plus Green-Up Lawn Fertilizer in May.  Try Jonathan Green organic fertilizers on your lawn.   Resolve to enjoy your lawn more this year.