A Guide to
Planting, Growing, and Getting Healthy, Green Grass
Planting Seeds
The best time to plant grass seed for cool weather grasses is during late spring or early fall when the soil temperature is warm enough for germination. These periods are ideal because the soil is at the right temperature, there is typically enough rain to keep the soil moist, and there is enough daylight to ensure the grass thrives. The daytime temperatures should be between 60 and 75 degrees to support healthy growth.
Preparing the Soil
If you're looking to add some extra grass to your lawn, there are a few things you should do first. To ensure that your new grass seed has the best chance to grow, you'll want to mow the existing lawn and loosen the top quarter-inch of topsoil in any bare areas. You'll also want to remove any debris or dead grass from the places you'll be overseeding. New topsoil could contain weeds that choke out your fresh grass, so don’t add any more topsoil. By doing this, your grass will have a better chance of growing.
When starting a new lawn from scratch, it's important to ensure the site is as level as possible before planting the seed. Any divots or low areas could develop into puddles, making them challenging to mow and leaving some areas overwatered. And on slopes, you run the risk of water runoff and dry grass. As with adding grass seed to an existing lawn, you'll want to use the existing topsoil to prevent introducing new weeds.
Monitoring and Maintaining Grass
Once your grass is several inches high, you must monitor and maintain the lawn to keep it healthy and beautiful. Lack of moisture is the leading cause of brown or dead lawns, so keep a close eye on moisture levels. Be sure to watch for bare spots caused by pets, foot traffic, or seeds not planted thickly enough. Certain diseases and fungi can also cause your lawn to die. Monitoring and maintaining your grass will prevent any diseases from appearing. If you see brown spots, immediately call a professional lawn care service to resolve the issue quickly.
Fertilizing your lawn is also key to keeping it healthy. Most established lawns need feeding up to four times per year. Fertilize cool-season grasses after germination, with the last feeding in October. Warm-season grasses should be fed in the spring after they are planted. Mowing your lawn is also important to keep the grass healthy. Never trim more than one-third length of the grass blades to prevent weeds, disease, and weak grass. Keep your mower blades sharp and vary the mowing pattern to ensure that the grass grows evenly to avoid disease and pests from destroying your lawn.
Expert Lawn Care Services
If you're looking for an expert lawn maintenance service, look no further than Green Seasons Lawns. We offer various green lawn care solutions, including full-service lawn care, which offers fertilization and weed control, grub and insect prevention, and grass aerator services. We are also a full-service tree and shrub care provider, which includes insect control, tree fertilization, and fungus control.
A green lawn is a beautiful addition to any home. We provide the best lawn care services in the Northland Kansas City area at Green Seasons Lawns.