So your garden boasts a beautiful lawn. You are usually more proud of it, if you are the one doing the work, yourself. The feeling is different, if you have hired work. The thing is, if you are the one who takes care of the lawn, there’s more reasons to be proud.

You can easily take care of your lawn, yourself, but you need to know, what to do. By reading up, in books, flipping through gardening magazines, or getting the information you need, on the internet, you will soon develop that green thumb.

Here is a basic guide, on how to care for your lawn, yourself:

1. You should keep grass weeds and crabgrass seeds, from germinating. This can be done, by using the Crabgrass preventer, which kills these weeds, four weeks after they first sprout from the ground.

2. By using lawn fertilizers, unwanted broadleaf weeds can also grow vigorously. Mow the lawn, every two days. After mowing, apply the growth enhancers and then use a broadleaf poison, as well. Both the fertilizer and poison can be substituted with organic remedies, if you don’t like the thought of using toxic chemicals. This is particularly appropriate, if you have small children, or pets.

3. Lawn fertilizer must have a mixture of nitrogen, in order to make the lawn green, faster. It also feeds the grass, for up to three months, making it healthier and lush.

4. By applying lime on the lawn, the pH of the soil becomes more acidic. Lawn grass prefers slightly acidic soils.

5. Apply a winter conditioner, that has nitrogen and potassium, in it, to help the lawn endure the stressful winter. This application will also allow the lawn to become green, faster, during the spring.

6. The minute you see grubs, cutworms, fleas and other lawn pests, in your garden, you should revert to insect control, as soon as possible. Apply this, while the pests are still in their early stages of development. Again, organic remedies are available.

7. Most lawn damage is caused by mowing improper mowing. Lawn mower blades must always be sharp, in order for them to achieve a clean cut. The grass should also be cut, slightly taller than what is recommended, for specific grasses. The average is three inches. Never mow too short, as this causes damage to the roots. Nonetheless, don’t let it grow too tall. When grass is too tall, it damages the blades and also weakens the roots. With all the extra moisture, it becomes difficult to mow and will choke the mower. This results in clumps of clippings, all over your lawn. This isn’t a pretty sight and requires more work, by raking.

8. Watering depends on the climate, the kind of soil and the variety of grass. Don’t overdo nor skimp. Over watering can result in fungus and rot problems. It is best to water in the late afternoon, or early evening.

9. Difficult areas, such as borders, along walls, or fences, around trees and so on, should be done with a weed eater. Use the one that cuts with plastic string, or gut and not solid blades.

10. Vary your cutting. Mow in different directions, each time.

11. If using an electric mower, never mow when wet. This leads to the possibility of an electric shock.

12. Always wear protective clothing. Wear solid shoes and some form of goggles, to protect your eyes.

13. When mowing on a steep gradient, always stand above the mower. If it falls, or runs out of control, it will move away from you and not towards you.

14. Make sure that children and pets are kept at a safe distance. Stones and sticks often shoot out from the mower.

15. Always mow in the early morning, or evening. Mow when cool as cutting grass when it is hot damages the infrastructure and root system.

16. Leave the cuttings on the lawn, if not too thick and untidy. By using the old grass as compost, you are adding extra nitrogen, water and nutrients, back into the soil, when they decompose.

Well, as long as you observe these tips, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t maintain your own lawn.

If you want a lawn that is the envy of your neighbourhood, you have to have this book. The Lawncare eBook. For more reading on lawns, get the free 7 part Green Lawn Secrets Mini Course. This is the perfect lawn care course. You can find out more here http://dersalsites.com/lcare/      

Sally Robson is an up and coming, South African internet marketer, with a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet. She and her husband Derek, have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. She also has a passion for gardening.

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