Overseeding bare areas is one sustainable lawn care practice you can apply to your landscape.
The best lawn programs will not produce the best results if proper cultural practices are not utilized. When you or a professional apply the following sustainable lawn care treatments, you will give your lawn the best opportunity to thrive while knowing that you are contributing positively to your local environment.
Aerate the Soil
The soil of your lawn can often become compacted due to foot traffic, mowing, and infrequent seasonal aeration. If you can’t stick a trowel in your lawn, it’s time to aerate. Aeration breaks up compaction by creating open channels into the lawn’s root zone. These open channels help loosen the soil and help air, water, and nutrients reach the grassroots. After overseeding, you can top-dress the lawn with organic compost and overseed to promote denser turf growth in the future. Aeration is best performed in late Summer into Fall or in the Spring.
Water Less Often, But More Deeply
Overwatering can lead to “lazy” roots that stay close to the soil’s surface. Watering less often but more deeply encourages the grasses to put their energy into growing deeper roots to search for water. This sustainable lawn care practice leads to more resilient grass that is better able to withstand periods of drought.
Leave Grass Clippings Where They Fall
Instead of raking up your grass clippings after mowing, leave them on your turf. Once there microorganisms will break the clippings down and add nutrients back into the soil. In the Fall, you can use your lawn mower to mulch fallen leaves on the grass to add organic material to your lawn for extra nutrients. A mower designed to mulch clippings and leaves is recommended, but even a regular rotary mower will chop the leaves enough.
Overseed Bare Areas
If areas of your lawn look worn out and patchy and the turf is not as full as you would like, try overseeding. This is when your grass seed is planted directly into an existing lawn. By creating a denser lawn, you give your turf a better chance at out-competing weeds attempting to grow on your property.
Always Choose the Best Turf for Your Environment
If you are considering replacing your lawn or planting a new one, always consider what turf species and varieties make the most sense. This includes considering climate, sun exposure, soil type, and the expected amount of foot traffic. Turf designed to thrive in the environment in which it grows has the best chance of surviving your area’s conditions.
If you are ready to find the best sustainable lawn care practices for your landscape, speak with the lawn care specialists at Scientific Plant Service today.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.