You ever just look at your lawn in disgust? You wonder what you can do to fix it, but don’t really even know where to begin? It is a subject that takes a little research to take into your own hands, but can also be handed to an expert. Personally, I’d rather leave it to the pros, but here are some basic tips that can get you started to becoming a lawn care wizard.

– Figure out what kind of soil you have. You can get test it yourself and most counties have an agricultural agent you can speak to about testing. You can also have a lawn care company come and test it. Testing allows you to figure out the problems you are facing so you can take the necessary steps to fix it.

– Fix those issues. Using lime can help balance the pH for optimum grass growth. Spot treat bare ares with fertilizer, wood mulch, and premium seed.

– Grass seed. Use a seed that is appropriate for your climate/region. Kentucky blue grass is one of the most common in Michigan. Make sure you seed at the right time in accordance to the seasonal grass growth and follow the directions on the label. You could be wasting your time/money if you do it wrong.

– Feed your grass. Your grass needs nitrogen to keep it green and lush. Go by your soil test results to figure out how many pounds of nitrogen it needs per 1,000 sq/ft. Stick to a schedule with fertilizing based off it’s recommendation, and don’t over do it.

– Fighting weeds. Don’t use pre-emergent weed controls where you are planting new seed because it may stop weeds from growing, but it will also stop most of the grass from growing. Use spot treatments for whatever specific type of weeds you have.

– Mowing your lawn. Don’t cut your grass too short or it will require more water and nutrients. Keep more than 1/3 of it’s current length. It also helps to change the direction of mowing from time to time.

– Watering your lawn. Water your lawn 3 to 4 times a week. The water should penetrate the soil 6 to 8 inches. It is best to do this in the morning or evening when the sun isn’t out to avoid excessive evaporation.

– Aeration. Aeration is a great tool for compact lawns that helps loosen the soil and it gives the seed a safe hole in the dirt to grow.

Now that you know some of the basics, you can turn that sad lawn into a green and lush paradise! There are a lot of variables to track, so unless you have the drive and passion for it, it is usually best to leave a good chunk of the care for the pros. They will know when and what to do during the various season changes. Either way, if you enjoy lawn care, hopefully Sweep helps free up some time for you to spend outside!