Are you looking for ways to make your lawn stand out from the crowd? Do you want to force all your neighbors to do a double-take when they see your new-and-improved front yard? If so, then you need to start by learning how to fertilize your lawn the right way.

Doing so can help you provide definitive lines in your lawn. There will be crisp, sharp contrasts between grass, soil and so much more. It’s all about approaching the lawn the right way.

See below for an in-depth guide on how to get green grass and keep it that way for the long haul.

1. Ward Off the Pests

You can fertilize and treat your lawn all that you want, but if you have unwelcomed pests that frequently visit, it won’t do you any good. That’s like renovating a treehouse that’s been eaten by termites without having the termites exterminated… you’re simply adding to their meal plan.

There are many different lawn pests you might be fighting, such as beetles, grubs, termites, squirrels, or birds. But none of these pests are as frustrating as dealing with moles. 

To be fair, moles mean your yard no harm. In fact, they’re a very important part of the ecosystem, as they routinely eat grubs and can loosen the soil with the way they tunnel through the ground. That said, they leave unsightly mounds of dirt when they surface and can kill your grass at the source, causing it to brown.

In other words: they are a welcomed piece to the ecosystem, but they aren’t welcome in your yard. For that reason, your goal is to remove them, not kill them. 

But how? Bring in the professionals! If you’re in the Dayton, Ohio area, be sure to reach out to the good people at trapyourmoles.com and say goodbye to that pesky mole. Once the mole (and other pests) are gone, your quest for greener grass can continue.

2. Have Your Soil Tested (Professionally)

You wouldn’t put traditional gasoline into a car that requires diesel. You wouldn’t cook grilled cheese sandwiches for your family member if they’re lactose intolerant. Why do any differently for the soil that’s on your property?

Believe it or not, different soil requires different applications when its fertilized. If you don’t cater to its needs, then you’d have just as much luck pouring that fertilizer on a slab of solid concrete.

Thankfully, you can have your soil professionally tested. This means that you’ll have a firmer understanding of your soil’s pH levels—a way of measuring where your soil falls on a scale between acidity and alkalinity. 

You can do this by simply grabbing 10 or so samples of soil from different areas of your yard. Make sure you’re grabbing soil that’s at least 3 inches into the ground (and no deeper than 4 inches down). 

From there, you’ll send it off for testing and get the results back promptly. This will help you understand how you need to approach your soil moving forward. For example, it might need a fertilizer mixed with sulfur to lower the pH levels.

3. Pay Attention to the Details

You’ve had your soil tested and now understand how its pH levels affect the fertilizer that you should feed it. Does that ensure optimal results when you apply it? Not necessarily.

It’s just as important that you pay attention to the application of the fertilizer and how it’s being spread across your lawn. Unless you’re going for a lawn filled with green and brown splotches, you’ll want to invest in the right equipment for the job. 

Invest in a spreader that has multiple settings. Follow the instructions listed on the fertilizer you use for the proper spreader setting. Start at the perimeter and work your way through the body of the lawn for best results.

Starting at the perimeter can help you ensure no fertilizer sneaks onto the sidewalk, thus saving all of it for the middle of your yard.

4. Water the Appropriate Amount

As we all learned in first-grade science class, plantation needs water to survive (and thrive). That said, there is a very fine line between too little water and too much. 

Performing either will sabotage the results of your lawn. You’ve spent all this time and effort on learning about the specificities of your soil, don’t let your heavy-handed hosing be your lawn’s undoing!

Typically, experts suggest that a lawn needs around 1.5 inches of water a week. Keep your eye on the rain from that week and use your hose as a plan B if there wasn’t much precipitation in those seven days.

5. Cut Your Lawn Often

Fertilization isn’t everything. Once that grass starts to grow, you need to give it proper trimming to help it continue to mature. 

With that being said, you should never trim too much off of it. All you want to do is to trim the tips, which will give your yard a thicker, more luscious look. This is very similar to how people strategically trim their hair when trying to grow it out.

Make sure you mow your lawn once a week to keep those blades looking fresh. This will give it that highly sought-after green appearance.

How to Fertilize Your Lawn: Be More Intentional

Beautiful lawns don’t happen by accident. Now that you know how to fertilize your lawn for the best results, use these lawn care tips effectively.

Take the time to browse our website for more articles on how to get green grass, as well as many other topics we’re sure, will inspire you!