Albuquerque Lawn Maintenance – 10 Steps to a Stunning Green Lawn

When you are your Albuquerque home, nothing is more pleasing than beautiful flowers in a garden and a verdant green lawn. Adults, kids, and pets all love to spend time outdoors, enjoying the feel and smell of fresh grass. In addition to its beauty and refreshing feeling, a green lawn adds value to your property, prevents water run-off, and stabilizes the soil. If you notice that your lawn is losing its beautiful green color and weeds are taking over, it’s time to return to the basics. Follow these steps for a beautiful lawn.

STEP 1: Is the lawn size right?
Since the cost of water can be prohibitive, think about whether drought tolerant ground cover or turf grass varieties would be better in some areas such as slopes. Where is it most ideal for you to have grass?

STEP 2: Is the lawn shape right?
Keep your lawn in a clearly defined shape with clear lines. If you must have curves, make them big curves so mowing does not become overly difficult. If possible, place a tree in a garden area instead in the middle of a lawn to avoid damaging the tree with a mower. Trees tend to look better when they are along the side of a lawn rather than a bit lonely right in the middle.

STEP 3: Plan out the lawn and remove weeds
Make sure not to sow or plant seed, grass plugs, or lay turf until you have a good plan. This is a vital step, and it should be fun too. Remove all stones and weeds. Of course, weeds will keep growing back, so plan to keep weeding for close to one month before starting any new grass. Dock and dandelion are weeds that take a couple of weeks of regrowth to completely remove them. Before sowing or planting, you will need to prepare the soil by using a rotary hoe, digging to about 15 centimeters deep. This will create a crumbly soil so that the grass can start to grow.

STEP 4: Level out the lawn area
The surface should be even and graded. Fill any holes and use a shovel to remove any bumps. You can purchase a grader or make your own. Leave the surface to settle and then regrade it. Consider compacting and rolling while the surface is damp.

STEP 5: How will the lawn drain?
When your lawn drains well, water and air can travel to the roots of the grass. This also prevents moss from growing. Consider using drainage coils.

STEP 6: Select the best seed or turf mix
Grass seed comes in a variety of types: for very hot weather, lots of shade, for lots of human traffic, cold weather, etc. Choose the right seed or turf mix that suits your area. When planting your seed or turf mix, the morning hours are best when there is little to no wind. Many experts recommend that you divide the mix in half and sow half in the north-south direction and then the other half in an east-west direction. Rake the ground lightly after sowing. This provides full coverage and this should be the method when fertilizing as well.

STEP 7: Fertilize your new grass
Use about 10kg per 100 square meters of an all-purpose fertilizer. Water in the fertilizer, but first check to make sure there is a balanced NPK (nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium) ratio. When the seedlings are doing well after 2-3 months, find a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content and fertilize the lawn again.

KEEP THE LAWN GOING

STEP 8: Water often
Grass must be watered daily but you don’t want the watering to wash the seeds away. If you have sandy soil, cover the area with a fine compost. On a slope, you should use a shade cloth until the seeds germinate. Large lawns usually mean different sprinkler stations. You can keep the watering light until your seedlings are growing strong.

STEP 9: Fertilize and fertilize
Fertilize your lawn in the spring to prepare for summer. Use a slow-release nitrogen rich fertilizer or a seaweed based liquid fertilizer. Aerating is helpful before heavy rains as compacted soil will prevent good drainage. Fill the holes with a mixture of sand and soil to improve drainage.

STEP 10: Watch out for weeds
Keep pulling out weeds from the roots or else they will sprout again and come back even stronger. Use an edge trimmer to create a clean look that makes your garden look ever so beautiful. Don’t cut the grass too close to the ground so that the roots of the grass have some shade and so that bare patches won’t allow weeds to grow.

Beautiful lawns are a beautiful addition to a home. The stunning verdant green areas add property value and endless enjoyment by the family and guests. Following these steps will make your process easier. Always remember to enjoy!