The Value of Healthy Grass

When considering home improvement projects that can add value to your home or even help it sell faster, don't forget to pay some attention to your lawn and landscaping. Good landscape design can help you get a better price when it's time to move but will also help beautify your neighborhood and please you as well as your neighbors in the meantime.

If you aren't that handy in the garden, start with your lawn. A recent article from Freddie Mac lays out a number of tips to help you get started. Among them, it's good to first identify what type of grass you have. This will help you know what seed to buy if you need to fill any dead spots. You should also be careful not to cut your lawn too short or give it too much water.

Grass needs a little length to help it absorb sunlight and maintain healthy roots. Too much watering can also damage roots and will cause more weeds to grow. Another tip is to be careful with fertilizers and pesticides. Break fertilizer applications up throughout the season rather than doing it all at once.

And be careful with pesticides, as they may be more trouble than they're worth. According to the article, lawn issues are more likely going to be the result of water, weather and lawn mower damage than pests. Following these simple rules should help you achieve a greener and more luscious lawn. 

We just might be finished with snowfall – for now!  As temperatures soar into the 80’s and higher we reach for sunscreen to protect our skin from damaging rays.  Did you know that our lawns need protecting from sun damage as well? 

Especially here in Mile High country, between the sun and dry air, sometimes even drought conditions, a few lawn healthy habits can help you maintain a lovely shade of green around your home all summer.

Here are a few tips for keeping your lawn healthy:

1. A main reason lawns brown is due to being cut too short!  A plush lawn is plush because of longer grass blade length.  Raise your mower blade to between 2-3 inches.  The extra length has immediate healthy effect on your lawns look and feel:
    
   • Longer blades of grass trap more moisture down on the roots where it’s needed most
   • Those plush blades stop the morning dew from evaporating so quickly
      
2. Keep those mower blades sharp!  Not only does this make mowing easier, it’s healthier for your grass, too:
   • Sharp blades cut rather than tear.  It not only looks more uniform, but torn grass is more susceptible to fungal diseases
      
3. Water as needed, rather than on a set schedule, always following any local restrictions.  Your lawn only needs about 1 inch of moisture per week for optimal health: 
   • The best time to water is in the morning for minimal evaporation
   • If it rains a good soaking rain, you can skip watering that week
      
4. Aerate at the beginning of the season.  Especially in dry climates like Colorado:
    
   • Aerating boosts saturation of moisture to root system and contributes to a healthy environment for growth