Converting Your Yard Into a Garden

If you’re tired of lawn allergies, high water bills or simply want to save water, consider converting part of your yard into a garden.

Turn your lawn into an eco-friendly garden is much simpler than you might think! Follow these guidelines to get started.

Table of Contents

Fertilize

Fertilizing your garden lawn is an essential step in maintaining healthy plant growth. It helps replenish any essential nutrients that may have been lost through mowing, watering or other gardening practices.

When it comes to fertilizers, the amount you need depends on your lawn type and soil pH/nutrient levels. To find out which kind is best suited for your yard, speak to a landscaper or request a soil test from an established company in your area.

Fertilizing your grass with a good fertilizer will encourage it to develop strong roots, thick blades and vibrant color. Furthermore, it prevents weeds from taking root in your yard.

Apply fertilizer to your lawn using a spreader suitable for your yard. Make one full vertical pass across the lawn, followed by another horizontally.

Set your spreader so it applies half your desired rate of fertilizer per pass. If your lawn is irregularly shaped, create header strips around the perimeter to provide convenient starting and stopping points for each pass.

Water

Watering your garden lawn regularly is essential to its health and aesthetic appeal. Not only does it keep the grass hydrated, but also helps keep the soil well-drained to prevent evaporation.

To determine when your lawn needs watering, watch for the first signs of wilting. Your grass may turn bluish-green and its leaf blades will curl.

Turfgrasses that wilt are stressed due to a lack of water, similar to what you would see in trees or shrubs.

Watering deeply and infrequently will promote a deeper root system for your lawn, making it healthier and less vulnerable to stress injury. Plus, you’ll save time since you won’t need to water every day.

Mow

Maintaining your garden lawn is one of the most eye-catching features of your backyard and an invaluable asset to your property. Not only does it make for enjoyable outdoor entertaining, but it can also give potential buyers a positive impression of the home you’ve invested in.

Mowing grass regularly during the spring and summer seasons is recommended, usually once a week. Doing this encourages healthy grass growth, reduces weeds, and blocks out excessive sunlight.

Mowing grass is best done early in the morning or late in the afternoon when it is drier and less vulnerable to heat, humidity and drought stress.

It is essential to avoid cutting your lawn too short, as this can damage its roots. Furthermore, cutting too short encourages mosses and other weeds to grow.

Insect Control

Insect control is an essential aspect of maintaining your garden lawn. From armyworms to grubs, various insects can wreak havoc on your grass, infest your home, and even pose health hazards. With proper control in place, pests will no longer pose a threat.

There are various insecticides that can be utilized to eliminate different insects, but they must be applied correctly. That’s why you should choose a pesticide compatible with the type of lawn and plants in your yard.

It is also essential not to overuse the treatment. Doing so could potentially exacerbate your issue rather than solve it completely.

Early intervention is key when it comes to insect problems. Doing this allows you to address any pests that have made their way into your garden before they become a major issue.

Lawn insects can be a real pain to eradicate, but with the right insecticides and techniques you can keep your lawn looking its best. Ace Hardware offers an extensive selection of products to assist with all your insect control needs.