It’s easy to assume that keeping your lawn looking green, lush, and healthy is a full-time job. After all, there can be many barriers to achieving your goals, such as lawn pests and rainfall, and you can spend countless hours combatting one problem after another. However, a healthy lawn can be easier than you think when you have the following things on hand.

A Plan

You can’t just set ‘have a healthy lawn’ as a goal and expect to achieve it. Everyone’s definition of a healthy lawn can differ, depending on what you start with and how you use your property.

For example, you might have a weak lawn that’s susceptible to lawn pests, and you want it to be robust and hardy to handle pets and children. Alternatively, your lawn might be poor-draining and riddled with grass grubs, and you want it to be dry and pest-free. Make a plan, and you might find it easier to create achievable steps for yourself or a lawn care professional. Before long, you can have that healthy, picture-perfect lawn you always wanted.

Soil Tests

No matter how much grass seed you scatter or fertiliser you apply, you can’t always predict the outcome of your actions unless you have soil tests. Soil tests can be used to determine the type of soil you have and if it lacks anything that might be contributing to your grass being in poor health.

Generally, soil tests indicate your soil’s macronutrients, micronutrients, and current pH so you can choose the right soil amendments and fertiliser types to bring it back to total health. After all, healthy soil equals healthy grass.

Fertiliser

It never hurts to have fertiliser stowed away in your garden shed for those times when your grass doesn’t seem to be thriving.

Most of the best lawn fertiliser products in NZ have premium nutrient blends to promote lush green grass growth. Fertiliser can also help eliminate moss, encourage root growth, and promote a deep green colour to make your lawn stand out for all the right reasons. Look for products with iron, sulphur, and calcium, and you might be surprised by the results.

Lawn Aerator Tools

Soil compaction is a common problem, but it’s not something homeowners know too much about. When your soil is pressed down, air, nutrients, and water can struggle to reach your grass roots. If your grass roots can’t get what they need, your grass can’t remain in excellent health.

Fortunately, lawn aerator tools like aeration machines and manual tines can solve your soil compaction woes. By poking holes in your soil, you’re allowing your grass to access everything it needs, even if soil compaction has been a problem in the past.

Power Rake or Dethatching Machine

Thatch is a layer of organic materials like grass, leaves, and roots that can accumulate on your soil. A small amount can be helpful for grass, but too much can actually stop nutrients and water from reaching your grass roots.

Invest in a power rake or dethatching machine to remove thatch from your lawns. However, it’s important to follow the instructions for use to the letter to avoid damaging your lawn. If you’re new to the task of dethatching, start with a small area or hire experts to take care of this task for you.

Sprinkler System

Many homeowners make the mistake of giving their lawns a light sprinkle of water daily to keep them healthy. Your intentions might be good, but you perhaps aren’t doing your lawns any favours.

Shallow sprinklings encourage grass to develop short roots. If you suddenly stop watering, they can’t withstand drought conditions and can be at risk of dying. However, if you were to water your lawns infrequently but deeply, you’re encouraging deep root growth. Should drought conditions be a problem, your grass stands a much better chance of survival because it can access water further down in the soil.

Consider investing in a sprinkler system to make sure your grass gets as much water as it needs without you having to put in any extra effort. Most sprinkler systems work on timers and boast even distribution to ensure no part of your lawn misses out.

Hire a Lawncare Expert

As a proud homeowner, you might want nothing more than picture-perfect lawns that are the envy of all your neighbours. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll have the time to achieve them. If you want to make sure that your lawns are mowed, pest-free, and healthy without putting in the effort yourself, consider hiring a lawn care expert to assist.

Many lawn care companies do more than just mow your lawns. They can also take care of edging, fertiliser, pest eradication, and more. You can then spend more time admiring your grounds than maintaining them yourself.