Community Corner
Grass Is Always Greener—But It Doesn't Have To Be
A little attention now may result in a lush, green landscape later.
Welcome to our new gardening section at Patch! Each Saturday we will be giving lawn care and gardening advice based on the current weather trends and seasonal applications. This weekly feature it geared toward giving the novice gardener some helpful tips about when and how to keep a lush, thriving landscape, as well as reminders for the veterans who may need just a little prompting for their outdoor vegetation tasks.
A little work now can make a significant difference for a lush, green yard this summer. If it has been a while since the lawn has been aerated, a few days after above-freezing temperatures is the ideal time, especially in high traffic areas.
Lime
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Applying lime to a New England lawn is always helpful due to the high acidity in the soil and April is the perfect time for this application. If given a choice, pellets are a good option. It may cost a little more, but is much easier to spread than regular lime with a lost less mess.
Fertilizer
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Fertilization is also important in the early spring and there are many good organic fertilizers on the market. Fertilizer should be applied according to the instructions on the bag as each brand may have different strengths and differing rate recommendations.
Before heading to the store for lime or fertilizer, have a good idea of the square footage of your lawn as this number determines application rates.
Seeding
Seeding a new lawn or fixing rough patches is easiest in the spring before weed and summer heat make seed germination more difficult. To properly prepare an area, use a steel rake and scratch seed into the dirt. If April develops into a dry month, the new grass will need daily watering. Be sure to keep the ground damp until germination and then make sure the area gets at least an inch of water a week while the new lawn is establishing its roots.
Once your spring preparation is done, hope for April showers to make it grow so you can mow!
Information for this column was provided by Volante Farms, 292 Forest St., Needham, 781-444-2351.
