Have you ever found yourself wondering why the neighbors’ lawn is more green or well-kept though little maintenance appears to be done? It’s possible that your neighbor does not do much yard work, and this is likely a result of your neighbor having a different grass type than you.
The type of grass and the environmental conditions in which grass grows has an impact on the amount of maintenance that needs to be done.
Different types of grasses require different levels of care, for example:
Partially shaded grass – If your lawn is growing in partial shade, or four to six hours of partial shade, your grass grows slower and requires less water and fertilizer. Keep in mind that grass does require sunlight to stay healthy so consequently, your partially shaded grass may never fill in and become the envy of the neighborhood.
Turf-type tall fescue, fine fescue grasses – These types of grasses require less fertilizer than bluegrass and perennial ryegrass lawns.
Kentucky bluegrass – Lawns with Kentucky bluegrass require two to four pounds of nitrogen fertilizer yearly to maintain a beautiful appearance. To achieve this, apply two to five applications of nitrogen to the grass each year.
Here are turf-grasses that require less maintenance:
Lower maintenance lawns in Michigan have a higher percentage of fine fescues or turf-type tall fescues and need one-third to half the nitrogen that a bluegrass lawn needs.
Fine fescue – Fine fescues are a group of grasses with various needs. Creeping red fescue mixed with Kentucky bluegrass provides good turf for lawns with sunny and shaded areas. Shade-tolerant fine fescues require less fertilizer and water, and fine fescues do not grow well under wet soil conditions.
Hard and sheep fescue – Fine fescue grasses that require lower maintenance practices are hard and sheep fescue. These are stiff, bluish-green grasses that grow in clumps. This fescue is usually mixed with Kentucky bluegrass that fills in between. Hard and sheep fescue grow slow, require less fertilizer, and grow well in dry conditions.
Turf-type tall fescue – Turf-type tall fescue grasses are able to survive heat stress and grub damage. This grass requires less fertilizer and one to three applications of nitrogen. Turf-type tall fescue turf can be thick and healthy with lower maintenance practices, but it won’t have the carpet-like look of Kentucky bluegrass.
To promote the health of a low maintenance lawn, give these gardening practices a try:
Watering – Lawns require about one inch of water each week, but split into multiple applications. This amount of water includes natural rainfall. Grass won’t flourish if it does not receive water from rain or irrigation.
Mulching – After mowing, collect the grass clippings to use as mulch. These clippings are great for your lawn and provide about one-third of the nitrogen needed by the lawn. Grass clippings should occasionally be returned directly to your lawn because they act as a natural fertilizer.
Mowing height – Mow the grass at three to three and a half inches tall to reduce the possibility of weed seeds developing, and to lessen the amount of water lost to evaporation. Mowing the grass at this height also helps build a larger root mass which is more tolerant to drought.
You May Also Enjoy These Articles:
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Why Weingartz?
Weingartz, family owned and operated, began in 1945 as a farm supply store for local Michigan families. In the 1970s, we began to focus exclusively on outdoor power equipment. Over time, we morphed into the “power equipment superstore” that now defines all of our locations. The staff and experts at Weingartz work diligently to provide the best service possible and give honest and helpful advice to each and every customer.
Weingartz also sells parts for all outdoor power equipment at https://weingartz.com/parts-lookup.
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Cedar Springs, MI 49319
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