June 2024
Healthy grass! Lush lawns! These are visible signs of a healthy and prosperous community. Developers depend on the appeal of grass and parkland when selling properties.
Healthy grass, and grass roots, depends on soil composition and irrigation. Landscape professionals advise on seeding and feeding grass, and dealing with weeds. They understand when it is best to water lawns, frequency and amount of water. They care for your grass to ensure it keeps looking its best.
Healthy lawns provide tangible benefits. Air quality improves as carbon dioxide and other airborne pollutants – soot, dust, car exhaust – are absorbed. Water runoff is reduced as it is absorbed into the ground and filters contaminants. Strong and healthy roots help anchor soil to the ground and protect against erosion. On a hot day, grassy areas are cooler than exposed soil, concrete or asphalt.
When your chosen variety of grass is appropriate for local conditions, maintenance is easy. Mow and provide an inch or so of water weekly. Fertilize a few times during the year. Periodic seeding increases grass density and fills in thinner areas.
An area with full sun and good irrigation can support varieties of grass that differ from shaded areas. Choosing the right variety of grass seed requires consideration of climate, precipitation, lighting, local pests, and the amount of wear your turf will endure.
Winter is hard on grass. Salt used on roads and walkways can damage it. Grass goes dormant during hot summers but recovers if not fertilized during this time.
Lawns in high-rise communities are subject to heavy use. Even light foot traffic on a frozen or wet lawn, by pets and people, can damage root structures and compact the soil. As the weather warms and everyone emerges from winter, lawns are most fragile. Using grassy areas for aerobics, suntanning, playing and dog walking place stress on the lawn. Grass requires protection if it is to remain green and lush through summer.
As appealing as it is to have a grassy expanse for recreation and relaxation, the more activity on a lawn, the harder it is to maintain.
Growing demands for outdoor space require greater care for these spaces to remain usable.
