The Grass Doctor

How do I get my grass to grow?

all of my neighbors have grass, I don't. Its green, but it's weeds I guess? I can't afford a landscaper. what should I do to get pretty green healthy grass. And how long does it take to start growing. Also can i buy the roll down grass, like you see on tv.

Public Comments

1. Water it everyday
2. stop shaving.
3. Roll down grass? Are you talking about astro turf? Or Sod? If you buy "Weed and Feed" and water it in the early morning it will eventually get to be like your neighbors
4. Personally if "all your neighbors have grass" I would talk with them and ask them how they did it. Some may have started from seed. If that is the case you need to start with good soil free of stones and weeds, you may have to buy topsoil or compost to help the soil composition. You need to find out what type of lawn seed grows best in your area. And what is the composition of your lawn. By this I mean what parts of your lawn receives sun and shade throughout the day. Most lawn seeds are a mix so they include both. Check with your local extension office. They should know and want to help you with this. Lawn seed in my area grows the best in fall when day temp. are kind of even with night temps. You don't want to try to establish a lawn when the fluctuation of daytime and nighttime is extreme, whether you are seeding a lawn or sodding it. Most lawns require at least 1 inch per week of rain (at least in my zone 3/4). This also includes water that comes from rain or your water sprinkler. Mowing should be at a height of 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Less than this will stress the blades of grass. Your neighbors are also probably feeding their lawn. I think of the holidays when it comes to feeding in my area -Memorial day, Fourth of July , Labor Day and Holloween should be the last time for feeding. If you decide to do it yourself and go with rolls of sod, make sure you fit them tightly together so that you don't have gaps in between the rows.
5. You need to start with a good grass that is free of weeds. It should be watered early in the morning to allow it to absorb the water before the sun comes up, but not at night because weeds will germinate better at night. You should also be feeding it with fertilizer regularly. Scotts has a good program, it tells you when to fertilize and with what product. When you cut it you should never cut more than 1/3 of the height or you will be cutting the meristems of the blade, this is the area responsible for cell generation and growth.
6. Having a great lawn is a source of pride for every homeowner. Indeed, who does not want a lush, green lawn that accentuates the beauty of your home? Its strategic location in the front of your house creates the perfect first impression for your guests. But having a great lawn involves a lot of hard work. The lawn just doesn’t grow by itself, you know. You will have to water it, fertilize it, and keeps weeds and pests out. And if you do not have the time to do it, then you have the option to hire someone. Whatever approach you choose to take, a little knowledge on lawn care basics goes a long way. It will take about a week to see results. Below are some questions you may ask concerning lawn care basics: What do the numbers mean? If you are not new to home gardening, then you may have been to one or two horticulture shops and bought a few bags of fertilizers for your lawn. You have probably noticed the numbers on the front of fertilizer products, but what do they mean? Actually, the numbers are called “Guaranteed Analysis” and they stand for the N-P-K content of the fertilizer. The first number represents Nitrogen (N), which if you know your lawn care basics is the primary nutrient for growth and greening. The second, Phosphorus (P) aids in root development and strengthens the plant. The third, Potassium (K) is for strengthening plants against stresses, such as cold temperatures and disease. The N-P-K content of your fertilizer is one of the lawn care basics that you need to learn, because not all fertilizers are created equal. Often, your lawn may need a different kind of fertilizer, depending on the soil’s pH level. Proper Soil pH Like fertilizers, soil varies from lawn to lawn. Some soils may have higher acid content than others. And because of these differences in soil acidity, the nutrient requirement may also differ. Part of lawn care basics is to get the soil pH in order to measure the acidity and alkalinity of the soil. The ideal soil pH is about 6.5 to 7, the level which allows fertilizers to be more effective. Knowing your lawn care basics will also tell you that pH below 7 is acid and can be corrected by adding lime. On the other hand, if the pH is above 7, then it is alkaline. Add sulfur to lower pH. Controlling Crabgrass and Moss One of the foremost problems in lawn care basics is controlling certain opportunistic types of grass, such as crabgrass and moss. These species are undesirable for lawns because they hog space and consume the nutrients which would have otherwise gone to the lawn grass. In lawn care basics, the best way to control crabgrass is to use a pre-emergent and early post-emergency control product. That way, the product effectively prevents crabgrass from starting and controls it for up to 4 weeks after crabgrass germination. When dealing with moss, lawn care basics also provides you with various moss control products that kills moss quickly. For best results though, get moss control with fertilizer. That way, you can rid your lawn of moss while at the same time provide a better opportunity for grass to become established. If this all sounds like too much work you might be better getting the roll down grass like you see on T.V.