How to keep your lawn healthy and green this year

We've seen plenty of rain over the past week which on the plus side has also shown signs of spring with the grass in your yard turning green again. But what steps do we need to take to ensure it stays green through the summer months?

The first check point on the road to a green lawn is applying fertilizers and weed control to reduce the chances of things like dandelions growing in explains agronomist John Buechner.

He also says it's important to make sure your lawn gets enough to drink.

"A healthy lawn needs an inch of water a week, whether it comes from mother nature or irrigation," said Buechner.

He cautions not to over fertilize or water your lawn in the spring time however, "because that can lead to a shallow root system and then your lawn will stress out much quicker when it does get warm."

Watering your lawn is a vital ingredient in maintaining its health but when it does begin to grow, giving it a trim can also help the grass re-seed itself and let new grass grow in.

Buechner explains that it's important to remember the one-third rule when cutting your lawn.

"The correct way to mow a lawn is to remove no more than one-third the length of the weed blade," said Buechner. "That's going to require more mowing in the springtime and less in the summer."

He stresses the importance of only mowing the lawn when it needs it, especially if it begins to dry out in the summer.

If your trying to grow a lawn for the first time or just looking to spruce up the yard with some fresh grass, Buechner says it's important to lay down an adequate amount of seed and chemicals to ensure your goal is met.

"You want to use a fertilizer that's high in phosphorus when you seed," said Buechner.

If you follow all of these steps then you may be well on your way to a shiny green looking lawn, but sometimes animals such as groundhogs, rabbits or moles ravage through your yard and turn it into their own construction site.

Buechner says repellents can be a big help but there's also a couple home remedies you can try to keep your lawn growing process from being interrupted...like using hot sauce.

"You can put it in a latex anti-transparent bottle like the ones you can buy in a garden center," said Buechner. "When animals like deer go to bite on it...they don't like the taste."

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