- Bentgrass (Agrostis) :- Bentgrass (Agrostis) has the ability to grow in a wide range of soil types and can tolerate very acid soils. A good seed bed is essential for establishing a good stand of bent grass from seed. Till the soil 8 to 10 cm deep, remove all sticks, rocks, and other debris. Continue tilling until the soil is free of all clumps. Level and smooth the area to prepare a suitable seed bed. Using an over the shoulder or hand held spreader, spread 450 g or 900 g of bent grass seed per 100 sq. meter. Rake the seed into the seedbed very lightly then roll firm with a lawn roller. Care should be taken not to cover Bentgrass seed more than 1 cm with soil. Water the area to moisten the top 5 cm of soil. In the absence of rain, water the seeded area lightly each day to keep the top 5 cm of soil moist. Continue water applications daily until the bent grass seedlings are three weeks old. Reduce watering to three times per week for the next thirty days unless there is adequate rainfall.
- Bluegrass :- Bluegrass is best adapted to well-drained, moist, fertile soils with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It does best in full sun but will tolerate light shade. It will not perform ell on shallow, compacted soils, or where the pH is excessively high or low. Under the right conditions and with proper management, Kentucky bluegrass can make a beautiful lawn.
- Rye grass :- Rye grass grows well and fast from seed. It is not as aggressive as some other types of turf because it spreads by growing larger clumps, rather than sending out rhizomes or stolons. Therefore, the seeding rate is higher than for some other grasses.
General lawn care in summers
- Fertilizer application: In the summer season, it is always advisable to keep the fertilizer use to a minimum. This is because they contain nitrogen, which, when combined with the soaring temperatures of the summers, can lead to burning up of entire lawn. As far as possible, we should go for a slow-release fertilizer, which has lower nitrogen content than the usual.
- Irrigation: One of the most common mistakes that people tend to make, while taking care of their lawn in summers, comprises of inadequate watering. It needs to keep in mind that even though watering as usual, in summers, the evaporation is much more. So, it is advisable to keep on watering till the time the moisture gets 15 cm into the soil.
- Pest management: It has been seen that lawns become much more susceptible to fungal diseases in the summer season. At the same, even weeds have been observed to grow faster when the temperatures are high. Thus, it is advisable to take proper care of garden, keeping them free of fungi as well as weeds.
- Mowing: In the summer season, we should always increase the height of the grass, mowing it to a height of 7.5-8.5 cm. This will help cool down the crowns of the grass and also discourage various diseases. care should be taken while mowing in the summer season that more than one-third of the total leaf area is not removed at any one time.
General lawn care in winters
- Fertilizer application: In the winter months, lawn will not grow much, remaining more or less dormant. Therefore, it is advisable not to use fertilizers therein. Rather, wait for later-winters, when the temperature is a bit higher, for adding fertilizers to lawn. Still, for fertilizing purposes, the best time would comprise of late fall or early summer.
- Irrigation: It is true that in winter season, lawn does not lose too much moisture. However, this does not mean that stop watering it altogether. Rather, water it at a gap of somewhere around 3-4 weeks. As and when the grass growing more rapidly, it is advisable to increase the frequency of watering.
- Mowing: With the approach of the winter season, start lowering the height of mower i.e. mowing down the grass to a shorter length; say around 5.0-7.5 cm. Otherwise, lawn might become prey to winter diseases. However, make sure to be gradual in the process. Otherwise, might end up removing all the green leaf tissue and damaging the turf.
- Weed management: Winter season present adverse condition for the growth of grass, but not weeds. In fact, weeds are known to grow faster in cold conditions. So, make sure to keep looking out for weeds and removing them before they get a chance to do any damage or else, grass will be in the danger of getting killed by the time spring comes.
General tips for lawn care under shade
- Shady lawns require less fertilizer compared to lawns exposed to the sunlight. 450 to 900 g of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per growing season at two intervals. The ideal time for fertilization is the first week of September.
- Shady lawns don’t require ample watering but when watered does it thoroughly.
- Lawns in shade are not meant for rough use. As they are quite weak compared to sunny lawns so it is better not to walk or let the children play on it.
- Though moss and creepers like ivy grow largely on the shady lawns but it is not harmful. It only grows on the empty soil because the grass grows slowly.