Winning The Turf Wars

Start growing a lusher, healthier, less-weedy lawn with these smart strategies.

- Sal Vaglica

IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR: Spring’s warmer temperatures inspire homeowners to get outside wanting to whip their lawns into shape. With grass-seed bags piled high at local nurseries, and home centers rolling out the latest in lawn mowers, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the new season.

But without a plan in place, it’s also easy to fall into last year’s routine, which is likely to leave you with last year’s lawn problems— vigorous weeds, struggling turf, and thin, weak patches. Growing grass isn’t rocket science, but there are some tricks that can help you enjoy the lawn of your dreams with less effort. And speaking of effort, a well-maintained lawn is worth it: Realtors report that healthy-looking turf can add as much as 20 percent to a home’s value.

Here, six tips that are sure to up your grass game this year.

1. TEST FIRST

A soil test is the first step in understanding what the support system below those blades needs. Soil tests check the amounts of essential minerals in your soil, then provide recommendations for how much you should add to create an ideal turf-growing environment.

A soil test assesses the levels of phosphorus (P), necessary to grow strong roots; potassium (K), for optimal grass growth and resistance to disease and drought; calcium (Ca), for strong cell walls; and magnesium (Mg), which helps turf grass produce chlorophyll. Soil pH, which determines how easily these nutrients pass to the roots, is also an important part of the test.

Run a soil test in early spring—as soon as the ground thaws in zones that freeze—and before adding any amendments. Ask the extension office of your state’s land-grant university if it tests soil, or purchase a kit ($25 for one with a prepaid envelope; unibestinc.com) and mail your sample to a lab.

2. AMEND IN STAGES