Lawn Types: Which Grass to Choose?

There are different types of lawns in the garden, each of which has its own characteristics. Landing requires preparation and knowledge. If everything is done correctly, then you can enjoy the result for a long time.

Lawn Features. How to choose a lawn

Before you start planting a lawn in the garden, you need to know what types of them exist. There are many varieties and mixtures with different characteristics.

Note! Planting mixtures containing multiple types of plants provide the best performance for the perfect lawn. It is important to choose seeds with climate in mind so that they can survive winter and summer.

Many lawn varieties do not do well in shady areas or under trees. If the lawn is in the shade, you need to opt for seeds that can form a good green cover there.

Lawn seed varieties that are highly drought tolerant, trampling tolerant, are commonly found in lawn grass mixtures. On sports fields, where there is constant pressure and load, special turf mixtures are used with rapid regrowth and recovery.

Types of grass for the lawn

To select the perfect lawn seeds, pay attention to the following characteristics: topography, sunlight, humidity. It is necessary to take into account the amount of precipitation in the area.

Lawn fescue is a grass that is resistant to trampling, with medium shade tolerance, fast growth. It adapts well in areas with a warmer climate and arid soil. There are small-leaved, medium-leaved and broad-leaved varieties.

English ryegrass, on the other hand, is characterized by fast growth and good resistance, but requires frequent care and pruning. This grass variety adapts easily to all types of terrain, and because it can overwhelm other species, it is usually used in mixtures with other seeds.

Poa pratensis adapts to various types of terrain and has good resistance to trampling, but prefers sunny areas. The variety tolerates short haircuts, even up to 2 cm, and does not require special care. Grows well in moist, but not swampy areas. Although the bluegrass meadow is not very capricious in relation to the soil, it does not respond well to increased acidity.

The Uganda cultivar , known as Bermuda or wild grass, is a thermophilic cultivar with a low water requirement, suitable for dry soils. It falls into a state of dormancy for the winter, grows back in early spring, creating a very durable lawn.

Paspalum is a thermophilic type of lawn with great resistance to drought and soil salinity, resistant to partial shade. It grows rapidly in spring and hibernates in winter. Thanks to its excellent resistance to heat, drought and soil salinity, it is a lush vegetation in summer.

Dichondra variety or decorative clover is a kind of lawn with dense round foliage and short stature. Since the grass has a large cover, weeds do not grow on the lawn. Has good appearance in semi-shady places.

What are the main types of lawns?

It is important to choose the right mixture of seeds depending on the soil, climatic conditions and purpose.

Lawn grass seeds

The main purpose of an ornamental lawn is the aesthetic aspect. He is required to remain neat, soft and green.

English lawn is one of the most famous and sought after species. Differs in bright coloring and dense magnificent growth. When well cared for, it is like a soft carpet that is pleasant to walk on.

 English lawn

This lawn is unsuitable for dry and very hot areas. Fescue and bluegrass are the most suitable plants for a good, stable English lawn.

Sports lawns must have a strong root system that is resistant to trampling and to sudden changes in temperature. Most often used in household plots, especially if there are children there.

 Sports lawn

To obtain such a lawn, it is recommended to use a mixture: perennial ryegrass, meadow bluegrass with a small percentage of red fescue.

Low-maintenance lawns are trample-resistant and drought-resistant. It is not always possible to constantly monitor the lawn: to cut, water. To create such lawns, it is usually recommended to choose a seed mixture consisting of 80% cane fescue, 10% meadow grass and 10% ryegrass.

The lawn in the shade meets the garden with trees. Under the trees, where there is little sunlight, you can get a beautiful and stable lawn. Select seeds that grow well with little sun exposure. The most suitable are red, long-leaved and dark-leaved fescue.

The flower meadow has a beautiful view. Requires little water and minimal maintenance. These are lawns obtained by combining different seeds of annuals and perennials to create a rich and varied lawn.

 Moorish lawn

Among the herbs, it is best to include English ryegrass and bluegrass in the mixture.

Lawns: how to care for them

To keep your lawn healthy and well maintained, you need to know how to care for it. When is lawn planting taking place? It is usually sown from early March to June and autumn. Sowing should be avoided during the hot summer season as well as during the cold winter months. Seeds with the right humidity and temperature germinate in 10-15 days.

How to prepare the soil for planting a lawn?

Grass and weeds are removed, large stones are removed. Create loose soil, add peat, compost and slow release lawn fertilizers to improve soil quality and enrich it with nutrients. Lawn irrigation system installed. The soil is leveled with a rake, slightly compacted, then watered well and allowed to dry.

Once the soil has been prepared, sowing begins. Seeds of lawn grasses are divided into two equal parts and sowed crosswise so that there is a uniform coverage. Close up the soil with a rake, and lightly press down with a roller or barrel.

 Soil preparation for sowing

It is important to keep the soil relatively moist at all times until the seeds germinate (about 2 weeks). Avoid stepping on the lawn until the grass reaches a height of 8-10 cm and the first mowing is done.

When is the lawn fertilized? He usually needs fertilizer twice a year: in early March and in October. Of course, this also depends on the type of lawn and the climate of the area.

It is important to know which fertilizers to use. Nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus are essential for proper growth. If you use a slow release fertilizer, the lawn grass will gradually absorb the nutrients.

How to deal with unwanted lawn weeds? Weeds can restrict the growth of lawn grass and spoil it. Many varieties and types of grasses that are used for lawns are wild grasses. Unwanted lawn weeds are not of the type planted and create a uniform green problem. Frequent mowing helps to reduce the appearance and growth of weeds. In addition, unwanted grass can be uprooted by hand or with special tools. With strong growth of broadleaf weeds, special chemical herbicides can be used without creating problems for the lawn.

Lawn watering depends on the season and temperature. If the soil is sandy, a little more watering may be needed. The lawn should not be waterlogged, excessive watering can damage it, causing the growth of fungi.

 Watering

The right time for watering is when there is no scorching sun so that the water does not evaporate quickly. Usually it is early morning or afternoon until evening.

Lawn mowing. Lawn mowers are essential for proper garden maintenance. How often should the lawn be mowed? To maintain good appearance and density, mow from early spring to late autumn, usually once a week. Avoid shearing too low because it can stop the growth of vegetation, and not give a new one. Leave a cutting height of 5-7 cm. It is important to mow the lawn when it is not wet from watering, as there is a risk of developing fungal diseases.

Important! An unmowed lawn attracts insects. If the lawn is frozen, steps can damage the frozen grass.

Aeration is an important process for proper lawn care. Many factors compact the soil, water and air do not circulate freely. Thus, the roots do not receive proper nutrition, which leads to problems in their development. Therefore, it is important to aerate every 2-3 years in late winter or early spring to rejuvenate the lawn. There are various aeration tools, and there are special shoes with spikes in the soles that poke holes to ventilate the ground.

Lawn enemies and diseases

How to deal with lawn diseases and insects? It is important to avoid over-watering.

 Lawn diseases

In hot and humid conditions, the lawn can be affected by various fungal diseases that cause yellow or brown spots on the leaves and root rot.

Note! A lawn infected with a disease over large areas is difficult to treat. In spring and early autumn, for the prevention of diseases, it is sprayed with a solution of copper.

Of the insects that attack the lawn, the lawn caterpillar, which feeds on the base of the rhizomes, is the most dangerous. The grass gradually turns yellow, which leads to severe drying. To combat caterpillars, spraying with natural pyrethrum is recommended. There are also chemicals in agricultural stores. Spraying the lawn from caterpillars is mainly carried out in summer and early autumn.

At the end of winter, you may notice dry spots on the lawn that have been created by frost or some other reason. In order to have a uniform, healthy and green lawn in the summer, additional seeding is carried out in these areas in the spring.