Thick, green grass in your yard is usually the result of tender loving care on your part. In addition to the attention you pay it, some other factors help determine how your yard looks, including how much and how often you water your grass, how high or short you mow it, and how you treat it once the summer growing season is over.

Watering the lawn

How often you water the grass and for how long plays a part in growing thick and luxurious grass in your yard. Frequent, short watering can leave your grass weak, as the roots have no reason to grow deep to seek the water needed to grow. Spread out your watering schedule to about once a week and make sure that the water penetrates at least four to six inches into the soil when you do water.

The easiest way to check how far down the water penetrates is to water for about 30 minutes and then stick a spade into the soil around the watered area to see how much the ground is saturated. If you need to apply more water to reach the desired saturation point, then do so.

Once you know how long you need to water to get four to six inches of saturation, you can just water your yard for that amount of time going forward without testing it every time.

The type of soil in your lawn also plays a part in how often or long you need to water. Heavy soils, which hold the moisture better require more infrequent and lesser watering. Sandy soil, on the other hand, take more frequent watering in a greater amount to account for the tendency of this type of soil to lose its moisture content quicker.

Weeding the lawn

Proper weeding also plays a part in ensuring thick, green grass in your lawn. Weeds can take over an area and kill the surrounding grass, and if not kept in check, they can quickly overtake your lawn. Luckily, you have a variety of options at your disposal when removing weeds from your lawn, including:

Herbicides: Herbicides represent an easy way to remove unwanted weeds for your yard. When using a herbicide, you have a few types at your disposal, such as:

Pre-emergence

Post-emergence

Weed-and-feed

Natural herbicides: In addition to synthetic herbicides, you can also use what are called natural herbicides. Corn gluten represent a popular natural herbicide that keeps weeds from growing without any of the toxic side effects from a synthetic herbicide.

Weeding by hand: Weeding by hand represents another tried-and-true method to remove weeds from your yard. You can also use one of the many tools made for weeding to make the job much easier. Some common weeding tools include:

Hori hori (Japanese farmer's knife)

Mowing the lawn

When

mowing

your lawn, try to mow higher. Many experts recommend mowing your lawn to a height of three to four inches. This added height helps keep the sun from reaching the ground and keeping any surrounding weeds from taking route. In addition, shorter grass tends to scorch more easily when it is hot outside, stunting its growth, making it weaker, and making it more susceptible to weed growth.

You should also keep the blades of your mower sharp, as a dull blade can damage the grass and make it harder for the grass to heal. In addition, a dull cut makes the grass look frayed and gives it a white or yellow appearance — as opposed to nice and green. Furthermore, damaged grass is more susceptible to insects and diseases, which can cause even more damage to your lawn.

Aerating the lawn

Aerating your lawn yearly also encourages your grass to grow thick and strong. Throughout the growing season, your grass might thin and develop thatching on the surface of the lawn near the roots, sometimes causing the soil to become compacted. Aerating the lawn helps release some of the pressure from the compacted soil, encouraging further growth. When aerating, you should also dethatch your lawn by using a

scarifier

to remove any dead grass or leaves from the surface of your lawn.

In addition to aerating your lawn, you also need to make sure to

seed

and fertilize the lawn regularly. When applying seed, wait to do it until the late summer or early fall. The intense heat at other times of the year make it hard for the seed to take root. When applying fertilizer, consider using a natural fertilizer, such as corn gluten, which can also act as a herbicide.

Taking care of your lawn and ensuring that it grows in thick and green is easy if you follow a few simple steps. Making sure that weeds don't get a foothold, mowing your grass to the right height, and watering your lawn appropriately represent some of the biggest steps you can take to make sure your lawn is healthy. If you find that you cannot handle a task, such as taking care of your yard, you can always contact a local gardener to perform the work for you.

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