Club Benefits
Worried you need to spend big dollars for a luscious lawn to ensure you are not ‘lawn shamed’ by your neighbors? Think again.
The reality is you can have a luscious lawn on a budget without spending out on expensive tools and lawn feed. Here, I delve into 7 ways you can have a stunning lawn for less, but be prepared to put in some work.
1. Weed it
One element that lets all lawns down is a patch full of weeds. But they really don’t need to ruin your lawn. Whether you struggle with dandelions or crabgrass. The ideal time to capture them is when they are young. This will help prevent seeds from spreading, and the problem of pulling up part of your lawn with the weed.
Article continues belowDandelions have deep tap roots, which means you’re going to have to delve a bit deeper than some other weeds to remove them, but a simple tool should help you out. If you don’t already have one lurking in your garden shed, I recommend buying a simple dandelion weeder, like Linatikou’s Weed Puller Tool, $8 at Amazon.
However, you could also opt for a hori hori knife, which can be used elsewhere in the garden. Yang’s Hori Hori Garden Knife is $8 at Amazon, with a 50% discount.
Don't wait any longer, though, to get weeding. Spring is the ideal time to dig out those weeds before they flower and set seed.
2. Promote thick and strong growth
Another way to prevent weeds, such as dandelions and crabgrass, is to keep your lawn a little longer than usual. Keeping your lawn about 2 to 3 inches in length will help keep the soil cool, reduce the risk of seed germination, and weed growth.
When grass is on the short side, more sunlight reaches the soil, creating the perfect conditions for weed germination.
Apart from managing weeds, experts advise following the one-third rule when mowing. Rather than mowing your lawn too short, remove only one-third of its height. This prevents the grass from becoming stressed and encourages denser, more luscious growth.
3. Fill in bare patches
If you’ve removed any weeds or spotted other bare patches, it’s simple to fill in the gaps. I recommend using this quick 5-minute fix for a patch-free lawn.
Take a tool, such as a garden trowel or a hori hori knife, and score the soil to disturb the surface. Give it a light watering and then scatter some grass seeds on top, before giving it a light covering with top soil. If you’re anything like me, you should be able to find everything you need in your garden shed.
4. Leave your grass clippings
To add valuable nutrients to your lawn, don’t clear up your grass clippings. Instead of raking them up, leave them to break down and release nutrients — such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium — back into the soil. This simple hack will save you from buying lawn feeds.
Rather than leaving the grass clippings where they land, it’s best to rake them over to avoid leaving clumps of clippings that may smother your lawn. And if they are wet, dry them out before spreading them over your lawn. While they are in place, they’ll also help to prevent weeds from emerging.
Apart from prompting strong growth, grass clippings are composed of 85% water, and once they break down, they release moisture back into the soil. Although your lawn will still benefit from water, especially when the weather is dry, it will reduce the amount of time needed for watering.
5. Remove obstructions
Your lawn may not be growing to its full potential if it is overshadowed by shrubs and trees. If your grass doesn’t get enough sunlight, it won’t be able to photosynthesize as effectively, resulting in weaker growth.
I notice this common problem around the edges of my lawn, where trees and shrubs overhang and take away precious sunlight.
The easiest way to solve these issues is to either cut back branches with a pair of pruning shears to allow sunlight to shine through or dig up the underperforming area of grass and underplant it with shade-loving plants instead.
6. Edge your lawn
It’s surprising how a few minutes can make all the difference to your lawn. I find going round the edges with a lawn edging tool is one of the quickest ways to smarten up its overall look.If you don’t already own an edging tool, ask your friendly neighbor if you can borrow one, or search online for free garden tools. You could try Craigslist’s free section or FreeCycle. Other places to search include Buy Nothing groups on Facebook, community gardens and tool-lending programs, such as a local library or municipal office.
7. Make a homemade fertilizer
Save your spent coffee grounds and create your own homemade organic lawn fertilizer. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which help promote healthy grass growth. It acts as a slow-release fertilizer, providing sustained nutrients for your lawn.
You can add coffee grounds to your lawn at any point during the growing season. It’s best to let them dry out before scattering them, and them spread them about one cup to one square yard. Try to cover your lawn as evenly as possible to avoid the grinds landing in clumps — using a rake should help.
If you have a compost pile, you can also add spent coffee grinds into the mix, and apply this directly as a top dressing to your lawn.
There are plenty of other ways that coffee grounds can be used in you yard, including helping hydrangeas develop deep blue blooms.
Gardening essentials we love
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.
More from Tom's Guide
