Backyard Garden
Turf Boy Lawn or a Natural Look? The Choice is Yours
Is your lawn on a regularly scheduled maintenance plan, or are you the
neighbor whose dandelions blow into everyone else's yard? Most of us fall
somewhere in between lawn perfection and the abandoned house look. What's
your philosophy about lawn care?
If you are a strong environmentalist who is looking for greener ways of
living, you might be someone who is interested in artificial turf. These
materials require no chemicals, or watering, and you don't have to waste
time or gasoline mowing. Of course, if you like the smell of freshly cut
grass, or love the feel of dirt beneath your feet, you're out of luck!
Be warned, though: to keep this lawn looking healthy, you'll need to brush
and clean it from time to time. Furthermore, artificial turf is much more
expensive to install than a regular sod lawn. Keep in mind, too, that you'll
have to replace the turf every ten years or so.
If you enjoy having the perfect looking lawn, but want real grass, plan to
make a significant investment of time and money. If your lawn is very weedy,
or if grass doesn't grow well in the soil, consider having a professional
landscaper install a sod lawn. Sod lawns are strips of live grass that are
placed atop a carefully prepared soil bed.
Sod lawns are best installed during the early spring, when frequent
rainfalls provide the extensive amount of watering that is necessary for the
sod grass to take root and grow in the soil of your yard. Of course, if you
just finished building your home, you may not have a choice about the time
of year. Just make sure that you aren't planning an extended vacation
immediately after planting the lawn; you may have to water it several times
a day during the hotter part of summer!
If you have a naturally healthy lawn, or don't have a lot of weeds, your
yard may benefit from regular chemical treatments. You can buy these
yourself at many local gardening or home improvement stores. Many local
nurseries often sell products that help to keep your grass healthy.
If you are using chemicals on your lawn, though, be careful to follow the
precautions listed for small children or pets. Many of these chemicals are
poisonous, and can cause vomiting or even more serious reactions. Be careful
not to let your pet nibble grass, and prevent your child from playing
outside and getting these chemicals on his or her skin.
In addition, some lawn care products should be used immediately after it
rains, while others are not recommended for use within 24 hours of
anticipated rain or watering. Read the instructions carefully, and know how
to use the chemicals you buy.
Of course, you can always go for the completely natural look, and cut the
grass only as often as you feel like it- or the city demands. If your
neighbors are particular about their yards, though, don't expect to make too
many friends with this approach!
This article was provided courtesy of PebbleZ's unique line of natural stone coasters and accessories
, and was written by Joey Pebble, a stone artist that has worked closely
with the company for many years.
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