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South Carolina has hot, humid weather during the summer, and also can have weeks between good soaking rains to help with our lawns. Some times the homeowner has to kick in where mother nature stops and help their grass along. If you are having trouble with the grass in your yard, you will want to see the tips below:
1. Grass needs an inch of rain weekly to maintain optimal appearance and health. Set sprinkler systems on a timer for the morning hours or use sprinklers to give a deep soak. Watering manually with the use of a hose and sprayer will not allow adequate water to soak into the soil where the
grasses roots are.
2. Keep lawn mower blades sharpened to prevent disease and injury to the grass blades. A sharp cut reduces the grasses vulnerability to disease and pests.
3. Use organic fertilizer a few times a year. A few inches of compost applied in the Spring and Fall will give your grass the extra boost and health it will need.
4. If your grass looks in bad shape it could be a ph level problem. Check your grasses ph level, anything below 6.0 needs to be amended using Lime. If it is higher than
7.0, you may need to sulfur to bring it down to the proper ph.
5. Grass needs the clippings left over from mowing to help keep the soil moist and cool. Grass clippings are a natural mulch for your grass.
6. Never cut your grass too short especially during hot months. Grass that is cut too short can be scorched by the sun, and also exposes the root system that is close to the
surface of the ground.
7. Yellow or bleached spots could be from pets. When you notice these areas, make sure to water them even between regular watering to dilute the effects of animal urine. The salt
content is usually the reason for the yellowed areas.
8. Soil Aeration is a good way to loosen compacted soil. If your soil has a high clay content there is a good chance that it has compacted soil. Compacted soil will choke grass roots a
and stop water, fertilizer and root growth from benefitting the grass. Lawn aerators can be purchased from garden centers and some can attach to your lawn mower. If you don't want to invest in
one, you can sometimes rent them for a small fee.
