How to make a lawn in an overgrown area: prepare the soil, sow, care for it
A beautiful bright green lawn is considered a real highlight of the backyard area. Thanks to this, the site looks well-groomed and neat. Creating the perfect lawn in the country with your own hands is a rather complicated and painstaking process. Particular attention is paid to the selection of seeds, soil substrate and timely cutting. Compliance with these requirements allows you to get an even green coating, which will become a real decoration for landscape design.
How to make a beautiful lawn in your backyard area? The answer to this question is presented in our material. Here are the recommendations of the best gardeners who know all the intricacies of growing green grass.
Varieties of lawns
It turns out that lawns can be different depending on their purpose. Some are used for active sports, others for quiet relaxation, and others for visual perception. In this regard, lawns differ in strength.
With your own hands, it is easy to create the following types of lawns for summer cottages:
English (parterre) - a perfectly flat carpet of thick emerald grass, which is placed around flower beds, ornamental bushes or opposite the main entrance to the house. To keep the lawn looking fresh and beautiful, it must be constantly looked after. Elite varieties of Canadian herbs are used as plantings, so it serves more for visual enjoyment.
Moorish is an ornate herbaceous floral cover of miniature perennials that scatter seeds, giving life to new sprouts. It is not necessary to mow such a lawn, and watering and sun is vital. The best places for them are open areas near water bodies and near the house under the windows. Suitable herbs for planting: cornflowers, carnations, crocuses, marigolds and the like.
Roll - purchased ready-made and spread in the place designated for it. Before use, the lawn must be trampled down and watered. And you can safely have a picnic on it without fear of damage. Such a cover has excellent durability. The maintenance requires regular watering, fertilizing and mowing the lawn every two weeks.
Meadow - a huge cover of meadow grasses of different heights, extending over a large area. It does not need to be cut, needs moderate watering and lighting. Therefore, in the cold, they arrange additional lighting. Tulips, daisies and daffodils are suitable for this type of lawn.
Some tips for those looking to create a lawn
The lawn arrangement is done for a long period of time. It is better to do everything as it should when creating it, than to regularly face problems during its operation.
One of the design options
Here are some tips for making your lawn better:
When caring for the lawn, you will need to ensure that puddles do not form and serious irregularities in the soil do not arise. For this, it is important to level the ground surface before planting. The site should not have recesses in which water can accumulate after rain. If there are ups and downs with an angle greater than 30 degrees, it will be difficult to cut the grass.
Sometimes the owner wants to equip green grass paths along which guests will walk. For planting, use suitable grasses that are resistant to trampling. Also suitable if a roll lawn will be laid in this place. However, even a specialized coating with frequent walking on it may not withstand. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to lay wooden cuts on the paths, which can reduce the load on the grass cover.
Using the stone path When carrying out work on the device of the lawn, it will be useful to mark the territory. The most convenient way for this is the use of pegs dug into the ground, between which a rope is stretched. It needs to be tied below, while the boundaries of the site will be more clearly visible. The markup is especially important. When paths or flower beds will be arranged on the territory of the lawn. Their location must be planned from the outset.
It is important not only to remove weeds before sowing, but also to carry out treatment with herbicides. This is best done in early spring. The treatment is repeated every two weeks until the weeds have completely disappeared.
If it turns out that the soil on which it is planned to make a lawn is not suitable, it is recommended to purchase the required amount of fertile land. When laying it on the site, it is recommended to lay a layer of non-woven fabric, and place fertile soil on it. In this case, you can not only grow beautiful grass, but also completely get rid of weeds in this area.
Sometimes the grass needs feeding. Usually, the composition of the required mineral fertilizers is indicated depending on the seeds used on the bag. However, in addition, it is necessary to take into account the time of year when feeding is carried out. In the spring, you need to add nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which help the growth of the green mass. Phosphorus and potassium are fine if fed in the fall. Such fertilizers will be of important help to the grass, helping to better endure the winter cold.
During the first year, the grass will be especially vulnerable. At this time, you need to limit walking on the site as much as possible and protect it from pets.
Tools and materials
Planning and preparation of the site for the lawn is best done in the second half of August or early September. To prepare, we need the following tools:
Shovels (coffin and bayonet);
Lawn roller and wheelbarrow;
Rake.
Pegs with rope;
To calculate the sowing of a grass mixture for a certain type of herbs that are included in its composition, a special formula is used, and the results are summed up. The seeding rate of seeds (kg / ha) must be multiplied by the percentage of the amount of this species in the mixture and divided by the actual suitability of the seeds. As practice shows, in order to sow lawn grass efficiently, it is necessary to increase the consumption of seeds by 2 - 3 times.
If only one type of grass is to be sown, then the seeding rate of the selected crop must be followed. On average, the consumption of seeds of lawn grass per 1 m2 is 30-50 grams.
How to choose lawn grass?
Greening the ground should be started at the final stage of the territory arrangement - at the end of all construction work, wiring communications, laying garden paths and installing the main decorative elements.
Think over the site plan in advance and determine the places where the emerald carpet will be located. The most suitable options for a lawn for a private house are meadow or park. They are resistant to trampling and other mechanical stress, have a decent look and do not require painstaking care.
On such glades, you can break flower beds, and put sun loungers, and it's not even scary to play ball or badminton. Perennial cereals are usually used to create them:
meadow bluegrass,
ryegrass,
field grass,
fescue,
comber.
It is easier to achieve a uniform cover by using a single seed variety rather than a mixture of grass. At the same time, there is a higher probability of avoiding fragments of different shades and textures.
In the case of a meadow lawn, one type of grass is taken as a basis, which should make up at least 80% of the seed, and then the rest are added to it in small quantities.
If you want the turf to be hardy, durable and stubbornly endure various natural phenomena, the onslaught of weeds, attacks of pests and diseases, in this case, you need to combine several types of herbs.
When choosing seeds, pay attention to the following aspects:
Climate... Consider the plant's ability to tolerate the specific weather conditions in your area. For example, harsh winters are not terrible for meadow bluegrass, various types of fescue, field grass. The same cannot be said about ryegrass, which, in addition, does not tolerate drought.
The degree of shading of the area... For sunny areas, meadow bluegrass, bent bent, clover and pasture ryegrass are suitable. In dimly lit places, it is better to plant fescue.
Soil moisture level... In this regard, bluegrass, clover, red fescue and thin bent grass are unpretentious. The hygrophilous plants include sheep fescue and bent grass. At the same time, pasture ryegrass does not take root on damp soils.
Manufacturer.Give preference only to proven, well-established firms. These include Danish and Dutch brands, but domestic brands, unfortunately, rarely please with their quality.
Price. A good product is therefore not cheap. Therefore, an attempt to save on grass seeds can subsequently lead to even more substantial expenses.
Shelf life. Often this nuance is simply forgotten, and if the material turns out to be expired, all further actions to create a lawn will be meaningless.
It is advisable to buy lawn grass in specialized stores with a good reputation and high ratings.
First of all, you need to understand that the area for the lawn must be processed and completely cleared of weeds before cultivated plants are planted on it. While the planted seeds will already give seedlings, neither weeding nor spraying will give a result. It is necessary to clean not only the surface of the soil, but also to remove the roots by weeding the lawn. On such land, the planted grass, growing densely, over time is able to resist the growth of pests by itself.
The site is processed in several ways:
A large area of lawn selected for planting grass and flowers must be weeded and treated in a 2: 4 ratio with systemic herbicides. This substance will completely destroy weeds. This method is most effective in early spring. A small amount of organic fertilizers is introduced into the soil, and after two weeks, it is completely cultivated from weeds.
Often, overgrown moss becomes pests on the site. In this case, the lawn is passed with an ordinary rake or pitchfork, and then a solution of mineral fertilizers with iron sulfate (in a ratio of 9: 1) is introduced into the soil. Moss is also well removed by liming, but such work should be carried out only during the summer period.
Lonterel-300. This is a unique modern preparation for the destruction of such pests as buckwheat, sorrel, plantain, dandelion, field chamomile. In this case, the agent acts selectively, without affecting the cereals already planted on the lawn. Lonterel-300 causes complete dying off not only of the weed stem, but also of its root, preventing the root system from growing.
Hurricane Forte is another powerful weed-handling helper. The tool is effective, and most importantly, it destroys even the strongest and most resistant types of pests for a long time.In addition, Hurricane Forte helps to loosen the ground, making it "airy". It is a pleasure to work with such soil in the future!
This is only the main part of the rules and methods for dealing with pest plants. When purchasing this or that remedy in order to rid your area of weeds, be sure to consult with specialists, study the instructions for the correct use of substances.
Video: weed control with herbicides
A neatly decorated plot with dedicated areas for planting various vegetables and fruit crops, with beautiful flower beds and a flat lawn is the dream of every gardener and gardener. But in many cases, homestead estates go to new owners in a state of disrepair. Despite the seeming complexity of the work ahead, you should not give up and spend money on attracting outside help. There are several simple and affordable ways on how to independently remove weeds from an overgrown area and put it in order without much effort.
Rammer
A rammer is needed to remove voids from the soil so that it does not sink in the future, and this can also happen unevenly. Only this technology allows you to make the lawn right. You can ram with a garden roller, a log of a large radius, with your feet. There is a vibratory soil compactor, but, as we found out, you can do without it by doing something similar to a vibratory rammer with your own hands.
The weather should be dry. It is necessary to trace the evenness of the surface, and if somewhere there is a hill or, on the contrary, a depression, then it is worthwhile to fill up the soil on top or remove the excess.
Preliminary work before laying the lawn
This is the most important and troublesome stage in the formation of a lawn. After all, the more thoroughly you prepare the ground, the better your future lawn will be. It is better to start activities in the spring, so that in the summer the herbage is properly rooted and strengthened:
In an overgrown area, you will need to remove all foreign objects (debris, stones, branches, etc.), uproot roots and stumps.
Then remove the weeds completely. For a more effective result, it is better to use continuous herbicides containing glyphosate (Hurricane, Roundup, Argument, Napalm), since it is impossible to select all the roots mechanically, and even small particles cannot be left - they will certainly germinate again.
The soil should be treated with chemicals at temperatures above 25 ºC in dry weather, without wind and only growing plants.
Then it is necessary to pour a generous layer of fertile soil and plow with it or dig up the ground properly to a depth of at least 30 cm, breaking large clods.
If there is excessive moisture at the lowest level, drain rubble or gravel. Dilute clay soil with sand, and sandy soil with compost. It is also important that the acidity is within the normal range: for lawn grass 5 - 6 pH. At an increased rate, it can be corrected by adding sour peat, and at a lower rate, limestone, dolomite or calcite can be added.
When is the best time to sow a lawn in the country
The owner of a private plot, who decided to improve the area with a lawn, is, of course, interested in when is the best time to sow lawn grass. Sowing can be carried out for an extended period. There are no exact dates for sowing lawn grass, it is better, of course, to sow in spring, but you can sow from early April to late October (depending on the region). The main thing is that at this time there should be dry warm weather. But at the same time, the seeds must be watered with a spray method so that they do not wash out of the soil and remain slightly moist for a long time.
Before sowing lawn grass in the area, check the weather forecast for the near future. The sown seeds are moistened until the lawn grass reaches six centimeters in height, since they do not germinate at the same time.The finely dispersed water supply for irrigation must be maintained later, so as not to damage the delicate shoots. In order for the seeds to sprout soon after sowing, a certain soil temperature is required. If it is not warmed up sufficiently, germination can take a long time.
There are three opinions on when to sow lawn grass correctly. Some consider September a favorable time, others - May, and still others - all three months of summer. The first ones argue their point of view by the fact that the summer is sometimes so hot that the seeds will simply burn in the hot soil, at the beginning of autumn the earth is warm and humid and it is these conditions that are most suitable for sowing lawn grass.
Adjustment of soil composition
Before making a beautiful lawn on an overgrown area with your own hands, you need to make sure that the soil used is suitable for the grass.
Green lawn grass grows well on neutral soils. Before planting, you need to find out if the soil is acidic. For this purpose, you can use a special kit that is sold in specialized stores. It uses a litmus test.
Using Litmus Test Source
See also: Specializing in landscaping and garden furniture
To determine the acidity of the soil, you need to put it on the ground and wait for a while until it changes color. The set includes a table by which, depending on the result, you can accurately determine the color of the soil.
If it has been determined that the acidity has increased, this can be corrected with lime by adding it to the soil. For alkaline soils, crushed peat is the remedy.
How to sow seeds of lawn plants correctly?
There are several ways to plant greenery:
normal planting of seeds,
laying roll lawn,
hydroseeding.
For the lazy, the third option is more suitable, the so-called liquid lawn. He does not need such a thorough preparation of the site. And spraying seeds with a special solution containing everything necessary for maximum germination, mulch, fertilizers, herbicides, requires less effort.
You can quickly get a green carpet using ready-made rolls. True, in order to properly lay them, you need to know the technology.
These methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. We will consider in detail the first traditional method, which is especially popular among gardeners. I like him more than others.
The most important thing is to ensure even distribution of seeds over the surface of the site. If you do choose a mixture of herbs, then first stir it well with your hands. Don't skimp on material. Refer to the upper application rate indicated on the packaging for a more dense coverage.
Sowing lawn grass is possible only in dry, calm weather. For planting, it is better to use a mechanical seeder, but in the absence of one, you can also handle it manually.
It is best to use the cross-sowing technique, that is, first apply the seeds along the site, and then across, to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm.
After planting, once again go over the surface with a rake, roll it again with a roller and water the area abundantly through a fine sprinkler. Watering the lawn in this way should be the first few weeks, until the bulk of the shoots appears. Spread mulch to protect seedlings from wind, washout, and bird protection.
When the stand reaches a level of 8 - 10 centimeters, you can start mowing. First, they make a light haircut, removing only the very top, and after the sod is finally rooted, you can proceed to a more thorough mowing.
To help you, we offer you a detailed video on how to properly sow lawn grass on the site. Perhaps, looking at the whole process from the outside, you will come to the conclusion that it is not so difficult to do it yourself.
How to clean an overgrown area
In accordance with the drawn up plan, the main points of development of the overgrown area are started:
First, they clear the area from surface debris that can be collected on their own - stones, sticks, branches. This work does not require significant physical effort. All unnecessary collected waste is piled into 1 - 2 small heaps. It is desirable that there is a vehicle access to this place.
After completing the first four points of the plan for clearing the overgrown area, they proceed to the next, no less important and voluminous stage - the removal of thickets from grass and weeds. Ways to combat them are divided into chemical, folk and agrotechnical.
How to clean an overgrown summer cottage with chemicals
The use of chemical herbicide preparations effectively removes all unnecessary vegetation on the site. Many summer residents and gardeners are increasingly resorting to this method in order to save time and effort.
The advantages of treating an overgrown area with chemicals:
guaranteed disposal of all types of weeds;
the ability to clean large areas;
drugs do not accumulate in the soil and are removed from it within 2 weeks;
selection of alternative chemicals, taking into account the individual characteristics of the territory.
Depending on how the herbicides affect the weeds, the preparations are systemic and contact. Systemic - when hit on a plant, they quickly penetrate into all its cells, simultaneously affecting the root system and the ground part. Contact - affect only the place of impact.
According to the direction of action, herbicides are divided into selective, destroying only weeds, and continuous, from which valuable crops can also suffer. The latter are used in cases where the soil in the overgrown area is very hard and it is impossible to dig it up with an ordinary shovel. Weeds with a perennial root system are also an obstacle to the development of the site with sparing methods and the basis for the use of such effective preparations as Arsenal, Graud bio, Tornado, Hurricane Forte, Roundup. These products get rid of weeds the first time. In rare cases, re-treatment with a dose increased by half of the amount indicated in the instructions is required.
The main disadvantages of treating an overgrown area with chemicals include:
destruction of not only weeds, but also cultivated plants;
the possibility of re-germination of plant pests, since herbicides do not destroy seeds;
the need to observe caution and use personal protective equipment, due to the high toxicity and the presented danger to humans and animals.
Weeds must be destroyed before the plants enter the flowering phase. For the treatment of an overgrown area with chemicals, a hot, windless day is chosen. It is desirable that, according to forecasts, precipitation is not planned within the next 10 - 12 hours.
The weeds treated in accordance with the instructions turn yellow, and after 2 weeks they die along with the root system. Then they must be collected and burned. The resulting ash cannot be used as fertilizer.
A few recommendations will help you avoid some of the main mistakes of removing weeds from an overgrown area using green manure:
Be sure to strictly observe the dosage indicated on the drug packaging. Incorrect proportions can lead to soil contamination.
In small overgrown areas with plantings of berry and fruit plants, it is better to do without the use of weed killers.Their use is justified on large plantations intended for planting crops such as pumpkin, potatoes, corn.
Digging up the soil before spraying will slow down the penetration of drugs.
The use of the same chemicals reduces the effectiveness of the treatment of the overgrown area.
It is possible to plant fruit and vegetable crops on the treated area only next spring, after plowing it beforehand. And in order to enrich the soil with useful elements and substances during this time, it is recommended to sow green manure, which will help improve the structure of the soil.
How to tidy up an overgrown area with folk remedies
Experienced summer residents and gardeners know many unconventional, but effective ways to destroy weeds using the available tools available in every farm:
Waste paper and rotted manure. Compost, humus or chicken droppings are evenly distributed over the entire surface of the overgrown area and covered with newspapers 5-7 layers thick. Newspapers can be replaced with thick cardboard. A layer of compost mixed with manure is poured on top. In newspapers, you can make holes and plant seedlings in them, for example, tomatoes, beets or strawberries. At the end of the season, the owners of the overgrown plot will receive not only the harvest of the planted crops, but also weed-free soil, enriched with vitamins and microelements.
Black film. The entire surface of the overgrown area is covered with an opaque material. In summer, in hot conditions, such a temperature is created under it that not a single weed can survive. At the end of the season, the film is removed, the soil is dug up and allowed to rest. Plants can only be planted next year. The method is very effective and even kills perennial weeds.
Alcohol. A month before the start of sowing, the soil is treated with ethyl alcohol diluted with water in a ratio of 150 g of vodka per bucket. Under the influence of an alcoholic solution, weeds begin to grow intensively, after which it is enough to weed them out.
Blowtorch. Before the germination of cultivated plants, all weeds are burned with a sliding flame of a soldering iron, which does not linger in one place. After processing, the area must be watered.
Soda. Spraying weed clusters with a strong soda solution will reduce the intensity of their growth.
Herbicidal soap. A composition obtained from grated laundry soap and the same amount of vinegar and salt is sprayed on the ground part of weeds.
You can spray weeds from a spray bottle with a product prepared at home from available tools:
2 tbsp. water;
2 tbsp. vinegar;
30 g of alcohol;
2 tsp dishwashing detergents;
1 pack of citric acid.
When spraying the product, care must be taken so that it does not get on crops.
How to develop an overgrown site with agrotechnical measures
Using available gardening tools and tools, you can just as effectively free the overgrown area from weeds. True, some agrotechnical methods involve the use of certain physical efforts, which is why they are not very popular with gardeners and gardeners:
Digging the soil. After all the grass has been harvested, it is necessary to mechanically cultivate the land, preventing the possibility of re-growth of weeds. In order to effectively dig up an overgrown area, the soil is turned over with a shovel, earth clods are crushed and fertilized with organic compounds. Usually, one digging to the depth of one shovel bayonet is enough. In rare cases, a two-tiered digging is required.
Planting cabbage, bush beans, potatoes. The distance between plants should be no more than 10 cm, between rows - no more than 30 cm. The leaves of these plants will create shade and prevent weeds from growing. Periodic hilling of the beds will also contribute to their effective removal. Bean tops can be added to compost after harvest. The site should be processed with a hoe.
The use of green manure. Rye, rapeseed, mustard do an excellent job with weeds. In autumn, green manures are cut and dug up, thus creating an excellent fertilizer for the soil. In early May, sunflower seeds are sown as thickly as possible. By building up the root system, sunflowers will take food from the weeds and they will not be able to survive. With the onset of autumn, the sunflower crop must be mowed, cut into pieces 20 cm long and distributed over the site. Once decomposed, the green manure will fertilize the soil and prepare it for planting new crops in the next season.
Mulching of row spacings. The cut grass, lined with a layer of 5 cm between the rows of cultivated plants, will not allow weeds to germinate.
These methods have proven to be effective and do not have a harmful effect on the environment. Thanks to this, they are widely used by owners of garden plots.
How to properly plant a lawn
If a place is chosen, it's time to start preparing the land (autumn is considered the best period for this). To do this, you will have to follow these steps:
clear the area of weeds, bushes, stumps and debris. It is difficult to do this manually, especially in a large area, so they resort to the help of herbicides, but very carefully so as not to destroy the useful rudiments of plantings.
dig the ground 20 cm deep, clearing it of stones and roots, and level the surface of the site.
apply the necessary fertilizers to the soil. For clay and sandy soils, peat and chernozem are used, for nutritious soils, only fertilizers are enough.
compact the soil tightly. Otherwise, in the spring you will see bumps and swampy areas that appear. Rollers, boards or logs are used to compact the soil.
The surface must be flat
The first steps have already been described above. You will need to find a suitable site, collect debris, remove weeds and fertilize it. If there is a need for this, then it will be necessary to make a drainage and irrigation system. After that, proceed to leveling the place. The site should not have holes or hills. If all this is available, then dig up the soil several times. To level it, it is worth using a rake. Before planting, compact the soil using planks or a roller. It is not difficult to make it using a pipe cut for these purposes.
How much does it cost to make a lawn?
The price mainly depends on the desired quality, since on the basis of this materials are selected and preparatory work is carried out. An important role in the formation of the cost is played by the specificity of the relief and the properties of the soil.
An ordinary sowing lawn is the most economical, especially if you do it yourself. In this case, you will only have to spend money on plant seeds, fertilizers and herbicides.
On average, one hundred square meters of grass cover will cost 20,000 rubles. For comparison, a hydroseeding lawn will come out about 1.5 times more expensive, and a rolled lawn - 2.
It should be noted that with any option, you can get an excellent result. A reasonable question arises: why pay more?
Site preparation
It is best to carry out the work in spring or autumn. The sun during this period is not as active as in summer, the soil does not dry out, and the conditions are more favorable for planting. The first step is to clear the area of debris, uproot roots and get rid of weeds. This can be done manually or treated with a herbicide. The herbicides need to be applied directly to the plants, they work for about 2 weeks. If you are removing weeds by hand, dig up the soil after finishing the work to remove the roots. This is especially true for areas where wheatgrass and dandelion grow. These are the most active weeds that easily germinate through ornamental plantings.
Siderata
Sowing green manure is an effective way to clean the area from weeds.
They inhibit the growth and development of weeds, suppress the root system. Any plant with a powerful root system can be used as green manure:
rye;
white mustard;
rape;
clover;
alfalfa;
oats;
sweet clover;
peas.
If it is planned to plant vegetables on a cultivated site already this season, green manure must be selected from unrelated groups.
The use of siderates is carried out according to the following scheme:
Cleaning the area from dry grass.
Plowing or manual digging of the soil with the removal of roots.
Sowing.
After a short period of growth, the green manure is mowed and put into compost pits or plowed the ground together with the plants. In this case, green manures are used as mulch.
In spring, green manure is sown several weeks before planting. Autumn siderates are harvested in spring. They optimize the acidity of the soil, facilitate its loosening and saturate it with oxygen. The use of green manure avoids the fertilization stage.
Typical mistakes when landscaping a site
Why is it that not everyone succeeds in growing a beautiful lawn? Let's take a look at the main reasons:
Incorrect selection of seeds.Often the importance of this issue is neglected and lawn grass is bought, like from a neighbor or from an advertisement, without going into particular relief, soil, location of the lawn, climatic conditions. The mixture may have excellent characteristics, but it simply may not be suitable for your area.
Haste when preparing a site, especially when leveling it. It is important to perform all actions in the correct sequence. After leveling the area under the lawn for the first time, be sure to let the soil stand, and then repeat the procedure to identify and eliminate possible irregularities after the soil subsides.
Lack of drainage system. Excess moisture is also detrimental to the lawn, as well as its lack. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. If clay or chernozem predominates in it, it is necessary to ensure an unobstructed outflow of water. Otherwise, you will have to constantly deal with mold, moss and bald spots.
Inhomogeneous sowing of grass. There is no rush at this stage either. It is better to spend an extra few hours when landing than to fill the empty seats here and there all summer.
Making the soil fertile
According to its properties, the soil, as a rule, is either heavy (contains a large amount of clay) or light (it is dominated by sand). Both soils are of little use for growing berries, vegetables or herbs. Both need to be adjusted to the required concentration with appropriate additives. Sand is added to heavy soil, and black soil and a little loam are added to light soil.
In all cases, the soil requires organic fertilizers. In addition, you need to pay attention to the acidity of the soil. Each individual site has its own proportions and norms of soil cultivation. You need to be prepared for the fact that you have to bring one or more machines of fertile soil or soil additives to the site. This will help not only to increase fertility, but also to carry out the final leveling of the site.
Stages of work
The lawn is not sown by dreams
After reading the information above, you most likely have already decided on what you want to see on your site. You may be leaning towards those options that require less maintenance. But you still have to sweat over the preparation of the soil.
First you need to choose the right place. Grass loves the sun, it does not treat shade and hilly areas well (for you, this will also not be very good, because it is more difficult to mow downhill). Therefore, an open area without trees and tall shrubs is suitable.
If the sowing area turns out to be low-lying, then it is necessary to organize a drainage system in order to remove excess moisture in a timely manner. If water accumulates, the root system will rot and the lawn will simply deteriorate.
Immediately think about what else you want to see on the sowing area - it can be paths, shrubs, flower beds, a gazebo or other structures. It will be helpful to sketch out a small plan so that you can clearly calculate everything.
After you have decided on the terrain, identified how long the site will be in the shade, it's time to choose seeds. You do not have to understand many different types, because there are already a large number of mixtures, here are the main ones:
sun-loving;
resistant to shade;
universal;
fast growing.
Next, you need to decide how much you need to purchase. In order to do this, you need to measure a pre-selected area. After that, multiply the number of acres by 50 g of seeds, that is how many of them go when sowing. Spare some money and additionally buy a few kilograms, which you later use for repairs or additions. But do not overdo it, if the grass grows too thick, it will clog the ground, make it too hard and the lawn will slowly die off.
The general rule for calculations is 15 g per 1 m2.
What is the danger of weeds?
Weeds can cause significant damage to a flower bed or lawn by inhibiting the development of primary plants or flowers. Weeds absorb moisture faster, drying out the soil, and take away nutrients from seedlings, preventing them from developing. In addition, such as field bindweed, wheatgrass and thistle produce toxic substances leading to the death of other plants and contamination of the soil on the site. Even fertile black soil may soon turn into a lawn on which it will be impossible to grow the most unpretentious flowers to care for.
The appearance of weeds on the site, such as field mustard or large plantain, can cause the development of fungal diseases in plants planted in a flower bed. Common dandelion and wheatgrass are great places for insect pests to live. Not only a green lawn can suffer, but also a garden with a vegetable garden, if they are on your site.
That is why it is necessary to know some rules on how to properly make a lawn in an area overgrown with weeds, and what methods of cleaning the soil from weeds are considered the most effective today.
How to properly plant a lawn
If a place is chosen, it's time to start preparing the land (autumn is considered the best period for this). To do this, you will have to follow these steps:
clear the area of weeds, bushes, stumps and debris. It is difficult to do this manually, especially in a large area, so they resort to the help of herbicides, but very carefully so as not to destroy the useful rudiments of plantings.
dig the ground 20 cm deep, clearing it of stones and roots, and level the surface of the site.
apply the necessary fertilizers to the soil. For clay and sandy soils, peat and chernozem are used, for nutritious soils, only fertilizers are enough.
compact the soil tightly. Otherwise, in the spring you will see bumps and swampy areas that appear. Rollers, boards or logs are used to compact the soil.
Clearing the site from trees
After establishing the exact boundaries of your possessions, you need to decide on the trees. It is not at all necessary to cut down all the vegetation on the vine and turn the site into bare prairie. Some trees can serve as a good decoration for the area and improve the appearance of the site. If the construction of a gazebo or the installation of a barbecue is planned on the site, then the shadow from a tree growing next to them will be a good additional protection from the sun. When the fate of the trees is decided, you can start felling. If the trees are thin, you can simply cut them down with an ax.
If thick, tall trees are sentenced to liquidation, then you need to seek help from professionals. Felling such trees is not only difficult, but also dangerous.Stumps need to be left high, up to 1 meter, this will subsequently facilitate their uprooting. It is better not to throw away the wood remaining after felling, but to cut it into convenient parts and fold it neatly.
Video description
A detailed video instruction on how to sow lawns After the seeds have been sown, it is recommended to cover them with a thin layer of soil. After that, you need to walk with a rake and make sure that they are filled up. Otherwise, birds will be able to eat them, which will lead to the formation of bald spots.
The indicated methods help on how to make a lawn in the country yourself. If it is necessary to process a large area, then equipment for hydroseeding is used. In this case, the seeds are sprayed under high pressure.
Lawn as part of landscaping Source i.
This might be interesting! In the article at the following link, read about mowing the lawn: the tools used, tips and tricks.
Where to begin?
How to plant a lawn correctly? After purchasing lawn seeds, you must adhere to the recommendations of specialists who will help you create a perfectly even surface. They include:
Land preparation. Here it is necessary to get rid of weeds or small debris. After that, the soil is dug up with special equipment.
Basically, a walk-behind tractor is used for this. This manipulation will allow you to make a loose coating for quick rooting of seeds.
Most of the soil is removed to accommodate the irrigation system. Experienced designers recommend choosing automatic designs. They will help prevent the soil from drying out.
A small layer of earth is laid on top of the communications, which is tamped using special equipment in the form of a roller.
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Now you can proceed to sowing seeds. To do this, you need a deep container, into which a small amount of planting material is poured. Sowing is carried out with a fan-shaped movement of the hand.
For even planting, you can purchase special equipment that can control the consumption of seeds per 1 sq. M. land. Typically, this technique has a higher cost. That is why many summer residents prefer to sow the lawn by hand.
When all the seeds are distributed over the territory of the site, we proceed to compaction with a roller. This manipulation will prevent the weathering of seeds during climatic cataclysms. Mechanical action contributes to the rapid rooting of the grass.
Then the compacted seeds are sprinkled with the remnants of the earthen substrate. Using a garden rake evens out irregularities on the gas surface.
The final stage will be watering. To do this, use the "sprinkler" nozzle. This part will allow you to gently moisten the surface of the earth. The photo of a beautiful lawn shows the finished result.
Planting grass for the lawn
To keep your lawn nice, even and beautiful, do everything according to the rules:
for sowing seeds, use a manual seeder or this method: mix the seeds with sand and distribute evenly over the area,
sowing first of all along, then across. Using a rake, loosen the ground and fertilize with a mixture of peat and black soil,
Moisten the soil using a rain diffuser hose for gentle irrigation.
Use means to kill weeds in the fall so that they have time to decompose by the spring.
Use our instructions and create your own lawn at home.
Watering and lawn care
Using a rake, mix the seeds with the top layer of soil. After sowing, the soil should be tamped using a roller. This will improve the conditions for grass germination. In addition, the seeds can be protected from attacks from birds and the wind. After sowing, the area should be watered. It is recommended to do this carefully and carefully. As soon as the first entrances appear, the site should be watered regularly.
Be sure to mow your lawn. These are the main conditions for caring for him. It is recommended to cut regularly, starting from the moment when the grass reaches 8 cm in height.
When to sow the mixture
It is best to sow lawn mixtures in early spring, in which case they show good survival rate. During this period, there is no heat, and the earth is saturated with moisture. If you missed the moment, then sowing in the summer is not worth it, it is better to wait for spring, when the rains have sufficiently saturated the soil. But do not delay, the lawn should have time to take shape. According to experts, one-year ryegrass germinates and emerges before anyone else. Other lawn plants do not grow as vigorously as possible. For example, if you sow a field bent, then the first shoots will appear only a month after the moment of sowing.
Rammer
A rammer is needed to remove voids from the soil so that it does not sink in the future, and this can also happen unevenly. Only this technology allows you to make the lawn right. You can ram with a garden roller, a log of a large radius, with your feet. There is a vibratory soil compactor, but, as we found out, you can do without it by doing something similar to a vibratory rammer with your own hands.
The weather should be dry. It is necessary to trace the evenness of the surface, and if somewhere there is a hill or, on the contrary, a depression, then it is worthwhile to fill up the soil on top or remove the excess.
Typical mistakes when landscaping a site
Why is it that not everyone succeeds in growing a beautiful lawn? Let's take a look at the main reasons:
Incorrect selection of seeds.Often the importance of this issue is neglected and lawn grass is bought, like from a neighbor or from an advertisement, without going into particular relief, soil, location of the lawn, climatic conditions. The mixture may have excellent characteristics, but it simply may not be suitable for your area.
Haste when preparing a site, especially when leveling it. It is important to perform all actions in the correct sequence. After leveling the area under the lawn for the first time, be sure to let the soil stand, and then repeat the procedure to identify and eliminate possible irregularities after the soil subsides.
Lack of drainage system. Excess moisture is also detrimental to the lawn, as well as its lack. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the composition of the soil. If clay or chernozem predominates in it, it is necessary to ensure an unobstructed outflow of water. Otherwise, you will have to constantly deal with mold, moss and bald patches.
Inhomogeneous sowing of grass. There is no rush at this stage either. It is better to spend an extra few hours when landing than to fill the empty seats here and there all summer.
Tips from experienced gardeners
To make the work of removing weeds from an overgrown area more effective, you should use the advice of experienced gardeners:
Refusal to use fresh manure. This organic fertilizer contains a large amount of weed seeds. If you allow the composition to be overheated for a year, it will heat up very much during decomposition, and all weed seeds will die.
Weeds love emptiness. It is necessary to plant all the free space of the site with cultivated plants, then the weeds will have nowhere to germinate.
Sealing landings. Plants should grow densely, but not crowded.
Regular pruning of the ground part of the weeds. The roots of pest plants will use up their entire supply of nutrients and die.
Processing of beds with a pitchfork.When working with a shovel, you can cut a large rhizome of the weed, and from all its parts, numerous shoots will soon appear.
Weeding by hand. Many pest plants grow from the top of the root. If you cut it down while working with a hoe, a branchy bush with several stems and a large number of seeds will grow from this place.
The use of drip irrigation. Weeds also need moisture. If you water the cultivated plants carefully to the very root, so that water does not spill over the entire area, the weeds will dry out. For the same reason, it is not recommended to use a hose for watering plants.