Frustrated with a yard that never seems to thrive? Clemson University expert Samantha McGaha Brown ’18 is here to help. Working out of the Anderson County Cooperative Extension Office, Brown’s specialties as a horticulture agent include seasonal landscape maintenance and soil care.
While there’s no simple solution to a consistently green lawn, Brown lends her expertise with the following tips and tricks that just might help you eventually make patchy grass and stubborn weeds a thing of the past.
1. Proper turf selection is a must
We all want to win yard of the month, and the start of that is knowing the best turf type for your location. Deciding which type of grass to use depends on the environment around you. Things to consider include sunlight exposure, soil type, irrigation and maintenance expectations. Depending on drought conditions, heat and heavy traffic, some turf types may work better than others.
2. Soil health matters
Like visiting the doctor for an annual checkup, soil needs an annual assessment. All plants take up nutrients from the soil to flourish, and a soil test can show if it is lacking or excessive in a particular nutrient, both of which can be detrimental to some plants. Clemson’s Soil Lab is a great resource for the University and South Carolina. A $6 soil sample test is more beneficial than spending money on fertilizers that may be deemed unnecessary.
3. Healthy turf matters, too
Weeds are often a symptom, not the main problem. Healthy turf is maintained through balanced fertility, proper mowing practices, deep and infrequent irrigation, and healthy soil. Using these cultural controls will help cut down on weed pressure, disease and pest problems.
4. Work with the seasons
Timing plays a critical role throughout our calendar year when deciding the best time to fertilize, seed, aerate and apply weed control. There are specific windows depending on your turf type and climate, and soil temperatures help us determine when these actions need to take place. Taking these actions at the wrong time of year can sometimes do more harm than good.
5. Consider the alternatives
Not every area of your landscape is meant to be turf. Heavy shade, steep slopes and low-traffic areas may perform better with mulch, groundcovers or ornamental beds. Reducing turf to allow more natural areas can also benefit our pollinators and create a more sustainable landscape overall.
6. Be patient
Every lawn will face challenges. Dormancy, color change, slower growth and minor imperfections are normal. Mother Nature also plays a major factor in these changes, so striving for a lawn that looks perfect year-round can often lead to overworked and stressed grass. A green lawn will take time, effort and dedication throughout the year. At the end of the day, it all depends on your expectations of what a lawn should look like.
