The importance of grass and how to look after your lawn.

Grass. It’s everywhere. It’s our garden carpet, it lines our paths, it cushions our children’s falls, it covers sports fields, it’s what makes a park a park, it feeds our livestock and yet grass is taken for granted on a daily basis.

Grasslands cover a massive 1/4 of the earth’s land area with over 9,000 different species carpeting mountain peaks, polar regions, savannahs, jungles and making our planet liveable.

Although we do not eat grass, without it, we would lose a massive food source. We can thank grass for the production of rice, corn, oats, sugar, bread, alcohol and so much more. Without grass, many animals would cease to exist.

Amazing Truth About Grass.

Fortunately for us, grass is highly sustainable and practically impossible to destroy. It doesn’t matter whether grass is cut, eaten, flooded, burnt or scorched; the roots will revitalise the grass time and time again.

Despite us not actually eating grass in its basic form, grass is one of our top natural resources and is invaluable to sustaining our love for eating meat, eggs, cheese, yoghurt and milk by providing cattle, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits and poultry with essential nutrients to survive.

Furthermore, grass is Mother Nature’s natural remedy against soil erosion caused by heavy rainfall and high winds. Soil erosion has a massive impact on our natural environment causing crops, farmlands and structures to wash away resulting in the land losing vital nutrients, minerals and fertility.

How To Look After Your Grass.

If you give your grass the love and care that it deserves, you will be rewarded with a luscious green  blanket of blades and be the envy of your neighbourhood. Here’s how;

• Fertilise. A good organic fertiliser will encourage grass growth, ward off weeds and decrease moisture loss from the soil resulting in a healthy, thick lawn.  The best time of the year to fertilise is spring as it prepares the grass for the summer heat and gets it ready for an increase of use.
• Mow. Remember that grass uses its blades to transform sunlight into energy allowing the roots to grow stronger producing more grass. With this in mind, never mow your lawn too short. You should aim to have your grass about 5cm tall in spring, and about 10cm in summer so that it gains enough sunlight to feed on but also protects the soil from the heat. Mow weekly taking off very little to see instant success.
• Spread the Clippings. When you’ve finished mowing your lawn, lightly sprinkle the clippings around to promote moisture and growth. The grass waste works as a natural fertiliser and feeds essential nutrients back into the soil.
• Weed. Weeds compete with grass for the nutrients in the soil and can quickly take over your lovely lawn. Eliminate weeds from the root by using a trowel or small fork to give your lawn the best possible chance at being healthy.
• Water. Usually natural rainfall is sufficient enough for healthy lawn growth, however if you are experiencing a dry spell, make sure you water your garden every few days. For best results, do this either early in the morning or later in the day when it is cooler. Watering your grass in extreme sunlight and heat can have very negative effects.

Look after your lawn and your lawn will look luscious.