With a little know-how, maintaining a perfectly manicured, lush, green lawn over the summer months is achievable.

 Pamela Baltzer of New Leaf Horticulture & Property Care said the first step in maintaining a lawn is to start at its foundation - the soil. She said scheduled liming and fertilizing in spring and fall will go a long way in achieving a rolling grassy meadow.

 "Liming is always a good idea in Nova Scotia," said Ms Baltzer. "We have very acid soil naturally and a high degree of acid rain. What that does is over time it weakens the soil quality."

 As with all gardening, quality soil is the key to an attractive lawn. Ms Baltzer said without a good foundation for the grass to grow, the lawn won't be as green or as thick as it could be. She said to apply the lime according to the manufacturing directions in any area where the property owner wants "lovely, lush and green" grass.

 As a word of caution, Ms Baltzer said to keep lime away from blue spruce, rhododendrons and azaleas which depend on an acid soil to maintain their colour.

 A second tip is to sharpen the lawn-mower blades. Ms Baltzer said there are many reputable lawn-mower sharpening places in the area.

 "By keeping your blades sharp you make a nice clean cut in the grass," said Ms Baltzer. "The less tearing the better it is for your grass." She said having a sharp blade will not only help your lawn look its best, it will also help the grass remain healthy. She said the blades should be sharpened at least once a year but more often if needed.

 "It will become obvious to you if your blade needs sharpening. You will see bits of grass sticking up," she said.

 Edging the lawn with a barrier gives a clear division of a lawn and garden. Ms Baltzer said it is not only esthetically pleasing, it also keeps the lawn from spreading into unwelcome places.

 "When grass gets in the way of your garden ... it will absorb nutrients faster than the plants will. It not only detracts from the look but your plants as well," added Ms Baltzer.

 Ms Baltzer said during a dry season the grass should be left longer than usual. She said leaving the grass a little higher will protect the crowns of each blade of grass from getting burned by the sun.

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 "By leaving your grass just a half an inch longer than normal, you will be providing some extra protection for the crown," said Ms Baltzer.

 Golf course-style cuts can work during the early part of the season. But as the summer progresses, cutting the grass too short will dry it out and leave the grass vulnerable to bugs and disease.

 Mowing a lawn more frequently and leaving it a little longer has other benefits. Ms Baltzer said the practice will result in a grassy area that is easier to mow and less harsh on the equipment.

 "When you mow frequently you end up mulching the grass so it's less raking," said Ms Baltzer, noting cut grass that has grown too tall will lie on the lawn and create dead spots unless it is raked.

 When shorter cuts are left on the ground, it helps feed the lawn and replenish nutrients to keep the lawn healthy.

 "Large amounts of leftover grass is not good and must be raked. But small amounts of leftover grass will filter down and keep the roots cool during the dry seasons and break down over time and help feed your lawn," she said.

 Although the health of the lawn isn't compromised by not using safety gear, Ms Baltzer said whipper-snipping without eye protection is an accident waiting to happen. She suggested that shatter-proof glasses be worn as well as ear protection. In addition, a good sturdy pair of laced-up shoes is important.

 "We can't stress enough to people how quickly an accident can happen," she said.

 Ms Baltzer added that if over the summer the lawn begins to look dried out, keep an eye out for an increasing number of weeds or insect damage. She said if caught early, the problems can be corrected with property maintenance. She said depending on how far along it is, a professional may need to be called.

 "If you let it go and let it go and think it's going to fix itself, it won't happen," she said.

 Caring for a lawn can not only keep your property looking its best, it is a nice backdrop to enjoy the outdoors in your backyard.

posted on 06/14/11