Wednesday, June 5, 2002

Yearning for the green, green grass of home?

You might need more than just a little water

Even after watering your grass day after day, you might wonder why your lawn isn't maintaining its optimal lush green color. That's because lawns need more than just water for maximum color saturation and stress relief.

Like the human body, which requires a balanced diet chock-full of vitamins and minerals, your lawn requires a variety of nutrients to maintain its deep color, as well as a solid root structure.

A good fertilizer will provide much of that nutrition. Yet, who wants to mow their lawn every other day to keep up with the excess growth that will be stimulated by most fertilizers? And especially during the dog days of summer when temperatures peak, it's not good to promote all that blade growth without supporting the roots.

For optimum results that rival some of this country's premiere golf course greens, be sure your lawn gets the iron it needs. Lawn revitalizers, like PerkUp by Greenview, are high in iron. However, they are low in nitrogen, so they don't promote excessive growth, which means no additional mowing!

One application of granular PerkUp adequately watered in will green up lawns within as little as 48 hours and keep them greener than the neighbors' for as long as six weeks. And, with no worries of buildup, you can reapply as often as desired to maintain a lawn that's sure to turn your neighbors green with envy.

In addition to iron, PerkUp also includes potassium, a vital ingredient needed to strengthen roots, and magnesium, which is included for better micronutrient balance. PerkUp has been used by leading golf courses in this country for years to green up fairways and greens prior to tournaments, as well as at major sports stadiums. It has only been made available to consumers through neighborhood lawn and garden centers in the past year. Its restorative ingredients are also ideal for use with various acid-loving plants, such as azaleas and rhododendron, to help leaves maintain their deep color.

For maximum effectiveness, lawn revitalizers like PerkUp should be applied early in the growing season late spring or early summer, depending on the region and current weather conditions. The goal is to start enhancing root development before the heat and droughts hit.

Of course, watering is still always a good idea regardless of the weather (remember it's not just during the hot, dry months that lawns crave moisture). Also keep in mind that frequent watering for short periods of time can actually hurt your lawn by not allowing enough water to reach the roots. Instead, water your lawn once a week for about four hours, allowing the water to seep deeply into the soil to promote maximum root growth.

But with all the water bans in place during summer heat and drought periods, your lawn will still benefit most with a lawn revitalizer that helps you get the most out of your soil with a minimum amount of nutrients and water.

Other tips for maintaining the "green, green grass of home" include:

Mow grass regularly at the highest setting so blades are not as susceptible to damage.

Recycle grass clippings, since these contain vital nutrients and can act like free fertilizer.

Control weeds so they don't compete with blades for the water and nutrients that are in the soil.

If your lawn still turns brown after following these steps, consider having your soil tested for disease or insect infestation.

For more information on how you can perk up your lawn this season, visit www.lebsea.com or call 800/532-0090, ext. 214.

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