Which lawn is best to plant on the site - requirements and types of grass mixtures

A well-groomed lawn is an integral part of the design of the local area. In order for the site to remain attractive for as long as possible, it is important to be as careful as possible when choosing the material for sowing. At the same time, many novice summer residents have a question about what kind of lawn is best to plant on the site. To achieve a beautiful and neat result, it is important to take into account a large number of features.

Benefits of a living lawn

When designing their plot, many summer residents prefer artificial lawn. Their motivation is quite clear. This coating does not require pruning or watering. However, it is impossible to compare it with a living lawn. Its main advantages of this natural coating include the following:

1. Freshness and coolness – it is much easier to breathe in an area with living plants. They help survive the summer heat. In addition, morning dew helps to further ozonate the air.
2. Safety - live plants often do not cause allergies in children. It is pleasant to run on such a surface barefoot. Therefore, a living lawn can be safely planted on a playground.
3. Compatibility with other materials - creating a lawn at the dacha helps to zone individual areas. To design walk-through areas, you should give preference to seamless rubber coating. To complement the space near the garage or outbuildings, it is recommended to use concrete pouring.

In addition, a living lawn has excellent aesthetic characteristics. However, many summer residents are sure that organizing such a space is too difficult. To get an accurate result, you need to take into account many nuances.

Types of lawns

Today there are a number of varieties of lawns that can be planted on the site. These include the following:

• gardening - also called ordinary;
• English - it is often called parterre;
• floral - this includes clover and Moorish varieties;
• universal - it is also called roll;
• sports.

Moreover, each of the varieties has its own characteristics:

1. Landscape gardening is considered the most common type, which is used in summer cottages.Of course, it looks less luxurious compared to English. However, such a lawn can easily be arranged with your own hands, without involving specialists. The main advantage of this option is that it is created not only to solve aesthetic problems, but also allows you to actively spend time. This lawn will look great anywhere. It can be planted both in the sun and in shady places. It is important to choose the right lawn grasses for mixing. Landscape lawn is easy to maintain. It is important to maintain sufficient soil moisture and constantly adjust the height of the grass.
2. English is considered very thick and of high quality. This coating looks very aristocratic and has an impeccable appearance. However, to obtain the desired effect, the grass must be planted on the sunny side. In shady areas, optimal results will not be achieved. Despite its impeccable appearance, the English lawn is characterized by a number of disadvantages. It is considered expensive to operate and requires special care. This coating needs to be watered and fed every day. In addition, it needs to be cut frequently.
3. Floral - an area decorated in this way will look impeccable. She does not require complex care. At the same time, the Moorish variety is suitable exclusively for decorating a site, while the clover variety is capable of withstanding increased loads. However, coatings also have disadvantages. Thus, a Moorish lawn can resemble an unkempt flower garden. When the flowers fade, it looks untidy. A clover lawn can grow too quickly and resemble weeds.
4. Rolled – also called universal. This option is considered very convenient, but it cannot be called cheap.This variety is a natural cut cover that includes perennial grasses. It is grown using a special technology that allows the grass to be cut and grown in other areas. The universal variety has many advantages. It can be used within 2 weeks after installation. In addition, no weeds grow here in the first year. This coating perfectly withstands frost and drought. In addition, it is almost impossible to trample it. The only disadvantage of the coating is its high cost. To save money, you can try to lay the lawn yourself, without turning to specialists.
5. Sports - this type is suitable for decorating a playground or place for active leisure. A distinctive feature of this type of lawn is that it contains persistent grasses that can quickly recover. Such sites are characterized by a particularly rigid base. When designing a space, it is necessary to take into account what kind of sport you plan to practice there.

Which herb to choose

Today there are many grass mixtures on sale that are characterized by unique properties. When choosing seed material, first of all, it is worth considering the climate of the region. The composition of the soil and lighting parameters are of no small importance. The most popular options include the following types of grass mixtures:

1. Universal – these seeds germinate perfectly. They germinate almost immediately after sowing. These grasses are resistant to various environmental conditions and help control growing weeds.
2. From forbs - this type of mixture helps to obtain a meadow lawn. This grass surface looks fresh and original. In this case, the mixture often includes high and low plant varieties.
3. Sports - these seeds are perfect for decorating lawns at stadiums and playgrounds for children. The finished coatings are unpretentious and resistant to mechanical factors.
4. Elite - such a composition may require specific environmental conditions and a large number of care procedures. Grass surfaces made from elite mixtures have high decorative qualities and can decorate any area.

Crops such as red fescue, white clover, and meadow grass are often used to decorate lawns. Such plants are able to tolerate moderate loads and have a high ability to recover.

How to make a lawn with your own hands

If you properly prepare the site from autumn to spring, you will need to perform simple steps. It is important to carry out work in calm weather. So, to plant a lawn, it is recommended to do the following:

1. The day before planting, water the area well.
2. Loosen the soil using a fan rake.
3. If there are large clods of earth, compact the soil with a roller. Thanks to this, the seeds will not erode or be washed away during watering. It is desirable that the soil remains loose and crumbly. In this case, the bed should be level.
4. Mix the seeds with dry sand. Thanks to this, they will lie more evenly on the ground surface. When determining the amount of seed, you should focus on the standards indicated on the packaging.
5. Plant the grass by hand or use a special seeder. It is necessary to place grains in different directions, moving along and across the site.
6. Rake the seeds into the soil. It is important that the seed is not left on an open surface.
7. Sprinkle the soil with peat mixture.This layer should not exceed 1 centimeter.
8. Compact the bed with a garden roller.
9. Water the area with a fine stream of water.

Aftercare

To ensure the normal development of lawn grass, it is important to provide it with complete and high-quality care.

Watering and fertilizing

In order for the seeds to germinate quickly and evenly, they need to be well watered. To do this, it is recommended to install an automatic irrigation system. The first time you need to mow the grass is when it reaches 8-10 centimeters. To do this, you need to use a trimmer or lawn mower with sharp blades. In this case, you need to cut 1-2 centimeters of grass at minimum speed. After 3-4 weeks, the grass is shortened to 5 centimeters per hectare. In this case, you need to leave the standard height, which is 4 centimeters.

If fertile soil was used at the site preparation stage, you will only need to feed the lawn in the fall. Nutrients must be added to the depleted substrate at planting. Usually, mineral fertilizers are used for this, which have a prolonged effect.

Scarification

This procedure improves the development of the lawn. Scarification is performed with conventional rakes or special devices. They need to walk across the lawn, removing dry grass. At the same time, the soil is loosened. Thanks to scarification, it is possible to renew the grass cap and make the turf layer stronger.

The spring procedure is recommended for lawns older than 5 years. In the fall, this is done on two-year-old lawns. By getting rid of old grass, the root system receives more oxygen, and the above-ground part grows dense greenery well.

Deoxidation

Cereal crops can hardly tolerate increased soil acidity. Therefore, when arranging a lawn yourself, the soil needs deoxidation. For this purpose, it is recommended to use dolomite flour, observing the following standards:

• in heavy clay soil it is worth adding 400-500 grams of the substance per 1 square meter - this should be done every year;
• in light soil, it is enough to add 200-250 grams of the product per 1 square meter - this is done 2 times every 2-4 years.

Aeration

When arranging a lawn, it is important to take into account that after 3-5 years, dense turf will require aeration. To saturate the root system with oxygen, you need to use a regular pitchfork or a special aerator. It is recommended to make punctures in areas of stagnant water, bald spots or yellowing grass. On lawns older than 5 years, the procedure should be carried out twice a year - in spring and autumn.

Possible problems

When growing a lawn on their own, beginning gardeners often make the following mistakes:

1. Wrong choice of seeds. In this case, you should not count on the appearance of friendly shoots. When choosing seed, it is worth taking into account climatic conditions. For example, not all plants are able to develop normally in the shade. It is also worth taking into account the intensity of use of the site. A sports lawn can withstand loads, while a ground floor is best admired from afar.
2. Wrong choice of location for the lawn. Grass must be planted on a perfectly flat surface. When placing plants in lowlands, stagnant moisture will lead to rotting of the root system. A sufficient amount of light is important. When planting grass in the shade, it will stretch out and turn pale.
3. Improper soil preparation.Before planting the lawn, the soil must be compacted well. It is recommended to do this in advance. Thanks to this procedure, it will be possible to obtain friendly shoots. In addition, the plants will not lift the soil with their roots.
4. Lack of an organized watering system. Of course, experienced gardeners recommend using an automatic soil moisture system. This is very convenient, especially if you are planning a summer vacation. In addition, this system will be needed in the hot summer. You can also purchase a hose and moisten the soil yourself. However, you need to be prepared for the fact that you will need to do this every day.

Creating a lawn yourself is considered a difficult task. To get an impeccable result, it is important to take into account a number of features and nuances - choose the right place and herbal mixture, carry out planting work correctly and provide the plants with careful care.