If you’re creating a lawn for a newly constructed home, you may want to pay particular attention to the kind of soil that has been left behind after construction is finished. Sometimes the topsoil has almost been completely removed, and in that case you’ll need to bring in a good layer of topsoil for the entire yard first.

For most homeowners though, you’ll be using the same soil that you’ve had for a while. So the very first thing that you want to do is to test that soil. There are a couple of ways to go here, one being that you can buy soil testing kits at your local lawn and garden store to test the soil yourself. Another alternative is that many nurseries and garden stores will test your soil for free or for a very small fee, and often that solution will provide the overall best results.

One of the most important soil tests is the PH level of your soil. If your soil turns out to be too acidic, then you need to add lime, and on the other hand, if the soil is too alkaline, then you need to spread sulfur on the soil. One advantage of using a local nursery or garden shop as your soil tester is that they will often be able to tell you exactly what product you need to add, how much of it needs to be added, and then how often you need to continue to add more in order to make sure the lawn grows like it should.

Once you have your soil prepared, it’s time to decide on what kind of grass seed you’re going to use for your new yard. Often you can ask your local garden store for advice on what seems to grow best locally, or you may even wish to ask a few people you know that already has a nice lawn to see what kind of grass they use. Of course you need to keep in mind that how much sun or shade your particular yard receives will affect what kind of seed you need to choose as well.

The next consideration is when you should plant your seed. For those in warmer southern climates, you’ll probably be planting a warm season grass seed which can be put down in the spring. For those in northern climates, you’ll probably be using a cool season grass seed, and these should be planted in the fall for the best results.

Spreading the seed can be done either by hand, a broadcast spreader, or a drop spreader. If your yard is small to medium sized, perhaps the broadcast spreader will work best for you. If you have a very big yard, you may want to use the drop spreader instead. After this seed has been planted, be sure to water the yard at least a couple of times every day to help the seeds germinate quickly.

Other alternatives to seeding a lawn is to use either grass plugs or sod to start a new yard. There are some advantages to using these methods too, but keep in mind that they are usually much more expensive than grass seeding.

So in review, the steps for planting the perfect lawn are to test your soil, get the PH where it needs to be, make the choice of which seed you wish to use, spread the seed, and then water and care for the area as it germinates. If you follow these simple procedures you should wind up with a thick, beautiful new lawn that you can be proud of.

There are electric models for your lawn mower as well as the standard push mowers that everybody has seen. With powerful batteries, such designs can last for half an acre before it runs out of power and needs to be re-energized. These electric models are really quiet, good for the environment and don’t produce any noxious fumes. They lack the horsepower of the gasoline operated models and might run the hassle of being trapped in bushier places.

If you are a professional lawn care specialist, you might want to look into models that have reel blades that cut out in front. The rotary type is good if there isn’t a golf link to mow. The mowing blades are usually found below the deck below the seat and can give you some vibration. A good seat with plenty of cushion, however, won’t bother you.

You can find smaller riding mowers that will work with your lawn as well. The designs are basically the same as the bigger ones. The capacity and the size of the machine will be the main difference. You will always want more horsepower with your mower, but if you have a well-built machine, it won’t need as much horsepower to do a great job.

You do not really need much horsepower if your yard is flat and even. If you have a very hilly area, however, you will need a lot more. If you have a lot of hills, a lawn tractor will be your better choice.

A lawn tractor will have 10-15 horsepower and can work well. Considering that a car has 150 ‘ 300 horsepower, it seems that it’s a lot less energy, but you don’t need that much. You will pay more for more horsepower, just like with a car. Make sure you really need it first.

Prices will go up if you have a mower that can cut a bigger area. Lawn tractor blades usually cut between 38 ‘ 42 inches and can cut the lawn quicker. But you will probably be only able to cut your lawn 10% more quickly and the mower might be a lot more inaccurate.

You can get a garden tractor with 20 horsepower and up to 60″ mowing blades for a powerful, efficient machine. If you need to haul dirt or tree parts with an attached trailer, you can use this more efficiently.

You will want to look at the turning radius of the mower you are about to buy too. If you have a very low or even zero degree turning radius, it will cost a lot more. If you don’t have a lawn that is difficult to negotiate, you probably won’t need it.

Lawn care and maintenance is more of an enjoyable past time rather than a core activity. Consider these basics of healthy lawn care. While talking about lawns the first thing to consider is mowing. The frequency of mowing, the growth of the grass, and the lawn movers are all integral part in deciding a good mowing habit. Quite often small opening up of the soil leaving more space for the lawn to breathe would accelerate healthy growth of the grass. The lawn is to be sufficiently watered especially during large dry spells of summer to sustain the growth of the grass. Lawns need a good supplement of a proper mix of fertilizers with adequate nitrogen phosphate and potash.

If we go a bit technical, lawns require more than one annual feed. The feed for the summer need contain a nitrogen rich fertilizer where as an autumn feed should be rich in phosphate and potash with an adequate supplement of worm killers and disease resistance. For watering, the coolest time of the day, either in the morning or in the evening is advisable, the frequency being once a week.

A good lawn care management program includes proper weed control besides appropriate mowing and application of fertilizers. The basic mowing lesson includes use of sharp blades and regular mowing from March to October. Care should be taken not to move the mower backwards and forwards. In the case of new lawns, the first thing to be considered is to prepare a smooth and level ground by a tractor and box blade. As regards sowing the seeds they need spread in two directions preferably with a rotary spreader. The seeds are to be planted around thirty days in advance. Depending upon the temperature the seed suitable for hot season or for the cold spell may be selected. A healthy lawn requires more or less an inch of water during a week. Further aerating in spring is considered best for the lawns. The recent trend in the lawn care is the use of the organic fertilizers. These are environmental friendly and harmless to the plants. Literature on organic fertilizers is plentiful on the market. The cost of the organic fertilizers is almost the same that of the chemical fertilizers but the benefit stays longer.

The type of lawn care depends on one’s budget. One can afford to spend thousands of dollars should the lawn making is taken as a serious hobby. If, on the other, hand one needs a well maintained lawn to spend a few hours with family and friends the same may not cost much.

This happens to be one of the main reasons why people make use of a lawn mower guide. In this way, they can be assured of the fact that they are in fact buying something that is going to be value for money and might not land them in problems later on. In fact, buying something cheap might not necessarily be buying something valuable. On the same lines, you should also know that the best lawn mowers might not always be expensive and out of your reach. Sometimes, buying something that has been rated good might actually be financially viable.

Most of the lawn mower guides will tell you all there is to the lawn mower and different features of it that you should be familiar with. These guides will tell you information that the technical sheet of the mower might not otherwise provide. Hence, it is crucial that you be familiar with it so that you don’t make a gross mistake and end up buying something that you might run into problems with at a later stage. Hence, it is vital that you consult a good lawn mower guide before you venture out and buy a lawn mower on your own.

Another important reason that you might have to refer to a lawn mower guide is that these are mandatory in order to learn about the best lawn mowers right away, before trying the not so good ones and then changing your mind about them.

In many cases, people go by manufacturer’s rating when they are buying the lawn mowers. While this is not a particularly bad thing, it will not ensure that you get the best lawn mower right away. In fact, you might end up buying something that you might not be particularly fond of before finally buying something that is considered a good machine and can serve you for a sustainable amount of time.

Hence, if you want to get the best value for your money and also, the best lawn mower in the market presently, it is crucial that you know where to find them and also, the best dealer to buy it from.

Reputed guides will also mention where one should go in order to get good deals on the lawn mowers so that they don’t buy from a scrupulous dealer at a low price and end up struggling to get any kind of support from that dealer. In fact, there are a number of fake dealers as well, who you should be wary of.

Spring

It’s planting season and this could be your first chance to get into your garden. You should consult a nursery first because what starts out as a small tree will grow! The height of a mature tree is the distance it should be planted from your home.
Make sure your drainage is right. Grade your garden soil away from the home by at least a 50mm drop over the first metre. Don’t let water flood anywhere near your home’s exterior.
If you have agricultural drains it’s a good time to flush them. Just use a garden hose down the inspection pipe to get rid of any sediment.
Dust and dirt will settle on window sills, so make sure drain holes are cleaned and window tracks are occasionally lubricated.
Collect leaves from your gutters rather than hose them into stormwater drains. Consider installing a leaf guard.
Check waste pipes inside cupboards for leaks. A simple tighten by hand is enough. Don’t use a spanner to tighten as you may crack the pipes. Replace any leaking tap washers but remember to turn off the mains water first. If you’re unsure, contact a licensed plumber.
If you have a pest control system for termites, contact the pest control company for an annual check. If they uncover any problems, it makes sense to follow their recommendations. Termites are not to be trifled with.
When the clocks change for daylight saving, change your smoke alarm battery. Even though they are hard-wired into your home, a battery is required as a back-up.

Summer

It’s time to organise your end of season service on evaporative coolers. Regular servicing may extend the life of the unit, saving you a lot of money.
Check with your manufacturer for their recommendations. Also, a cover for the winter will keep birds from nesting in the unit!
If you have a coloured concrete or paved driveway, look at whether it needs resealing. These materials fade in the sun and keeping them in good condition maintains the value of your home.
A lot of people have touch-up paints left from construction. Keep them out of harm’s way in a cool, dry place. Stored correctly, they’ll last for a couple of years at least.
For brand new homes please don’t stand on window sills while you fit curtains. They’re not designed to bear that sort of weight.
If you’ve noticed any leaks, take action straight away to minimise damage. ‘Leave it until the winter rains and you’ll be very sorry!
Dust and dirt are a big factor over the drier months so don’t forget to clean drain holes and lubricate window tracks.
Outside ledges, vertical planes, mouldings and sills also need a good dusting.
Rainfall is always an issue so be smart about using water around the home. It’s not only good for our water storages, but good for your pocket. Remember, if you get a pool or spa for your deck, you need permission from the relevant authorities to fill it. Don’t water the garden, even by hand, during the day. You’ll lose most of the benefit through evaporation. Early morning or in the cool of the evening is by far the best time. If you make one New Year’s Resolution to keep, commit to using water wisely.

Autumn

Leaves, leaves and more leaves. The trees turning golden may be a beautiful sight but when the leaves fall, they fill up gutters, go into stormwater pits and drains in your garage. Any external drains are at risk from leaves and other organic matter, particularly when the rain starts. They can cause blockages in pipes causing water to back up and do potentially a lot of damage inside your home.
Autumn is a dormant period in the garden and it’s a good time to look at re-doing the mulch on your garden beds.
In early autumn, when the temperatures can still be quite mild, it’s a good time to clean the ducts in your ducted heating system to get ready for the first chilly night. Consult your instruction manual for the frequency of service required. This is routine maintenance that can avoid nasty clouds of dust blowing into your home after a prolonged period of disuse. It’s also a good idea to clean out your window tracks and ledges of dust.
If you’re moving in now, it’s probably not the best time to be looking at your garden beds. The key is to make sure no water puddles next to the home. This can be achieved by grading the soil away from the home. Don’t try to stockpile soil for the spring — weeds will grow in it. It’s best to buy fresh topsoil from a nursery when you’re ready to start planting.
This is the time when you should install weather seals to external doors, to keep out draughts and water during the wetter months. Homes that were built under five star energy provisions will have these as standard features.
If you’ve had light curtains up during the summer, swapping them for a heavier weight fabric, will give you a greater insulation benefit.

Winter

Everyone hates doing work around the home in winter, so you’ll be very sorry now if you haven’t followed our tips for the other seasons. Winter brings its share of hazards and the last thing you want is a blocked pipe. It’s a messy job to clear leaves and other matter, especially during winter rains.
If you haven’t serviced your heater you could find it is not as efficient as it could be, resulting in higher energy bills.
All those weather seals now come into their own. Draughts are not only bad for your health, but your pocket as well, with all that lovely heat literally flowing out of your home. Make a quick check in your ceiling to see if any duct work has come loose or fallen.
If you are using open fire places, always use a fireguard to protect your kids and stop embers popping out to scorch your floors. Any flames need your constant vigilance, especially around children.
If you’re moving into a home in winter and don’t have your driveway finished, there is help to stop you dragging mud into your pristine new home. A couple of metres of crushed rock, sourced from your local nursery, makes an effectively and inexpensive temporary path.
In the garden, check for weeds and keep lawns under control. Look for areas in the garden that seem “over wet”. This could be because of a blocked pipe, sprinkler fittings that are leaking or just a low spot that may require an agricultural drain to be fitted.
If you bring your washing indoors, make sure your dryer is adequately vented. Wipe down any condensation from the inside of windows or in your laundry. This is an issue with new homes in particular, where moisture is still coming out of the natural products that make up your home.

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