How To Grow Grass

Lawn grass is about the simplest plant to grow so how come people find it dificult? I mean, really, what is it we're trying to do? Generally all we're attempting to create is a reasonably flat utility space that is easy to look after, something the kids can play on without hurting themselves and an area to sit down comfortably. Are you really attempting to create a bowling green? Nope!

So here's 6 simple tips to growing grass:

1. Lift your mower blades up. Most people mow their grass to short. Grass needs to be at least 2.5 Cm's high. This allows the grass to shade out all it's competitors (ie: weeds) and acts to conserve water. It also provides the lovely comfortable cushion of grass we all enjoy sitting and walking on.
   
2. Buy a mulching mower - they're only a couple of hundred bucks more than a bog standard mower. Mulching not only returns the nutrients to the soil but also helps to prevent competitor plants (ie: weeds) from growing. Never, never use a grass catcher - you're throwing away all the goodness in your yard. Always mulch your grass.
3. Don't fertilise (as much). That's right: CUT DOWN ON HOW MUCH YOU FERTILISE! If you mulch (see above) there's much less of a need to fertilise your grass because it already has most of the goodness it needs to grow. A light dressing of organic fertiliser (e.g.: Dynamic Lifter) once a year is more than enough.
4. Never, ever, topdress your lawn.
   
5. Never hand water. It's very tempting to hand water in times of drought and water restrictions but this only encourages unhealthy shallow root growth. Healthy grass has vigorous deep roots which source water from well below the surface. Grass with shallow roots die off as soon as the surface becomes dry.
6. Get yourself an automatic watering system (or get someone to install it) and ensure your grass is getting about 25mm of water per meter/week. Test by putting a can under the sprinklers when they're running and if you can collect 25mm in the bottom of the can it's the right amount of water.