You may love the look of a green yard but may wonder if that is a realistic goal for your landscaping.
Where Do You Live?
LawnGuru says that the ideal temperatures for green grass are between 40 degrees and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, although when it turns brown depends on the type of grass that you have in your yard. Warm-weather grasses, like Saint Augustine, Bermuda Grass, Buffalo Grass, Kikuyu, and Zoysia, are more likely to turn brown when temperatures drop. Cool-weather grasses, like Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Fine Fescue, and Tall Fescue, are more likely to become brown when temperatures get too warm. You can expect warm-weather grasses to start turning green when soil temperatures are above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while cool-weather grass only requires soil temperatures to reach about 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Nutrients
Grass needs to be getting enough nutrients to turn and stay green. While grass needs over 18 nutrients to thrive, three are essential. Grass needs nitrogen to grow, which makes it look green. Grass also needs phosphorus because it encourages strong roots to grow deep, which helps the plant get enough moisture. Then, grass needs potassium to help it combat stress. If you want your grass to stay green, you can have a soil test done. You can often get soil tests inexpensively at the garden store, or sometimes your local governmental agricultural service will provide them for free.
What Plants Do You Have?
Choosing the right grass seed can help your yard stay green. If you live in the Northern United States, then Kentucky Bluegrass is usually your best choice. If you live in the Southern United States, then Saint Augustine is often the top choice. That, however, is not always going to guarantee an evergreen yard. If you live in the South and get a lot of sun in your yard, then you may want to consider Centipede grass. If you live in a transition zone that is both hot and cold, then consider Zoysia Grass, especially if you get a lot of sun in your yard. One choice, however, to make sure that you always have the look of green grass is to use artificial turf. Celebrity Greens says that in addition to being hypoallergenic and requiring little maintenance, artificial turf stays green all year round. Keeping a beautiful green yard year-round is dependent on the weather, the number of nutrients available, and how much time you spend taking care of it, and the payoff can be rewarding. Artificial turf also makes a great green choice requiring very little attention after the initial installation.
So is it possible to have a green yard all year round? With enough work, yes. But the challenges of this will vary greatly depending on where you live, as well as the kinds of plants you choose in add.
Like this article? Then check out our article How Young Couples Can Keep Costs Down on Renovations
