A lush lawn that looks like a thick green carpet is a thing of beauty—beauty you may only really start to appreciate once you realize how much actually goes into creating it. Proper mowing, watering, and other maintenance are one thing, but if your lawn currently looks patchy, thin, or brown (or did before the snow flew), you may need to get to the real root of the problem (pun intended).
Building a healthy lawn from the ground up (ha!) requires starting with the right type of grass for your yard. If the grass you’re trying to grow is fundamentally unsuitable for the location you’re trying to grow it in, then no amount of fertilizing, aerating, or maintaining will do the trick.
So, in this post, let’s go back to basics and consider the factors that determine what kind of lawn you should be growing:
Climate and Weather Conditions
This one is huge. Not all grass varieties are created equally, and you’ve got to select seeds that can handle the climate and weather where you live. In North America, lawn grasses fall into three categories—warm-season grasses, transitional grasses, and cool-season grasses.
Not surprisingly, cool-season grasses are the best option for Winnipeg’s climate and weather. These grass varieties are more cold-tolerant than their counterparts and grow quickly in the spring and fall. Common varieties of cold-weather grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and fescue.
Choosing climate-appropriate grass seed is a great starting point, but it’s not the only lawn success factor to consider.
Sun and Shade
Does your yard have full sun exposure, or is it completely or partially shaded? The answer to this question will narrow down the grass varieties for your lawn once again.
Fescues like some shade, while Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun. If different parts of your lawn receive drastically different amounts of sunlight, consider using different grass varieties by location or a carefully selected blend of seeds with varying levels of shade tolerance.
Soil Type
Testing your soil type can sound intimidating, but it’s actually a straightforward process and the PH of your soil can have a major impact on how well different varieties of grass will thrive. To perform a soil test, you’ll need to take soil samples from your yard and analyze them using a soil sample kit (which is available at most garden centres). You could also send the samples off for analysis if you prefer.
Traffic and Usage
The final factor to consider when selecting a lawn variety is how you intend to use your yard. Some grass species are best suited for decorative purposes, while others are robust enough to hold up to constant foot traffic.
Winnipeg Lawn Care
Now that you know what factors to consider when planting your lawn, you should be able to start planning for the lawn of your dreams. For reference, here’s a helpful chart that outlines the growing preferences of four common cool-weather grass species.
On the other hand, you could hire a professional lawn care company to do it for you.
If you’re seeking a high-quality lawn care company in Winnipeg, contact Cleanr Property Maintenance today!
