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Nifty Tips for Selecting the Best Fertiliser to Nurture a Verdant Landscape

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Although there is a myriad of landscaping design trends that you can adopt to create a visually interesting backyard, a fundamental starting point is healthy, green grass. But this does not simply entail the planting of seedlings and watering them. If you do not have a green thumb, you will quickly realise that grass can be one of the toughest plants to nurture! If the grass is not provided with optimum conditions, you will find that it begins to succumb to various complications.

Wilted and dead grass, for example, is a common problem that stems from over-fertilisation. Yellowing is another issue you may encounter, and this can be attributed to nutrient deficiencies. To avoid these and other drawbacks, it is integral that you complement your landscaping efforts with the right fertiliser. Below are a few nifty tips for selecting the best fertiliser to nurture a verdant landscape.

Determine your soil's pH

Before you can start planting grass, you first need to know the current pH levels of the soil. The pH indicates how alkaline or acidic the soil conditions are, and this will have an effect on how the grass thrives. Typically, grass species will thrive in soils that are neither too acidic nor too alkaline. Hence, the lower the pH levels, the higher the acidity of the soil, so more lime should be present in your fertiliser to add some alkalinity.

Alternatively, the higher the pH levels, the more alkaline the soil is and the more sulphuric content needed in your fertiliser. A landscaping contractor is the best person to balance out the pH of your soil.

Establish your preferred grass species

The second factor to take into account when engaging in landscaping to grow a lush lawn is to establish the grass species that you want for your yard. Although, as mentioned above, grass species will typically thrive in soils with a balanced pH, you should know that slightly higher or lower pH levels would be ideal for certain types of grass.

For example, buffalo grass is popular in Australia since it is a drought-resistant species that will not require constant watering. If you want this option, the soil pH should lean toward alkalinity, as this species thrives in such conditions. Kikuyu grass, on the other hand, is favoured for its fast establishment and wear resistance, but it will require somewhat acidic soil conditions to flourish.

Additional tips for selecting the best fertiliser to promote the growth of a verdant landscape include identifying the soil's micronutrient composition so that you can know how best to supplement your grass' needs and investing in slow-release fertilisers that will provide nutrients over a prolonged period rather than all at once.


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