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Lawn Definition

Lawn: Definition, Types And Differences

A lawn is an area covered with regularly mown grass and plants. There are two types of lawns – warm-season lawns and cool-season lawns. Warm-season lawns are lawns that thrive in the high temperatures of summer and go dormant in winter, while cool-season lawns grow actively in the cool temperatures of fall and early spring and go dormant during summer.

Lawn care is all in the details, and we take care of every single one to give you the lawn of your dreams. Contact us today!

When planning to establish a lawn you should have some basic knowledge about its maintenance requirements. You should be aware of the types of grasses suitable for the climate, what fertilizer to use and watering schedule to follow. To make this task easy for you, we have highlighted everything about the lawn in detail in this article.

What is a lawn?

A lawn is an area covered with soil, planted with grass and long-lasting plants, maintained at a short height with a lawnmower. Mowing is done regularly to maintain the height of the grass and plants. The lawns are used to add gorgeousness and can also be used for recreational purposes. 

Lawn grasses are typically divided into two main categories: warm season grasses and cool-season grasses. Warm season grasses are lower in sugars and starches, a preferred diet for feeding horses with metabolic conditions generally related to obesity. Cool-season grasses can be utilized by gardeners who live in cool climates. 

What are the Types of Lawns?

As mentioned above, warm-season grasses and cool-season grasses are the two main categories of lawn grasses. There are five types of warm-season grasses and 4 types of cool season grasses. Let’s first see the types of warm season grasses:

  • Bermuda grass:  It has dark green pointed leaves and a vigorous root system of rhizomes and stolons that spread out above as well as below the ground. As a result, it forms a thick and dense lawn. Bermuda grass must be watered frequently, but it can withstand being cut very short. Hence, reducing how often you must mow throughout the summer.
  • Centipede grass:  It has light green, sharp leaves. It grows using stolons therefore it spreads horizontally across the soil, making dense turf. Compared to Bermuda grass, centipede grass grows low to the ground and needs less frequent mowings. However, it’s not suited for arid regions, unless it’s watered frequently and consistently. It needs less fertilizer than most warm-season grasses, and it can hold out against acidic soil.
  • St. Augustine: This variety of grass grows slowly. It has wide, rough leaves with slightly rounded tips. It’s firm and heat resistant, making it suitable throughout the Gulf Coast, especially Florida. It requires to be watered often, but it can survive heavy rainfall that are common in the southeastern region of the U.S. The grass isn’t as cushiony and soft as some types. 
  • Zoysia grass: It has similar features to St. Augustine grass. It grows slowly and produces stiff and rough leaves. It usually turns dormant and brown during the extended cold-season, but it turns green again once the weather warms up. 
  • Dichondra:It isn’t a type of grass, but we have included it here because it’s a warm-season species that’s usually planted instead of grass in some western and southwestern states. Dichondra is a tiny flowering plant. It must be fertilized consistently, although it can be mowed just like grass to maintain a trimmed and neat appearance. Now, let’s see the types of cool season grasses:
  • Fine fescue: This plant grows fast and has fragile and sharp leaves. It can’t survive extended periods of scorching and dry weather, but it’s suitable for northern climates as it can tolerate temperature swings and performs well in both full sun and shade. Note that there are different cool-season fine fescues, so be sure to plant the one recommended for your specific region. 
  • Kentucky bluegrass: It is perhaps the most popular of all cool-season grasses. Several northern sod farms grow Kentucky bluegrass because it’s a reliable crop that produces healthy and hearty lawns. It has pretty dark green, V-shaped soft leaves, yet strong to bare foot traffic and lawnmowers. Kentucky bluegrass grows resilient and fast due to a robust root system of underground rhizomes. Indeed, it’s known to be “self-repairing,” meaning that it rapidly overgrows damaged parts. 
  • Perennial ryegrass: They have very thin, soft, and pointed leaves but are surprisingly resilient to foot traffic. It’s popular because it survives well in sun and shade, and it germinates fast and becomes established quicker than other cool-season varieties. 
  • Tall fescue: It can survive in hot, dry weather much better than other cool-season grasses. Its thick, rough, dark green leaves can live up to heavy foot traffic and mechanized lawn equipment. Like ryegrass, at times tall fescue grows in isolated thick dark green bunches.

How to Maintain and Care Lawn

The timing is essential when you are seeding new lawn areas, overseeding or thickening the existing grass. Plan it accordingly with seasonal grass growth and the best time to plant. Make sure to plant seeds correctly and avoid the usual grass seeding mistakes several homeowners do.

Provide proper nutrition to your lawn grass. Nitrogen is vital to keep your lawn lively, lush and green. Your soil test results will show how many pounds of nitrogen your lawn requires yearly. It is also based on its organic matter and other factors.

The figure mentioned on fertilizer labels shows the percentages of actual nitrogen and other nutrients it contains so that you can select the most suitable to your requirements. Be careful when feeding though, too much or too frequently causes more harm than good. Curate a feeding schedule that meets your lawn’s fertilizer needs and make sure to stick to it. 

1. Planting and Seeding

A healthy lawn needs proper seeding, best grass seed and climate for that desired look. Let’s see how to plant and do seeding in a proper way.

Prepare the ground with digging or tilling to a 3-inch depth. Remove the clods and smooth out the surface. Remember to include any contours needed for drainage and establish a finished grade. 

Now spread the grass seed as indicated on the packaging. Ensure even distribution and make a crisscross pattern by sowing half of the seed in one direction and half in another.

Cover the area again with a small amount of soil. Then, mulch with wheat straw to prevent the seed from blowing or washing away.

2. Fertilizers and Chemicals

Fertilizers and chemicals play an essential role so you should know how to fertilize your lawn with it. Add compost, topsoil and fertilizer and mix them into the soil. Start fertilizing around the perimeter first, this will allow you to fertilize the rest of the lawn without missing any edges. 

Feed in the middle like a mowing pattern, walk back and forth in a straight line while slightly overlapping with each pass. Once you have finished fertilizing the lawn, store the remaining fertilizer in a cool and dry place away from children and pets.

3. Mowing

When and how to mow comes next. Start mowing when the grass reaches 2.5 to 3 inches height. After you have mown it for three times, follow a regular watering schedule of 1 inch per week. After mowing for about four times, use a crabgrass control product to prevent the germination of unsightly crabgrass.

What is the History of Lawn?

Lawn is a European invention as the climate of Europe is mild, moist and supports open, close-cut grasslands. The history of lawn goes back to the 1500s. The word “laune” was first witnessed in 1540. It means an enclosure often relating to a place of worship. 

Lawns similar to those that are seen today first appeared in the 1700s. At that time, Andre Le Notre created the gardens of Versailles that consisted of a small area of grass called the tapis vert, or “green carpet”. 

What are the Uses of Lawn?

Lawns can be seen in private gardens, parks and public landscapes in various parts of the world. They are created to seek pleasure from its beauty, for recreational purposes, sports, outdoor activities, etc. Lawns are convenient as a playing surface because they provide a cushion effect to players in sports such as football, cricket, rugby, and many other sports. Lawns also reduce erosion and dust generated by rigorous foot traffic. The lawn clipping waste can be utilized as a constituent in making compost. It can also be used to feed livestock as a sustainable source.

What is the etymology of Lawn?

Laune was first witnessed as “turf, stretch of grass”, in the 1540s. It was known as launde in the 1300s that meant “glade, open space in a forest or between woods,”. From old French the word lande meant “health, moor, barren land or clearing”. It is also derived from cognate Germanic word and Proto-Germanic landam. In 1733, it was first recorded as “grassy ground kept mowed”. The phrase lawn-tennis is from 1884.

What are the Similar Concepts to Lawn?

Similar to lawn, there are other concepts you can choose to design around your house or any building. These are yard, turf, and garden:

  • Yard Definition: The grassy area around a house is called a yard. Many suburban houses have a front as well as a backyard. They consist of trees, play structures, gardens, bushes, etc. It is usually surrounded by a fence or other plants.
  • Turf Definition: Grass and the upper layer of soil held together by its roots into a thick mat. It is used for sports, residential landscaping, businesses, dog parks and gyms.
  • Garden Definition: A plot of land which is used to grow vegetables, fruit, herbs, or flowers. It is created to serve several purposes. For instance, to grow flowers for indoor beauty, bird and insect watching, relaxation, observation of nature and many more.

What are the differences between Lawn and Yard?

A yard is an enclosed area outdoors usually surrounded by fence or shrubs. Since it is the area that surrounds the house, it can be mulch beds, trees, bushes, pool, garden or a grass lawn, while a lawn is specifically the grass area within the yard. A yard outside your house can be completely a lawn area. 

What are the differences between Lawn and Turf?

A lawn is an open space covered with grass while turf is a layer of earth covered with grass and held by its roots. A turf can also be said as a part of the grass lawn. Lawn and turf both mainly consist of grass. There is a connection between a lawn and turf that is to have a healthy lawn, you first need to grow turf grass varieties to create a lawn to make sure they do depend on each other. 

What are the differences between Lawn and Garden?

A lawn is a piece of land covered with grass, while a garden is an outdoor area containing one or more types of plants and trees, usually grown for food, ornamental or decorative purposes. You can cultivate various species of grasses in your garden to create an excellent lawn. Contact Eden for quality landscaping solution! 

Lawn care is all in the details, and we take care of every single one to give you the lawn of your dreams. Contact us today!

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