How to Get a Green Lawn in NJ

In NJ, a sprinkler system is a good start to keeping your lawn green and beautiful—but there are a few tricks that can help keep your lawn green even when your neighbors' lawns aren't. Here are our top tips for a green lawn in the Garden State:

1.  Water every morning – Regular watering is a must for a green lawn. Many people water only sporadically, or rush through it because they water by hand. A sprinkler system in NJ will allow you to deliver plenty of water at a set time every day, with no work needed. Set your sprinkler to go off in the morning and rest easy.

2.  Choose the right grass – New Jersey is a temperate region, which means we need a good blend of warm weather and cool weather grasses. Many lawns are just a single type of grass, meaning that the lawn only thrives for part of the growing season. With a good lawn blend, you can extend how many months your lawn looks lush and beautiful. You can take a grass blend seed and "overseed" it on top of your existing lawn, preferably in the fall.

3.  Maintain a healthy mowing height – Most homeowners cut their grass too short. Short grass minimizes how much of the blade is left, which makes for sun-starved grass. This in turn weakens the grass and leaves it more vulnerable to disease and pests. For green lawns, cut your grass about 2.5-3.5 inches high. Err on the high end for shady areas.

4.  Mulch your clippings – Fresh grass clippings are not yard waste – they're free plant food! Grass clippings (unsurprisingly) contain everything grass needs to stay healthy, and make an excellent natural nutrient source for your lawn. Set your mower to its mulch setting and let the clippings lie on the lawn when you mow.

5.  Keep to a regular schedule – Like all plants, grass adapts to the conditions around it. If it's cut on a regular schedule then it will start to grow regularly and become more resistant to insects, weeds and diseases. If you mow irregularly, it begins to grow in a spotty manner that leaves openings for weeds and pests to move in. Set a mowing schedule and keep to it.

These are just the basics of lawn care, but they can help you keep your yard looking great from early spring through the dog days of summer and all the way into the fall.