Healthy lawns make the world a healthier place. According to an estimate offered by the University of Minnesota, a 5-foot-by-5-foot patch of lawn produces enough oxygen each day to support one healthy adult. In addition to this, a lawn helps block noise and break down organic chemicals. It also serves as a nice place for friends and family to hang out.

For this reason, a thinning lawn may be a cause for concern. The following are some things you can do to rescue a thinning lawn.

Reasons Why Lawns Thin

There are many reasons why lawns do not grow as uniform as homeowners would like. One reason is low soil fertility. Other reasons include insects, lack of watering, disease, pet urine, and soil nutrients.

Homeowners may contribute to the decline of their lawn by mowing it too short during the summer and not giving sufficient lawn water. Many homeowners underestimate the amount of water their lawn needs to grow healthy. Just because there is a flash thunderstorm does not mean that enough water has fallen to penetrate the grassroots.

Recovering a Thinning Lawn

When a lawn thins, it usually does not thin in a uniform manner. There are typically bare spots throughout the lawn. If your lawn has random thin patches, you may need to re-seed your grass. This will be the most effective if you catch it early in the spring. You want to wait until the soil is warm enough so that the seed can germinate.

If you have spots caused by pet urine, drown the area with water. You want all of the adverse compounds to leech away from the area. Rake the area to get rid of debris and dead grass. Then, plant new seeds.

If the problem is universal, then you need a universal remedy. First, mow the existing lawn as short as you possibly can. You want any seeds you plant to get enough light to grow. You may need to thatch and aerate the area. Next, overseed the area.

Stay away from bargain mixes of seeds. They are cheap for a reason. They have less desirable grass types. Remember, you are looking to plant grass that is going to last for decades. It is worth it to spend money on higher-quality seeds.

Think about a mix with at least 50% Kentucky bluegrass if you live in a sunny area. If you live in an area with reduced sun or shaded areas, consider a mix with 80% fine fescues.

Before you spread the seed, carefully read the label. Determine how many pounds of seed to apply based on the square footage of your area. Depending on the grass you plant, you should expect to see sprouts in as little as two to three weeks.

Your lawn is an attractive aspect of your home. It can improve your health, provide a nice place to relax, and make your neighbors jealous. Thinning lawns can be recuperated with little time, effort, and know-how.

There’s nothing more satisfying than having a beautiful, well-maintained, lush yard. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to make sure your yard is in perfect condition. Keep reading to discover the eight tools that can help you make your yard maintenance work easier. 

1. Hand Trowel

A trowel is a simple gardening tool that looks more like a miniature spade. It can either have a slightly curved or flat blade. Trowels are useful when you want to move or mix small masses of soil or cement. You can use it to transplant flowers and vegetables or remove dog poop from your lawn. You can also use it to level your flower bed if you don't have a hand fork. When doing quick DIY repairs, use the flat towel to mix and lay mortar, among other tasks.

2. Gardening Hoes

Yard maintenance often requires a lot of digging. This could be for garden preparation, leveling mounds, or working a drainage trench. However, all these seemingly strenuous activities can become very simple when you use a simple gardening hoe. 

3. Sprinklers

If you have a green yard, you know just how important it is to keep your grass watered. This task can be very demanding if you're trying to cover the whole section with a watering can or a hose. However, having one or two sprinklers can make your work much more manageable. They get a considerable portion of your lawn watered in a matter of seconds. With sprinklers, you can save both time and water.

4. Spades

Spades are tools that have proved themselves very resourceful when it comes to yard maintenance. You can use one primarily for three things. First, a spade is a good tool for digging if you don't have a garden hoe. All you have to do is press it into the ground with your foot, tilt it, and lift the soil. 

Secondly, you can use the spade to mix soil or mortar when doing simple repairs. Lastly, a spade makes scooping easy. Imagine having to scoop dirt with your hands repeatedly to move a small lump of soil. That can be frustrating and will waste a lot of time. However, a spade makes it easy to scoop lumps into a wheelbarrow or bucket.

5. Rakes

Rakes are another handy tool that you most definitely need. You can use a rake to level the bumpy areas in your yard after a bit of digging. Cleaning your yard can also be much simpler as you can rake leaves and dirt quickly.

6. A Wheelbarrow

Wheelbarrows are efficient and simple tools meant to reduce your workload. For example, when carrying out yard maintenance, you might have to move heavy things around. These can include bricks, flower pots, and garbage bags. A wheelbarrow lets you haul all these very easily.

7. Hedge Trimmers

Keeping your hedges trimmed can be very difficult when you're using traditional trimming shears. However, you can use a hedge trimmer to achieve a neat fence. It also reduces the time and energy that you would otherwise spend on your fence. Especially if you have a big yard, a hedge trimmer could be a worthwhile purchase. 

8. Lawn Mowers

The beauty of a yard is sometimes determined by how well the lawns are manicured. Using hand slashers can be very tiring and inefficient. On the other hand, lawnmowers allow you to trim your lawn evenly and in the shortest time possible. You can also get affordable manual reel mowers if you're on a budget. Additionally, lawnmowers are much safer to use compared to handheld slashers and brush cutters. 

Your back and front yards need a lot of work to keep them lush and well-maintained. Having these affordable tools can make your work both easier and less laborious.