The Best Products for Growing Grass

Fertilizer

• Lawn fertilizer benefits grass. It keeps grass growing green, encourages thick foliage and helps prevent gaps or bare spots. It lowers the risk of your lawn contracting a disease. It boosts root development, making grass more drought resistant. When it comes to lawn fertilizers, there are two options: fast-release and controlled-release fertilizer. Fast-release fertilizer, such as ammonium nitrate- or urea-based fertilizer, provides the fastest response and is cheap. However, it needs frequent applications and increases the chance of nitrogen burns. Controlled-release fertilizer, such as sulfur-coated urea, won't burn grass and encourages a more uniform, even grass growth. However, it costs more and takes longer to work. The best nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium ratios for healthy lawns are grass fertilizers labeled as 3:1:2 and 4:1:2, according to the University of Illinois.

Lawn Mower

• A lawn mower encourages proper root network development, keeps grass growing thick and reduces the risk of foliar diseases, such as mold and fungus infestations. Regularly mow grass and trim it at the height recommended for the specific grass species. Never mow your grass to more than a third of its leaf blade length.

Dethatcher

• Lawns build up thatch in time. Thatch is the layer of dead grass beneath the green surface. Thatch retards water absorption and harbors pests and disease. Regular dethatching using a power dethatcher, available for rent from many garden stores and nurseries, or a dethatching rake is critical. New Mexico State University recommends dethatching whenever the thatch layer is 1/2 inch or thicker.

Water

• Focus on infrequent deep watering rather than frequent shallow watering. The latter causes the grass to develop shallow roots, making it susceptible to drought stress. Use enough irrigation to moisten the soil at a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Then, hold off on watering until your grass shows slight signs of drought stress, including the curling of the leaf blades and a slightly bluish hue. After several watering sessions, you'll get to know the relative frequency that your climate and soil type needs to keep your grass well hydrated.