The very word "lawn" comes from the French language and translates as "turf" or "grass." Some gardeners prefer natural forbs, but this type of vegetation is not suitable for every place. Lawns are used for various reasons and for a specific purpose, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the definition of the term, the types of sections and other important nuances.

Lawn Definition

A plot of land with an artificially created cover consisting of herbaceous plants is such a definition of a lawn in general. Grass is created by the hands of specialists or experienced lovers. The grass at the same time periodically mows. As a rule, seeds of suitable plants are sown specially. Lawn coverings are intended for various purposes. They can serve as a background for other decorative plantings, be an independent phenomenon, decorating the space.

Varieties

In addition to the decorative function, lawns can be special, designed for specific purposes. And therefore, they are divided into varieties according to the types and types of herbaceous plants used.

Did you know? Roof lawns have long been used in Norway and the Faroe Islands. From time immemorial, lawns have helped to disguise a home, and it has always been very easy to look after them, so they find their application today.

Type

By type of use, lawns are divided into the following categories:

• decorative;
• sports;
• special lawns.

Decorative landscape elements are created in landscaping areas. And this type can be divided into subtypes:

• ground (uniform, front);
• ordinary (classic landscape gardening);
• flowering (or Moorish, that is, including cereals and flowering plants);
• forbs;
• meadow used in meadow parks.

Ground floor the subtype is suitable for areas in front of the facades of theaters and other similar architectural elements. The requirements for such a lawn are significant, the care is proportionate to the desire for an ideal appearance. Density of grass, uniformity of germination, low height are the main characteristics of the stratum subtype. For him, not only the most popular and convenient meadow bluegrass is used, but also red fescue.

Garden lawn - a common occurrence of cover. Lugovoi is somewhat different from the previous one: it is formed by improving the appearance and condition of natural herbs. The Moorish subtype is used in the same places in which the landscape gardening has been adopted. The main difference is the presence of flowering plants and cereals. Forbs are easy to care for. It should be watered and mowed more carefully, that is, not too short.

Sports lawns are arranged in stadiums, football fields and tennis courts and other venues for sports games. Strict requirements are applied to such coatings, since the sports lawn is experiencing significant loads. Herbal mixtures for covering such sites should be fast-growing, well tolerating drought and snowless winters, as well as with a strong root system and a high recovery rate.

Special lawns formed for airfields, performed on hydraulic structures, on highways, in sanitary protection zones, in industrial areas. Their task is to fix the soil, prevent the appearance of dust and general pollution of the environment.

By applied grass

According to the vegetation used, lawns can be divided into two separate categories: grass mixtures and monocultures. The latter type is expensive and special - it is used for sports grounds.

Did you know? The lawn near the Australian Parliament is the most “smart”: it is looked after by a high-tech system that irrigates all 4 thousand m².

Monoculture is a difficult vegetation of one variety to care for. It approaches a certain soil and requires the necessary lighting and watering. Monocultural elements can be stacked in rolls, and not just sown with seeds of a particular grass. The cost of a roll option is significant. Herb mixtures are considered in more detail.

This category is divided into several subtypes:

1. Universal. Growing fast, their price is low. You can walk on them. A constant haircut is required.
2. Wear resistant. Ideal for active entertainment. This subtype is sheared more often than others.
3. Elite. It is important to regularly take care of their condition: often water and avoid trampling. This lawn is characterized by juiciness of color and uniformity of seeding.
4. Sun loving. Resistant to heat and lack of shadow.
5. Shady. Designed for places with high humidity.
6. Frost resistant. They withstand winters with low temperatures and lack of snow cover.
7. Fast growing. Such a subtype is used to align and correct damaged areas. In addition to the actively growing herbs themselves, this type of composition includes fertilizers and stimulating trace elements.
8. Slow growing. The best option for those who cannot constantly care for the lawn, and especially to mow it often.

Lawn features

Not only the special decorativeness, grace and elegance of the uniform coating are its main purpose.

In terms of functionality and environmental impact, this landscape solution has other important roles:

• sanitary (air purification, sound absorption);
• wellness (oxygen production, relaxation, promoting the cure of allergies and respiratory diseases, anti-stress effect);
• environmental impact (filtering with rhizomes of water, combating soil erosion, protection against soil erosion, neutralizing phosphates and other elements);
• climate (humidification and cooling of the atmosphere over the lawn);
• recreational (rest and improvement of the psychological state of people);
• aesthetic (highlighted separately, since decorativeness, for example, in an urban environment, has a more expanded effect on human perception).

Lawn device methods

All kinds of options for organizing a landscape decorative or special element have existed for a long time and are used by people both in the garden and park space, and in personal areas - gardens, summer houses, house adjoining territories.

In fact, there are three ways to set up a lawn in a chosen place:

• sow seeds;
• lay out the finished rolls;
• use water grass sowing.

In the first case, the material is sown on prepared fertile soil. It is important according to the conditions to select varieties of vegetation (cereal mixture), correctly calculate the sowing rate, counteract the weed grass and regularly and accurately water the landscape area.

For private space, the best option is roll. To the fertility of the earth, this method of organizing the lawn surface is less demanding. Sizes of rolls are standard: 40 cm by 200 cm with a thickness of 2.5 to 3 cm and the weight of one finished element from 17 to 25 kg.

The third method is hydroseeding, which is performed by distributing the solution under pressure on the prepared terrain. This special solution contains both seeds with nutrients and water with binders. This type of lawn organization is expensive and requires appropriate equipment. It is used in difficult places (slopes of ravines and hills, large areas that are difficult to sow or lay in rolls).

How grass propagates

The main types of propagation of grassy lawn plants are vegetative and seminal. The last method of reproduction is used for the first time performed landscape decorative element. It is also used for sifting.

Important! To stimulate the vegetation of such processes, a vertical haircut is useful. It is precisely rhizomes and stolons that can be cut, so all shoots and roots grow more actively.

However, its effectiveness is possible when the seed reaches the soil depth required for germination (up to 15 mm), therefore, it is optimal to use additional seeding in trampled places, completely damaged or sparse zones. Vegetative propagation is more effective, especially if it is stimulated.

Separately, the types of grass vegetation in the lawn should be considered:

• tillering;
• reproduction by stolons;
• thickening with rhizomes.

When tillering, there are no vegetative shoots, but there is only an increase in the size of the bush. New rhizomes are not formed. The main species suitable for such a growing season is the chaff for many years (otherwise - English ryegrass). On stolons (shoots extending from the rhizome that spread along the surface of the soil) new roots are formed. So, to breed independently is typical for fescue. Similar processes - rhizomes - spread right in the upper layer of fertile soil. New rhizomes also appear on these shoots. The main grass is meadow bluegrass.

Essential care

Lawn care involves many important procedures. This is watering, haircuts, aeration of the soil, fertilizing.

Each item is considered separately:

1. A haircut. The first is very important. It is carried out when the stems grow to 10-15 cm. All mowed grass should be removed. Next, the green zone is cut 1 or 2 times a week (if weather conditions require it). When cutting, it is necessary to take into account the direction: first sheared, for example, from north to south, and then, respectively, in the perpendicular direction. The mowing height is 4.5–5 cm. After this truncation, the lawn is combed with a special rake.
2. Watering. It is produced after three dry days in the summer and five in the spring. Without irrigation, the grass loses its elasticity. For the best penetration of water, it is important to pierce the felt cover. Watering is important in the cool of the day. Optimum watering - moistening the soil up to 20 cm deep. On 1 m² apply from 5 to 12 liters of water. Frequent and weak watering are harmful, unproductive and lead to the development of rhizomes in a superficial form.
3. Aeration of the soil. The sod needs to be pierced to improve the balance of water and oxygen. When neglecting aeration, mosses appear, the bushes die off, because moisture and air are unevenly distributed.
4. Fertilizers Before they are introduced, the lawn is mowed, top dressing itself is done after the dew has gone, and after fertilizing the grass, it is watered. Further haircuts are done no earlier than after 3 or 4 days.
5. Features of leaving in the spring and in the fall. It is important after combing the snow to comb out the grass, repair damaged areas. From April to May they perform mulching, in these months they fight weeds and fertilize. In autumn, it is important to remove leaves from the territory, and then to completely avoid any mechanical impact on the surface.

Some types of lawns are suitable for experienced gardeners in any locality, while some are only suitable for special serious sites. However, everyone who wants to own a private space for rest and planting can learn to plant lawn grass and take care of it, following all the necessary rules and regulations. The decorativeness of the landscape element is not its only advantage. It can be very useful for the natural environment and human health.