Why The Grass Appears Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence

We gardeners can be a jealous lot. We look over the fence at our neighbor’s lawns and they often look greener and nicer than our lawn. We also like to brag, and there are many gardeners who look over the fence and feel their own lawn is much nicer and better kept than the one next door. Which one are you?

If your neighbor’s lawn looks greener and brighter, you are probably wondering why. There are many reasons, although the main ones include the preparation of the soil when that lawn was first grown and the type of grass grown. Some grasses grow much better in some regions than others, and often, it requires a good mix of grass types to grow the best lawn. There are also simpler reasons such as sunshine – speaking of fences, does your fence put your lawn in the shade in the afternoon while your neighbor’s lawn receives the full sun?

Weed control, watering, mowing and fertilizing are other areas that should be considered along with annual chores such as overseeding, de-thatching and aerating. These all come together to help produce good quality lawns. If you’re over zealous in any of these areas, or negligent, then your lawn is not going to look as good as your neighbor’s.

Put in place a good routine of watering and mowing, mulching your lawn regularly, and controlling weeds at every opportunity and you will be on the road to a good lawn. Repair damaged lawns as soon as you notice problems, and aerate at least annually and your lawn will show its appreciation. There are many reasons why a neighbor’s lawn may look better than yours, and we can only surmise without seeing both lawns. However, there is one suggestion that is always worth trying – simply ask your neighbor how they have been able to achieve such a great lawn. They’ll appreciate the compliment right away, and if they are in the bragging group of gardeners, they’ll be only to pleased to tell you.