Photo by Tommy Kwak on Unsplash
Love the look and feel of a golf course? You can replicate it to a smaller extent in your own garden with some careful planning and regular maintenance! Get ready for a lush, sleek look that you could easily play golf on. Here’s what you need to do to get the look.
Choose the Right Grass
You can do everything you want to get a smooth, manicured golf course look, but if you’re using the wrong grass, you’ll never get it quite right.
Do a bit of research on what type of grass most golf courses in your region use. Grass types vary according to climate and weather, so find the right grass before anything else.
If you can’t get the same grass as golf courses, choose something that’s durable, and that can be cut very short without damaging or stressing it. Different regions will have different grasses, and some may have hybrid grasses designed to withstand the elements.
Regular Mowing Is Crucial
You need to dedicate a good bit of time to mowing your lawn if you want to achieve that perfect golf course look, the grass should remain between ½-inch and ¾-inch in length and it needs to be consistent throughout your yard to give it that sleek appearance.
Reel Mowers Offers a Cleaner Cut
Reel mowers are excellent for cutting grass to shorter than an inch in height. Rotary mowers are less likely to give you that short, sleek look. However, reel mowers are more effective when the grass is already short and probably shouldn’t be used on wet grass.
If your grass is long, use another type of mower to tame it before getting the reel mower involved. It’s also a very good idea to remove twigs, stones, and other debris from the grass before mowing.
Use a Lawn Roller
A lawn roller is an invaluable tool to get that smooth, even surface that golf courses have. You can also use the roller to create that “striped” look that you see on golf course greens.
You might need to prepare your turf in a specific way to get the best results with a roller, so do some research on this before diving in.
Edge Your Lawn
To maintain that sleek aesthetic, edge your lawns to create a clean divide between the grass and the paths or gardens. This adds a professional-looking style to your garden, making the lawn stand out even more.
Pruning and Trimming
Your clean edges will go to waste if you allow your garden to grow wild! Keep all shrubs, trees, and flowers neatly trimmed so they complement your lawn.
If you’re hiring a garden service to do this, make sure they respect your lawn as well as your flowers! Otherwise, learn how to do it yourself.
Looking After Your Lawn
Once you’ve laid the right grass, mowed it, rolled it, and edged it properly, you’ll need to maintain it over time. Here’s what we recommend.
Reliable Irrigation System
Fairway grass is usually watered thoroughly once a week. Most golf courses choose turf that’s not too thirsty, but you do need to make sure it stays watered when it needs to be.
You can water it yourself, but the better choice is to install a reliable irrigation system with a timer so your grass can get a deep soaking on a regular basis.
Fertilize Your Lawn Regularly
Golf courses are fertilized every 2 to 3 months. Do your research on fertilizers and make sure you know how to use it properly. Fertilize as instructed on this timeline, and you can expect green, healthy grass year-round.
Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating might be the most confusing part of creating fairway aesthetics in your garden. However, it’s easy to understand. Aerating is the process of making small holes across the turf, which aims to improve water drainage, increase air circulation, and help improve the absorption of nutrients.
A lawn aerator tool is the best thing to use, or you can employ the services of a company that offers aeration services.
How often to aerate depends on the grass you’re using, so do your research. But there are some signs that show your grass is in need of aeration: uneven grass growth, dry, hard soil, and water pooling.
Minimalist Landscaping
Fairways are typically minimalist when it comes to landscaping. Cluttered gardens will take away from that golf course aesthetic, so try to keep things as simple as possible.
Garden Pathways
Create specific, defined pathways to prevent foot traffic on your beautiful grass. Define your paths using precise edging and natural materials like pavers or gravel.
Garden Lighting
If you want your garden to be a feature even at night, install subtle, soft garden lighting. Lighting alongside your paths and in the shrubbery can create a pleasing effect that keeps the aesthetic even when it’s dark out.
Water Features
Water features can add a pleasant element to your golf-course-like garden. Add a small pond or a waterfall-like fountain, which offer a calm, natural ambiance and complement your stunning fairway-like grass.
Add Trees and Shrubs
Choose your plants carefully. You want a garden that’s low-maintenance, evergreen, and as sleek as your grass. You might want to add some color here too, to avoid too much green. Steer clear of plants that grow wild or are difficult to tame. It’s also a good idea to choose plants that aren’t too thirsty!
Furniture and Seating
If you’re going to set up some kind of gardenware outside, choose furniture that complements the aesthetic. Simple, minimalist designs work best, and wood or stone will bring that natural feeling you get on the golf course.
Just make sure that whatever furniture you place is either easy to move indoors or undercover when bad weather hits or durable enough to withstand the weather without getting damaged.
Conclusion
Regular maintenance is the key to making all your hard work pay off. If you stay on top of watering, mowing, rolling, and maintaining your lawn, it’ll stay looking golf-course-worth for as long as you take care of it.
If you truly want it to look stunning for the long haul, limit foot traffic and set aside a specific area for your pets to enjoy outdoor time in. And if you want to be able to play a quick game on your beautiful lawn, install a putting green in one corner, get some golf clubs, and have fun!
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.