As we enter another growing season, now is a great time to brush up on lawncare best practices. Remembering these basic rules of turfgrass care can help keep your lawn healthy and strong all year.
MOWING
- Mow at the highest recommended height for your grass species. This promotes a healthy root system which makes grass more stress tolerant.
- Never remove more than 1/3 of grass height in one mowing.
- Leave clippings on the lawn! They can return organic matter to the soil to help promote healthy growth.
- Keep your mower blades sharp.
IRRIGATION
- Irrigate in the early morning hours to help reduce possibility of disease.
- Do not overwater – 1 to 1 ½ inches per week is the typical requirement.
- One deep irrigation per week is better than frequent, shallow irrigation.
- If you’re using automated irrigation, be sure to check the zones for even watering, and adjust timers and schedules around rain events.
- Understand your soil-type and water accordingly. (Sandy soils and clay soils have different needs.)
FERTILIZATION
- Know the size of your lawn to ensure proper application rates.
- Refer to your grass species guidelines for the proper type of fertilizer.
- Apply when the lawn is dry.
- Watering in—be sure to irrigate long enough to move the product to the soil.
- The rate of application of quickly-available, water-soluble N- sources should not exceed one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in a single application.