The Truth About Lawn Care

Water

• The correct balance of watering techniques will keep your lawn vibrant and green without causing damage. Too much water on your lawn will make grass more susceptible to disease, so wait until early morning, between 4 and 8 a.m. to water your lawn. Early morning sun will quickly dry excess water off leaves to decrease the risk of contracting diseases. During the summer you will need to apply as much as 1 inch of water each day to keep your lawn green. However, you should discontinue watering and allow your lawn to grow dormant and turn brown during extreme, extended droughts, per advice offered by Cornell University experts.

Fertilizer

• Avoid fertilizing lawns in late winter, spring or summer, when fertilizer may cause excessive blade growth that can result in long-term damage to grass roots. Reserve fertilizer application for fall, from mid-August until two weeks after the final mowing. Fertilizing in fall allows grass roots to develop stronger reserves and deeper root system to better survive winter weather and get a jump-start on spring.

Thatch

• Many homeowners use lawn mower bags or take time to rake their yards to remove yard clippings in attempts to prevent the build-up of thatch. Thatch occurs as a build-up of living and dead grass that intertwines between the stems and blades of live grass. Too much thatch will damage yards by suffocating root systems and preventing roots from receiving the sunlight and water they need to thrive. Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that grass clippings cause excessive thatch. Mowing only one-third of the grass’ height and using a mulching mower will distribute small amounts of grass with high moisture counts over the lawn. These small pieces of grass with water contents between 75 and 80 percent decay rapidly, leaving behind nutrients for the lawn.

Mowing

• Keep your lawn healthy and reduce your yard-workload by waiting until grass reaches 4 ½ inches before mowing. This means you must mow ever 5 to 15 days, depending on the season, with more frequent mowing required throughout the summer and less frequent mowing during the spring and fall. Mow to remove only the top third of the grass blades, shortening the grass to a height of 3 inches. Grass allowed to remain at a constant 3-inch height has better luck competing against weeds than short grass heights that require mowing as often as every 2 to 5 days and cause grass root systems to weaken.

Equipment Maintenance

• Clean and file mower blades regularly to keep them sharp. Dull mower blades wound and tear grass blades instead of making sharp, clean cuts. Dull cuts and unclean blades allow easier access by disease pathogens that may ruin a lawn, leaving you to re-establish your lawn.