Frequent Lawn Questions

How High Should I Mow the Grass?

• For a new lawn, you should ideally wait until the grass has reached about three inches high. Once the lawn has been established, the height at which it should be cut depends on the type of grass. Commonly used grass types like zoysiagrass and Bermuda should grow to between 1/2 and 1-1/2 inches. Bahiagrass can be allowed to reach up to 3 inches while tall fescue can reach to 4 inches.

When and How Often Should I Fertilize My Lawn?

• Most lawns should be fertilized three to five times with the application spread out over the course of the year. Timing issues are related to whether the lawn uses cool- or warm-season grass. Cool-season grasses should receive their largest supply of fertilizer during the late summer and fall while warm-season grasses should receive their heaviest feeding during the last spring and summer.

When is the Best Time for Watering?

• The best time to water your lawn is during the early morning. Water pressure tends to be at its peak then and the wind is typically not a major factor in moving the spray away from its targeted area. The biggest exception to this rule is in areas of low humidity and high daytime temperatures. In these cases, the best time to water the lawn is during the evening when evaporation is at its lowest.

What are Some Alternatives to Pesticide?

• Pesticides are not the only way to prevent infestation that will ruin your lawn. Before using potentially harmful chemicals to control pests, try cutting the grass to greater height or watering either more or less. Another trick is to thin out the limbs and leaves of a tree so that more sunlight reaches the lawn and changes its environment enough to affect the arrival of pests.

Why Has My Sod Failed to Establish?

• You should expect new sodding to become established after two to three weeks. If after this period you notice the sod has failed to establish, inspect the sod to determine whether it has dried out before the roots have grown fully into the soil. Another common reason for failing sod is that it has been laid down directly on thatch rather than soil. Sod can also get damaged if it remains rolled up in hot weather for more than a day.