Mowing Mowing is often considered to be just making
the grass shorter when is gets too long. However, we need to change that
attitude completely. Proper mowing habits are as important as our fertilizing
programs to the overall health of your lawn. So please help us provide you with
a beautiful lawn by following the recommended procedures below.
BladesBe sure to sharpen
your mower blades on a regular basis during the growing season. Keeping the
blades sharp will cut the leaf much cleaner and reduce the amount of stress on
the grass plant.
HeightNever cut more than 1/3
of the grass height in any one mowing. Any more than that will cause
significant stress to the grass plant and will make it more susceptible to
disease and other problems. With the exception of the late fall, grass should
always be cut at around 3”.
DirectionEach time you mow,
try to alternate the direction or pattern that you mow. This will help in
cutting each grass plant evenly and it will reduce rutting from mower wheels
always traveling in the same spots.
ExposureNever leave large
clumps of grass clippings laying on the lawn. Doing this will not allow the
grass plants underneath to get enough sunlight or oxygen to survive. Make sure
you either rake up or blow around any large clumps after mowing.
Watering Everything needs water to survive and flourish,
including your lawn. However too much, too little or improper timing can cause
permanent damage to your turf. By following the recommendations listed below
you can minimize the potential for drought and disease stress.
When you first turn on your
irrigation system in the spring, take the time to go through each zone to
ensure that all components are working properly. Broken sprinkler heads
and faulty zone valves can lead to costly water loss and problems with
your lawn. You may want to consider hiring an irrigation company to do the
spring start-up for you.
Don’t set it and forget
it! Too many people set their irrigation timers in the spring and think
that they don’t need to adjust it all season. Your lawn will require
different needs through-out the growing season and you will need to adjust
your irrigation timers accordingly.
The most effective way to
water your lawn is deeply and infrequently. This will allow the water to
leach further into the ground and your grass will develop a stronger root
system. Instead of watering everyday for a short amount of time, try
watering every other or every third day for a longer period of time. The
early hours of the morning is always the best time to water if possible.
Try to make sure you have a rain sensor wired
into your irrigation system. A rain sensor will automatically shut your
system off when there is adequate rainfall and turn it back on after the
turf dries. Let mother nature do the work when it can, and give your
wallet and your water meter a rest.
