Our Best Tips for a Beautiful Lawn

Taking care of your lawn is about more than just treating it. Watering and cutting your lawn are vital to its success. Some of our best lawn care tips are below, and we also recommend that you take the following steps to water your lawn:

  • Water deeply and less frequently for improved turf growth and increased water conservation. Lawns only take water up from the root, and a light watering only gets the blades wet.
  • Allow your lawn to dry out completely between watering events to prevent fungal growth.
  • Do not water at night, as that promotes lawn diseases.
  • Early morning is the best time.
  • Daytime watering in the heat does not scorch lawns, but is inefficient due to evaporation.
  • Lawns require 1″ of water per week.

How high should I set my mower deck?

  • Spring/Fall – 2-3″ high
  • Summer Stress Periods – 3.5″ high. Higher mowing heights during the summer period will help keep soil temperatures down, preserve soil moisture, and help maintain turf grass quality.
  • End of season mowing – 2” high

How often should I mow my lawn?

Don’t cut more than 1/3 of the blade’s length in any one mowing. For example, if Kentucky bluegrass is normally mowed at 2″ above ground level, the turf grass should not be allowed to grow higher than 3″ before the next mowing.

What direction should I mow?

Change it up every 1-2 times. Mowing at right angles to the previous direction will help to prevent the grass from laying over in one direction and minimizes the chances of “scalping” the lawn.

tree and shrub fertilization

Should I bag or mulch?

Mulch! Turf grass clippings provide valuable nitrogen to your lawn (30% more) and keeps your lawn green. Turf grass clippings do not contribute to thatch accumulation.

What do I do if there is a drought?

Drought stress can occur any time of year if a lawn doesn’t get moisture for 1-2 weeks. Make sure your watering is effective and reaches the lawn’s roots, before drought stress sets in.

How do you know when your lawn needs water?

Two symptoms:

  • The development of bluish-green areas of discoloration.
  • A lawn that doesn’t spring back when you walk on it. A well-hydrated lawn springs back.
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