Lawn & Landscape

Tips, tricks & DIY guides

Posts Tagged ‘lawn tips’

Watering the Lawn

Posted by lawntips on February 10, 2012

   Did you know that healthy grass is 70% to 85% water?  To maintain active growth your turf will need .75″ to 1.5″of water a week.  Too much water and soil may get saturated to the point that roots may not get enough oxygen to grow deeper.  Not enough water – especially during the summer months – and everything dries out, causing the grass to brown and go dormant or maybe even die.

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     Watering in the morning is usually the best option.  Watering during the day leads to more loss from evaporation.  Watering in the evening or at night leaves the grass wet too long and could encourage turf diseases.  Water between 4:30 am and 8:30 am  when the wind is calm and the air is cool for best results.
    Generally speaking, an inch of water will moisten clay soils 4 to 5 inches deep.  One inch of water (.5″-1″ once or twice a week) in the cooler months is plenty.  1.5 inches of water (.5″-.75″ 2-3 times a week) in the summer months is better.  Make adjustments for rain or unusually hot weather as needed.
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Lawn Mowing Tips

Posted by lawntips on February 10, 2012

Cut High - especially bluegrass & fescues – deeper root systems, helps choke out weeds (esp. crabgrass), extra shade holds moisture better. Cut too short and plant will rob nutrients from roots for top growth.

One Third Rule - never cut more than 1/3 or grass blade.More is detrimential to root growth. If grass gets out of hand – cut  1/3 - wait 3 days – cut again.

Leave Clippings - grass blades are mostly water, break down quickly and add nutrients back into soil. If you don’t fertilize you shouldn’t need to bag. Well fertilized, fast growing grass may need to be bagged certain times of the year.

Sharpen Blades  - Do this regularly and have an extra set. Dull blades rip grass. Grass will grow less evenly and will yellow at ends. This is especially important in dry summer weather.


Spark Plugs - If the mower is hard to(will not) start, change the spark plug. They are cheap to buy, easy to change and fix the problem most of the time.

Oil - change oil mid-season, before the intense heat of summer. Mower will be easier to start and will last longer.

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