Lawn Care
Date: Mar 15, 2005
Contributor: Melisa Gaumer
Lawn care not that complicated; just 'mow what grows'
Getting ready for spring lawn care can be as easy as making sure the mower cranks, or a whole list of chores. There's a positive correlation difference in effort and results.
First, some disclosure: I have retail garden center experience and university turf management training. A quarter century of giving not-for-profit advice on lawn care. And keep in mind that I don't have a lawn (not enough room), and I don't work for anyone who profits from my advice.
Now for my advice, first to you who simply want something green: Mow what grows. Period. This approach works "good enough" for schoolyards, cemeteries, businesses and 95 percent of the population, even in upscale neighborhoods. As long as your neighbors don't make you look or feel like a slob, you are perfectly OK to just mow and blow off all the rest.
Now for those of you who want a neatly managed, weed-free lawn: There are three very important things to do, ranked in order of importance; skip one, and you are back to square one.
Mow at the right height for your grass; this is the single most important step. High for St. Augustine, low for Bermuda, in between for centipede and zoysia. Do this and everything else will be easier.
Second, water your grass really well, when it gets dry down deep. A good soaking every three to four weeks is plenty. Every couple of weeks is better. More than once a week is, simply put, a bad thing from both your grass and my environment's perspective. All opinions aside, I am very sure of this.
Third, use a good-quality lawn food, after the lawn has greened up and been mowed at least twice this spring — certainly not before mid-April; this is based on solid turf science. The last feeding should be done by the first of September. And make the bag go up to twice as far as it says it will — again, I am sure of this.
Mow right, water deeply only when really needed and feed lightly once or twice a year at half strength, beginning in mid-April. That's top quality lawn care.
Weed killers are a far distant fourth, almost off the list. If you don't do the first three right, herbicides won't help much. Really.
Oh, and you who just mow what grows, sharpen your mower blade — it really does make a difference! And at least, edge the curb every now and then. Have some pride.
For more information relating to "Lawn Care", please visit our Lawn Care page.
|
|
|
