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LAWN TIPS
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Grass Cutting
 Ensure your mower blade is sharp - this prevents a
frayed appearance.
Mow your lawn to 7 or 8 cm (3") in spring and fall. During hot
weather raise the mower height another 2.5 cm (1") for drought
resistance.
Change direction of cut each time to keep coarse grasses under control
and ensure even surface.
Do not cut wet grass.
If you mow your lawn at the recommended
height, the grass roots will grow deep. If the lawn is cut too
short, root growth will slow and the grass will be less hearty and more
susceptible to stress.
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Watering
 Most lawns require a minimum of 5 cm (2") of
water per week during the summer.Water early in the morning to prevent evaporation. Avoid watering at
night as the lawn remains wet for a long period of time which can increase
the incidence of fungal disease.
With dry conditions, water heavily once a week instead of a daily
sprinkling (daily sprinkling will encourage shallow roots, which will
increase the chance of burning during hot spells).
Try to wet the entire root zone.
Move sprinkler around your yard for even irrigation of your lawn.
Too much watering can quickly leach nutrients from around the root zone,
and can make the grass grow faster and need more frequent mowing.
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Core Aeration
 Aerating consists of perforating the soil with small holes usually 7-10 cm
(3-4") deep, which allow for water, oxygen, fertilizers, and other nutrients
to penetrate the soil, and reach the grass roots. This will enable your
roots to grow deeply and produce a much thicker lawn.
If you are planning on fertilizing or reseeding your lawn,
it is recommended to aerate just prior to doing so. This will allow
fertilizer, seed, and other nutrients to penetrate your lawn. |
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De-Thatching
 Thatch is a layer of grass stems, roots, clippings, and debris that settle
on the ground and either slowly decompose and/or accumulate over time.
Thatch accumulates on the surface of your soil just below the grass line and
is usually out of sight.
Thatch
buildup is found in lawns where grass has grown tall, mulch is frequently
left and lawns that have never been aerated. A lawn with more than 1.25 cm
(1/2") of thatch should be dethatched.
Dethatching increases the
movement of air, water, and nutrients into the soil, and stimulates new
growth.
As soon as soil firms in the early spring, gently rake
(either using a lawn rake or thatching rake) to remove dead grass and winter
debris.
A power dethatcher (verti-cutter) may be used if the lawn has
more than 2.5 cm (1") of thatch and the lawn is heavily used.
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Fertilization
 Apply a spring fertizer before the first mowing to promote a healthy green
lawn that will ward off weeds naturally and with proper watering throughout
the summer will continue to stay green and healthy throughout the summer
months. Most lawns need either two (spring and fall) or three (spring,
summer and fall) applications of fertilizer per year to stay vibrant and
healthy.
A lawn
that is fed right will be thicker, lusher, and much more able to fight off
the stress of insect and weed competition, adverse environmental conditions
and wear.
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Seeding
 Seeding is less expensive than sod. It can be done in spring or late
August/early September.
A thick and healthy lawn reduces the natural hiding places for insects and
fungi and prevents weed seeds from reaching the soil. Use a good quality
grass seed that is a proper mix for the conditions of your lawn, either sun,
shade or mixed.
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Mulch
 Mulch
is an invaluable aid to good gardening. Applied to the soil surface, it
keeps wind and sun from baking the soil, helps conserve water, reduces
runoff and moderates soil temperatures. Mulches also help control weeds, and
can even prevent insects that over-winter in the soil from emerging to lay
their eggs on new plants. And in an indirect way, they can help prevent
diseases, which attack plants stressed by pressure from insects and wind
competition. Mulches can really add to the beauty of a garden, too.
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