Lawn Care & Mowing Information
How and When to Water,

 

 

HOW TO WATER YOUR LAWN

Fertilize & Aerate

 

 

 

The best method of watering a lawn

Most lawns are watered too often,

 

 

is to imitate a slow, soaking rain,

 

 

applying about 1 inch of water.

but with too little water. However

 

 

 

 

HOW TO FERTILIZE YOUR LAWN

too much water can allow develop-

 

 

 

 

Fertilizing with a slow-release fertiliz-

ment of diseases with your lawn. It is

 

 

best to water the lawn only when

 

 

er provides missing nutrients which

necessary, and then to water it

 

 

 

help create slow, even growth.

slowly, evenly, and deeply—imitat-

 

 

Remember that over-fertilizing can

ing a slow, soaking rain.

 

 

 

cause harm, and that most fertilizing

WHEN TO WATER YOUR LAWN

 

 

 

should be applied in the spring so

 

 

 

that it will release into the lawn

When the lawn begins to wilt, the

 

 

 

 

 

 

through the summer.

grass’s color dulls, or footprints stay compressed for

 

AERATING YOUR LAWN

more than a few seconds, the lawn is beginning to dry

Consider aerating your lawn in spring. Using an aerator

out, and needs additional moisture. The best time to

water is early morning to allow the water to soak deeply

to

emove cores of soil from the lawn increases the

into the lawn and reduce the amount that evaporates in

speed of clipping dec mposition and encourages deeper

the hot afternoon sun.

 

 

 

t grow h by pening up the soil and permitting greater

 

 

 

m

vement f wa er, fertilizer and air.

 

 

for

 

Reproduction

How High To Mow the Grass

 

C t less than

Cutting the grass too short causes weak, thin

 

1/3

Optimal

grass plants, which are easily damaged by dry

 

 

 

cutting point

periods and pests.

 

 

 

 

at less than

Letting grass grow a bit longer—especially when it

 

 

1/3 from top

is hot and dry—reduces heat build-up, s rv

s

 

of grass blade

needed moisture and protects the grass from h

at

 

 

damage and other problems.

 

Cutting down to this

 

 

Cutting off too much at one time shocks the plant’s

area contributes to

growth system and weakens the grass plants. A

thatch problems

good rule of thumb is the 1/3 rule: to cut no

 

 

 

more than one third of the grass height, and

 

 

 

never more than 1 inch at a time.

 

 

 

Cut Here On

Cut

First Pass

Here On

 

Second

 

Pass

 

 

Tall Grass Requires Incremental Cutting

For extremely tall grass, set the cutting height at maximum for the first pass, and then reset it to the desired height and mow a second or third time.

Don’t cover the grass surface with a heavy layer of clippings.

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