How to Mow
Change Directions
• Mow your lawn in different directions every time. This will allow the grass blades to be cut correctly and stand erect instead of being pushed over.
1/3 Rule
• This rule states that you should never cut more than 1/3 of grass blade in one mowing session. By cutting off more than this you can actually stunt the root growth for up to 30 days.
Leave Grass Clippings
• Don’t bag your grass clippings. Mulching your grass clippings and allowing them to absorb back into the soil is a great source of extra organic matter. These grass clippings feed earthworms and naturally add nutrients to the soil. AVOID CLUMPS. If you start getting clumps bag them, spread them out, or rake them up. Clumps can damage the lawn. If you are experiencing clumping you are either mowing too short or infrequently.
Sharpen Mower Blades
• You should sharpen your mower blade at least once a year. A dull mower blade will tear the blades of the grass instead of cutting. This tearing will not only shred the top growth of the blade causing it to turn brown much easier, but will also leave it vulnerable to lawn diseases.
Don't Mow When the Lawn is Wet
• When you mow the lawn when it is wet it is very easy for small areas of disease to be spread throughout the lawn. Also, the grass blades will be torn rather than cut leaving the grass blade vulnerable to diseases through the tear. Finally, cutting the grass when it is wet will cause the grass to clump up much easier, which can be damaging to a healthy lawn.
Watering Tips
Water In The Morning
• The best time to water is in the early morning. The middle of the day is not efficient because many times the sunlight will evaporate the moisture before it gets a chance to absorb. In the evenings and late night, watering is bad because the water tends to cling onto the blades and stay there overnight. This will invite many types of lawn diseases to take over the lawn. Avoid watering after 3:00 P.M. to avoid lawn diseases. If this is inconvenient during the week then wait until the weekend to water the lawn.
When Does the Lawn Need It
• When you see your grass blades starting to curl that means they are about to start turning brown. This is the lawn telling you to give it some water. Another sign is when you walk through your lawn, blades don’t bounce back up, and you can see your footprint…The lawn needs some water!!!!
How Often
• The lawn needs about an inch of water per week. During the spring and fall the rain usually provides this. During the summer or dry periods you can either let the lawn naturally go semi-dormant or provide the inch of water with your sprinkler system. Lawns are resilient, but still need an inch of water per month or they will die. During droughts, like in 2007, make sure the lawn is getting at least an inch of water per month so it will bounce back in the fall.
Techniques
• Watering everyday is not good, and actually encourages a shallow root system and invites disease problems. Water prefers to cling to itself. With this being said, the best way to water a lawn is in two sessions. You should water for a half hour, let this soak in, then an hour later water for another half hour. Think about pouring water onto a dry sponge compared to a moist sponge. Which one will absorb more water? The moist one! This is extremely important for high clay soils (example: newly constructed areas with very compact soil).
• Water Deeply and Infrequently. This will develop deeper, stronger roots.
New Grass Seed
• If new seed is down always keep the soil moist, but do not allow runoff to occur. Keep it moist, but not soaked. Water ¼ inch per day spaced out, never allowing it to become dry. Once the grass blade reaches 2-3 inches return to watering deeply and infrequently.
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