TIPS FOR YOUR LAWN

Mowing Practices:
One of the most common mistakes a homeowner can make is mowing the lawn too short. You should always mow high and mow often! The optimum height to cut grass is at 3 inches. Be sure to mow often enough so as not to cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade during any one mowing. In the hotter Summer months, we recommend maintaining your lawn at 3.5 to 4 inches. It is also important to maintain sharp mower blades. We recommend sharpening your blades at least once per season. A dull blade will tear the grass instead of cutting it, making it more susceptible to disease. A lawn that has been cut with a dull blade will appear yellow in color from a distance. Finally, be sure to disperse any remaining clumps of grass clippings after you mow. Thick grass clippings can kill the turf beneath them if not removed quickly.

Lawnmower Maintenance:
A properly running lawnmower is good for your lawn, the environment AND your wallet! Sharp mowing blades cut grass cleanly, minimizing the chance for turf disease. Lawnmower engines with clean gas, oil, filters, and new spark plugs use less gasoline and burn fuel cleaner. This saves you money in Fuel-, Maintenance- and Repair-costs. Sign-up for professional Lawnmower ‘Tune-up’ through our Sister Company, In-tunenation at www.In-tunenation.com.

Grasscycling:
We highly recommend grasscycling instead of bagging your grass clippings. When mowed regularly, leaving the clippings on your lawn is beneficial as they release valuable nutrients into the soil that will feed the turf. Studies show that recycling grass clippings benefits the environment. Grasscycling will not cause thatch build-up.

Watering? When, How Much, How Often?
When: Watering should be performed in the early morning hours between 5:00 am and 7:00 am. NEVER water during mid-day as most of the water (and your money) will be wasted since evaporation will likely occur before your lawn is benefited. NEVER water in the evenings as this greatly increases the chances of a diseased lawn, especially during periods of high humidity.

How Much: A good Rule of Thumb is 1 inch per week in Spring and Fall and 2 inches during Summer or when air temperatures are consistently above 85 degrees. In high-heat weather conditions, monitor the color and appearance of your lawn. If it looks dry and/or light-green then increased watering is likely the remedy. If rainfall provides sufficient water during any given week then it is not necessary to supplement with manual watering.

How Often: Watering should occur at least three times a week. Especially during drought-type conditions, adhering to a regular Watering Regimen is vital to a healthy lawn.
The easiest and most efficient method of watering your lawn is via an in-ground sprinkler system If you do not have an in-ground sprinkler system, ask us about above-ground options.

WEEDS
A healthy lawn is your best defense against weeds. As grass strengthens and thickens, it actually helps prevent crabgrass, dandelions, and other weeds from growing by blocking out the sunlight and using up the moisture that weeds need in order to germinate.

Depending upon its current condition, a healthy lawn can take some time to develop. Until your lawn has reached this point, you can still fight weeds naturally by mowing your lawn no shorter than three to four inches, and by removing any weeds you notice to prevent further damage. Remember, the spot-treatment of weeds is included in your Lawn Health Program. Just let us know if you see weeds in your lawn and leave the rest to us!