Step 9: Mowing & Maintenance

Mow Your Lawn Carefully

When your established lawn grows to about 3 inches, mow it to 2-1/2 inches. This will discourage the development of broadleaf weeds and encourage continued growth. For a good clean cut, follow these tips:

• Never mow when the grass is wet
  
• Keep your mower maintained with sharp blades for a cleaner cut
  
• Use a lawn mower bagger to keep grass clippings from smothering new seedlings
  
• Raking is not recommended because a rake can uproot young plants
  

Regular Maintenance Tips

Once a year, either in the spring or fall, aerate the soil and overseed the grass for a thick, even turf. Periodically, dethatch so water and fertilizer can easily reach the grass roots. Time spent on these jobs will help keep your lawn looking great.

Aerating: To break up compacted soil, yearly aerating is recommended. It involves pulling up small plugs of soil, thus helping air, water and nutrients get through to the roots of your grass. Your Southern States lawn expert can help you purchase or rent equipment for dethatching and aerating.

Dethatching: Thatch is a layer of undecomposed and partially decomposed organic residue (usually grass clippings) located above the soil. Excessive thatch can prevent water and fertilizer from reaching the grass roots and increase the risk of insects and disease.

Overseeding: After dethatching and aerating, you can sow new seed over existing grass. This will add new life to your lawn and make a thicker turf. Use half the seed amount recommended for new lawns.

Mowing & Watering Tips For A Healthy Lawn

Mowing is essential for the health and lush appearance of your lawn. It helps discourage weeds and makes the lawn more resistant to pests.

The mowing height affects the health and development of the grass. Kept too short, grass will develop a shallower root and become more susceptible to drought and disease. During hot summer months, a taller height will help shade the soil and reduce heat stress on the lawn. As a general guide, Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue lawns should be kept at a height of 2-3 inches and tall fescue lawns at a height of 3 inches. For best results, cut grass often enough that no more than 1/3 of the total grass height is removed at one time.

First, start with a good mower and keep it well-maintained with sharp blades to avoid ripping the grass. If your lawn has a white-haze look, the mower blades may be dull. When your grass begins to wilt, water thoroughly with 1 inch of water. This deep watering encourages grass roots to grow straight down, making your lawn less susceptible to disease and heat stress.

Tip: To measure how much water your lawn is getting, set empty coffee cans on the grass where they can catch water from your sprinkler. Check them periodically, and when 1 inch of water has collected, turn off the sprinkler. Make a note of how long it took for that 1 inch to accumulate and remember it for next time.

The best time of day to water is in the early morning when evaporation rates are low and grass can dry completely. If you water in the evenings, the grass doesn't have enough time to dry, and excess moisture makes the lawn susceptible to disease.

On to Step 10: Maintaining an established lawn

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