Valuable Lawn Care Tips

Enjoy these tips on maintaining a great lawn.

1. Proper Mowing Height:
You may want to cut shorter to minimize the frequency of mowing but this is not a good idea. Turf that is too short may develop inadequate roots which can make it sparse and more susceptible to turf diseases. During the heat of summer, it is even more important to leave the grass a little longer. During spring and fall you can cut the grass down to 2 inches but during summer it should be a minimum of 2 1/2" to 3" tall. We recommend a height of 3 1/2".

2. The One-Third Rule:
Never remove more than one-third of the grass plant in a single cutting. If you cut more that that, you risk removing all the leaves from the grass stem, leaving only the stem which makes it difficult for the grass plant to thrive.

3. Sharpen That Blade!
Dull blades tear the grass blade, leaving it ragged. This will mean a less attractive lawn because the tip of each blade will brown, giving the turf a brown appearance. More importantly, it causes the blade to lose more moisture and also makes it more susceptible to disease.

4. Water:
The rule of thumb is 1" per week. Some prefer to deep water once or twice a week. People with irrigation systems generally water every other day for 15 minutes. Both lawns will look good and both should have adequate root development. More importantly, the optimum time to water the lawn is early morning between 6am and 8am. This will allow the top growth to dry reasonably quickly and reduce the risk of disease. Watering during the heat of the day can also be good because it reduces the temperature of the lawn, but this is less efficient and some communities regulate what times watering can be done. Note: Well watered turf in July and August is more attractive to grubs.

5. Fertilization:
We hope you will allow us to do this for you but here is some interesting information if you chose to do it yourself. The best time to fertilize (in descending order) in Northern Illinois (cool season grasses like blue grass, rye grass, and fescue) is early September, followed by early May. Third applications should be late fall and a fourth application, if desired, can be made in mid-June. The use of slow release fertilizers allows application any time, even in the middle of summer.

6. Thatch/Core Aeration:
Using a mulching mower at regular intervals will generally not cause excess build-up of thatch (more than 1/2"). During spring and fall when grass grows rapidly, it might be preferable to bag some clippings if the lawn grew too long between mowings. If you are concerned about excess thatch, we recommend core aeration rather than power raking. Core aeration reduces compaction and is best done in the fall prior to seeding. Spring is also acceptable. Power raking will remove some thatch but it also removes many good grass plants too and doesn't help with compaction. Important: Companies offering low priced core aeration generally use less effective equipment and try to do the job quickly to get onto the next one. The goal of core aeration should be to get as many plugs in your yard as possible.

7. Use Caution & Ask Our Experts:
Well-meaning do-it-yourselfers often inadvertently cause more harm than good by misdiagnosing a lawn problem. Unless you're positive of the problem, consult a lawn care specialist who can provide you with the correct solution for your lawn care challenges. Important! Keep the round up off the lawn. It's ok for sidewalk crack vegetation.

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