Lawn Care Maintenance

If you want your lawn to be perfectly green throughout the summer and weed free, do your best to limit the areas you devote to grass as the “perfect lawn” requires a lot more water, care and maintenance than water efficient plants. Follow the steps below to improve the health of your lawn and decrease its demand for water.

1. AERATE every other fall to limit soil compaction and increase water absorption.

2. DETHATCH as required by using a rake, renting a de-thatching machine or hiring a company to perform the task.

*Note: thatch is caused by chemical use on lawns. Beneficial microorganisms in the soil break down grass clippings left on the lawn to provide water and nutrients to the soil and plant roots. Chemical use kills these beneficial microorganisms causing your grass clippings to remain on the lawn and build up into a thatch layer over time. The most effective, long term solution to eliminate thatch is to eliminate pesticide use.

3. TOP DRESS every spring or fall with a high quality triple mix. Rake into the lawn to a depth of one 1/2 inch.

4. OVERSEED every spring or fall with a grass seed high in Fescue content (at least 60%) and low in Kentucky Blue content (20% at the most). Fescue grasses are fine blades that are drought tolerant and more disease resistant due to their deep rooting system. Kentucky Blue grass, the only grass found in sod, has the shallowest root system and is therefore the type of seed that is the weakest, most water dependent and most susceptible to disease.

5. MOWING HEIGHT should be 2 1/2 to 3 inches to shade roots and prevent weed seed germination. Also keep blades sharp to maintain grass health.

6. FERTILIZE every fall to give your lawn an extra boost to make it through the winter. Note, although recommended by many, a spring fertilization is not necessary to maintain the health of your lawn.

7. WATER your lawn no more than once a week for 2.5 cm (one inch) if there has been no rainfall. See Watering Tips for Lawns