5 COMMON LAWN CARE MISTAKES TO AVOID

Watering your lawn at the wrong time of the day.  You should water your lawn in the early morning when there is usually less wind and the ground temperature is cooler.  Watering your lawn in the middle of the day will make your lawn more vulnerable to fungus and disease.  Watering in the evening is also not a good option as your ground temperature is still too hot.  For maximum results, we recommend watering your lawn between the hours of 2 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Overwatering your lawn.  On average, a lawn requires an inch of water a week.  Over-watering can lead to fungus and a shallow root system.  We recommend watering your lawn infrequently and longer durations to encourage the growth of deeper grass roots, thus creating an overall healthier lawn.

If you need a little reassurance that your lawn is getting enough water during the hot summer months, we recommend a technique called “spritzing.”  When temperatures are over 90 degrees, you can run your sprinklers five to ten minutes per zone in the afternoon heat to cool your turf.  This technique will help reduce stress from the heat and prevent symptoms of summer patch disease.

Improper fertilizing.  Improper-fertilizing practices can cause high levels of nitrogen, which limits root growth.  In the spring, we recommend a slow-release fertilizer, which will release nutrients slowly over time and will not burn the turf as quickly as a quick-release fertilizer.  The timing of fertilizer is also very important.  Improper timing of fertilizing can divert the plant’s attention from root development, which is an imperative step to a healthy lawn.

Not aerating your lawn.  Aerating is an essential step to minimizing soil compaction and producing a healthier, greener lawn.  Soil compaction is caused by frequent foot traffic or poor soil composition.  Excessive compaction reduces the air reduces the air space required for a healthy functioning soil, making your lawn stressed and more susceptible to weeds, diseases and pests.  Aerating helps resolve soil compaction by allowing water, fertilizer and air to have direct access to grass roots.

Improper mowing habits.  You should mow high, often and with sharp blades.  Longer grass absorbs more sunlight, which allows the grass to grow thicker and develop a deeper root system.  A deeper root system helps the grass survive drought, tolerate insect damage and fend off diseases.  Longer grass also shades the soil surface keeping it cooler and helping it retain moisture.

Grass length varies depending on the species, but most are healthiest when kept between 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches.  To maintain this recommended length, mowing should be done with sharp blades to prevent tearing and injuring the grass.  Mowing should also be frequent.  We recommend mowing often enough that you never cut more than one-third off the grass blade height.