Following these guidelines will reduce susceptibility to disease, as well as help develop proper plant and root growth.

Prep your Mower – Make sure your mower is properly maintained including a seasonal oil change, tune up and, most importantly, a proper blade sharpening.

Sharpen Blades – Continue to keep your mowing blades sharp to avoid shredding the top of the grass rather than cutting it. Lawns mowed with dull blades will take on a yellow appearance across the surface of the lawn from a distance. We recommend sharpening blades multiple times per season based on the size of your lawn and how often you mow.

Mow High and Often, Not Short – As the turf begins to grow, mow as often as necessary to never remove more than 1/3 of the blade at any one time. Proper mowing height should be maintained at approximately 3 ½ inches and as high as 4 – 4 1/2 inches during periods of high heat or drought.

Don’t Mow When Wet.

Leave the Clippings – We recommend the grass clippings are left dispersed on the lawn to reuse the nutrients. However, do not leave clippings that are in “clumps” because they could kill the grass underneath.

Final Mowing – We recommend that you complete a final mowing sometime around Thanksgiving at the proper height of 2.75 to 3.5 inches, leaving the lawn free of any clumps or heavy leaf debris.

When – The best time to water is in the early morning hours, between 5:00 am and 9:00 am. Watering mid-day will increase the potential for evaporation causing less water to be available to the turf. Watering in the evening increases the chance of lawn diseases to occur. As the heat increases and rainfall slows down in the summer, watering your lawn is strongly encouraged. Passing thunderstorms do not provide sufficient amounts of water.

How Much – Your lawn needs approximately 1 – 2” of water per week during the summer. It’s best to water deeply and infrequently. When watering, completely moisten the soil approximately 4 – 8 inches deep to ensure a healthy root system.

How Often – In most seasons, watering deeply 1 – 2 times per week will suffice, but it may need to increase to 3 – 4 days per week during hot times with little rainfall.

Without sufficient water, most lawns will retreat into dormancy, but will green up again in the fall.

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