Lawn Tips

When you are deciding on what lawn tips to follow, the first step is to actually start to get informed about your lawn. This is where the biggest mistakes are often made.
Imagine going to the doctor with a broken arm and getting treated for the flu. (bad analogy but its all that popped into my head, sorry) Each lawn will have different needs depending on grass type, soil type and the weeds and bugs that are present. So imagine that the only thing that has been stopping you from having the perfect lawn is the fact that you have been mowing at the wrong height for the type of grass you have.
I will be going in to more depth about the importance and why's of all these points in the near future but for now I just wanted to give you an idea of the most important things that you need to know about your lawn.

* What type of grass do you have ?
Effects mowing height, watering depth and regularity, fertilizing times and more.
* What type of weeds are in your lawn ?
Effects, when and how of weeding and type of herbicide as well as timing and more.
* What type of soil do you have ? (Clay, loam or sand)
Effects root depth, watering depth, bug and weed types and more.

Dont be too overwhelmed with this task it will save you loads of time and money in the long run.
The best way to find out the answers to these questions it to dig up a small sample from your lawn. Just a few inches will be fine. Now try to match the sample up with any photos on the net. The best way that I started to learn about lawn care was just by taking that sample to my garden supply shop and with that one sample I got the answers to all 3 of my questions and more (thatch, bugs, grass health ect).

I will leave it here for now but please dont under estimate the power of this knowledge, the whole time you thought you were helping your lawn you may have been killing it with kindness.

Next lawn tips blog will cover grass types and the different needs of each and the difference it makes.

I always watch old Ron next door with a smile, he is always working in the garden and spends hours on his lawn each week. He loves to mow it really short to give it that golf fairway look. However, this is why he has a shabby lawn, it's a catch 22 really, the more time he spends on it the worse it gets. (He won't listen to me but I dont think he listens to anyone really, I have come to the conclusion that he is rather fond of wasting time). Let me explain what is happening to his lawn and hundreds of others I see on a weekly basis. pay attention this ONE TIP WILL CHANGE YOUR LAWN FOREVER. He is simply killing his grass with kindness. Mowing too short (scalping), watering shallow and often, the over use of fertilizers and herbicides all make for weak shallow roots, poor insect activity (especially the good ones) and weak unhealthy lawn. Try to focus on making your lawn as self sufficient as possible. The first step is to follow the below rule.

* Mow 1/3 of the grass leaf bringing your grass back to its maximum recommended height *

Lets say you have Bermudagrass and the max height is 2" that means you want to wait till it is 3" before mowing because 1/3 of 3" = 2" (your desired height)
Here is a chart of some common grasses with some recommendations for mowing heights.

Recommended mowing heights by grass type
Grass ..............Minimum Height / Maximum Height
Fine Fescue ................1½"................. 2½"
Kentucky Bluegrass ........1½"........... 2½"
Ryegrass ....................1½"........... 2½"
Bahiagrass ....................2"............ 4"
Tall Fescue ..................2"............ 3"
Bermudagrass .................½"............ 2"
Buffalograss .................2"............ 3"
Carpetgrass ..................2"............ 3"
Centipedegrass ...............1"........... 1½"
St. Augustinegrass ........2"............ 4"
Zoysiagrass ..................¾"............ 2"

Source http://www.adamsls.com/lawncare.html

Here is a short list of some of the benefits of the 1/3 rule.
- Deeper & stronger root system (especially in times of growth)
- Greater water retention (requires less watering and is more drought tolerant)
- Greener color (Is healthier and has greater resistance to pests and disease )
- Less weeds (Crowds out its competitors with ease)
- More good bugs and less bad ones (Healthier more natural balance within soil)
- Is generally stronger and healthier. All these things combine to help make your lawn appear bright and colorful as well as requiring less weeding, watering, fertilizing and maintenance.

Next Blog will be covering the best FREE fertilizer in the world. (and its self applying)