Spring has finally arrived and it’s time to start thinking about spring lawn care
again. Here are some basics to get your lawn off to a good start.
Watering
Check the website of your local water company to find out your watering days
and amount of time allowed. Most companies also provide guidance on hand
watering gardens, shrubs and trees.
When water was more
abundant, many of us became accustomed to watering frequently – probably more
often than necessary. There are advantages to watering less often, including
less loss to evaporation. A hardened or toughened lawn, attained through less
frequent, deep irrigation, often withstands minor drought and generally has
fewer disease problems.
The watering
guidelines prohibit watering during most daylight hours, so many of us will
end up setting sprinklers to water at night. Be sure to check your sprinklers
occasionally during daylight hours to make sure they are working properly, not
stuck in one position or broken.
Mowing
The two most
important facets of mowing are height and frequency. The minimum height for any
lawn is 2 inches – less than this can result in decreased drought tolerance and
higher incidence of insects, diseases and weeds. Mow the lawn at the same
height all year and mow often enough so no more than 1/3 of the grass height is
removed at any single mowing.
Let grass clippings
fall back onto the lawn, unless they are used for composting or mulching
elsewhere in the landscape. Grass clippings decompose quickly and provide a
source of recycled nutrients and organic matter for the lawn. Grass clippings
do not contribute to thatch accumulation.
Power Raking
This method of thatch
removal has been used for years, although it may not be the best choice. Light (shallow) power raking may be more beneficial
if done often. Deep power raking of a thatchy lawn can be damaging, and often
removes a substantial portion of the living turf.
Aerating
This is more
beneficial than power raking. It helps improve the root zone by relieving soil
compaction while controlling thatch accumulation. Aeration removes plugs of
thatch and soil 2 to 3 inches long and deposits them on the lawn. Disposing of
the cores is a matter of personal choice. From a cultural perspective, there
may be an advantage to allowing the cores to disintegrate and filter back down
into the lawn.
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| Photo courtesy neavelawncare.com |
Fertilization
Nitrogen (N) is the
most important nutrient for promoting good turf color and growth. Do not
overstimulate the turf with excess N, especially during the spring and summer.
Overfertilization can contribute to thatch buildup and increased mowing
requirements. Balanced or complete fertilizers contain various amounts of
phosphorus, potassium, iron and sulfur. They are a good safeguard against a potential
nutrient deficiency, especially if you remove clippings after mowing. If you
leave clippings on the lawn, these nutrients are recycled from the clippings. Check
out CSU Extension’s Fact Sheet on Lawn Care for a fertilizer application schedule for established lawns.