Once your new lawn has become established and the roots are growing into the soil, it’s time to start a maintenance program to keep it beautiful and healthy for years to come.
There are 4 major parts to ongoing maintenance:
1. Watering
2. Mowing
3. Fertilization
4. Weed control
Watering – During the growing season, your lawn needs 1 to 2” of water each week. Water early in the morning and multiple times during the week to equal the 1 to 2”.
The exact amount of water needed will be effected by your soil type, variety of grass, weather conditions and the desired appearance of your lawn.
Avoid watering late in the afternoon, especially with St. Augustine and Zoysia grasses. Watering too late in the day can cause fungus to grow through the night.
For conservation, do not water on rainy days or when rain has accumulated the 1 to 2” needed for that week.
Mowing – Mow as needed. Frequent mowing insures a thicker lawn.
Avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the height of your grass in any single mowing. Leaving the clippings on your lawn returns nutrients to the soil.
As the temperature increases, so should the height of your lawn. So raise the cutting height of your mower during the heat of the summer.
For optimum mowing heights, go to www.tritexgrass.com and click on Varieties. Locate the grass variety of your lawn for additional information.
Be sure your mower’s blade is sharp and it is in proper operating condition.
Fertilization – Fertilization needs will vary.
Begin by testing your soil. This is easily done with over the counter soil testing kits or by contacting your local AgraLife Extension Agent and providing a sample of your soil for testing.
As a ‘rule of thumb’, fertilization should take place four times a year, around the following holidays:
Valentine’s Day
Memorial Day
Labor Day
Halloween
Always follow the instructions located on the bag.
Many commercial brands spell-out an annual fertilization program when using their products. When followed, these programs can provide excellent results.
Weed Control – When it comes to weed control, identification of the unwanted growth is imperative.
If you’re not certain of its identity, take a sample of the growth to your local garden center for identification and the proper approach to eradicate your specific problem.
A healthy lawn and pre-emergent program are your best defense against weeds. Over application or misapplication of pre-emergents can be damaging, so follow instructions carefully.
Since warm season grasses go dormant during the winter, lawn maintenance changes during this time of year. Watering and mowing are reduced.
To minimize Winter Kill, during a prolonged dry spell, maintain an adequate amount of moisture in the soil by watering when necessary.
The use of a ‘moisture meter’ can help determine how often and how much water is needed. Take the reading just below the surface of the soil, at the root level.
That’s it! A regular maintenance program is the best way to protect the investment of your new lawn and your home.
In addition to ‘curb appeal’, a health lawn is great protection for the foundation of your home.
Next week, we’ll cover some organic solutions for the maintenance of your lawn.
If you have any questions, give us a call at 888-221-0422, and we’ll be happy to help.
See this ‘How To’ video by clicking the ‘Turf Tips‘ link to the right and see ‘ How To Maintain Your New Lawn‘
