Lawn Care 101

Here are some commonly asked questions.

Core Aeration

Aeration is the removal of small cores of soil to allow air, moisture and fertilizer down to the root zone. A core aerator will pull one to two inch plugs of soil from the ground. These plugs are deposited on the soil's surface where they will break down. Soil surrounding the plugged holes and the soil deposited on top will collapse and fill in. It doesn't work to use aeration equipment that simply punches a hole in the soil. While a hole may be created, the "punched" soil merely compacts the soil surrounding the hole.

How Core Aeration Works

The controlled removal of the small soil cores has many benefits. It allows fertilizer, water and air to quickly reach the root zone of your grass. Both drought and heavy rain stress your grass. During drought conditions, aeration helps water reach thirsty roots. When rain is heavy, it allows air to penetrate and help dry up excess moisture. Core aeration creates healthy roots and thicker, more beautiful lawns.

Mowing

Some people just hate to get the lawn mower out. The general rule to follow is not to cut more than one third of the leaf surface off at once. By mowing the lawn once a week you will usually comply with this guideline. However, at times of peak growth you may need to cut every four or five days.

How High, How Short?

There is no one mowing height for all grasses. But each has its own optimal range. If they are routinely cut lower than that, they will not be as healthy and may begin to thin out and die. If your lawn is a mixture of grasses (most are), you will need to average out the height. It is better to cut some of it too tall than to scalp portions of your lawn.  The chances are that you cut your lawn too short.

Here are some recommended heights:

Types	Height
Bahia	2-3 inches
Common Bermuda Grass	1-2 inches
Hybrid Bermuda Grass	1 inch
Centipede Grass	1 1/2-2 inches
Fine Fescue	1 1/2-2 1/2 inches
Tall Fescue	2 1/2-3 1/2 inches
Kentucky Bluegrass	2-2 1/2 inches
St. Augustine	1 1/2-2 1/2 inches
Zoysia	1-2 inches

Note: Ranges are given because, frankly, experts do not agree on a best height. Begin with the above heights, then observe how your lawn is doing and adjust ac-cording to your lawn's specific needs. Note: The mowing height should be increased by one-half inch for shady areas and immediately following a weakening of the lawn due to insect or disease injury or from high traffic.

Mowing Tips

Do not mow wet grass.
The ideal time to mow is when the grass is dry but the weather is not excessively hot.
The optimal height for grass is 2-1/2 to 3 inches.
Mow at the maximum height during the summer and at the minimum height at the end of the mowing season.
Change mowing patterns periodically to ensure your grass grows upright.
Mow often enough not to cut more than one third of the blade of grass off.

Sharpening Blades

To prevent damage to your lawn or mower, check your mower's blade every two weeks for damage or dullness during mowing season.
Disconnect spark plug wire.
Turn mower carburetor side up and remove blade.
Clamp blade in a vise.
Use a flat mill file to file toward the sharp edge.
Reinstall blade and reconnect spark plug wire.

Watering

Natural Rainfall is Not Enough for Two Reasons
It doesn't ensure an adequate amount
It isn't distributed evenly enough

This is particularly true when the lawn has just been fertilized, a good rule of thumb is that a lawn requires an inch of water per week. A rain gauge is the easiest way to determine how much water each part of your lawn gets. This doesn't mean that you merely put one seventh of an inch per day. The watering should soak in to a depth of five or six inches. Short, frequent watering can cause more annual weeds, shallow grass roots and more chance of disease due to constant moisture. Too much watering will replace oxygen in the soil; the grass will die.

Factors to Consider

Shade - More water is required under trees since they take a lot of moisture out of the soil.

Soil Type & Condition - One inch of water will penetrate 12 inches into sandy soil. The same amount will soak in six to 10 inches in loam and only four to five inches in clay. You will need to adjust your water accordingly. Compacted soil will be more likely to allow water to run off and requires core aeration to remedy.

Slopes - A slope allows water to run off rather than soak in. It also means that there is more evaporation due to exposure to the sun if facing south or west. Weather - How often and how much has it been raining? Again, a rain gauge is helpful

Weed Control

Managing Weeds, the best defense is a good offense. A healthy lawn will win out in the competition against weeds for light, moisture and soil nutrients.

Here are some tips to help win the battle with weeds

Set your mower height at the highest recommended for your grass type
Water the proper amount — one inch per week
Control pests and diseases before they get serious
Use a shade-tolerant turf or groundcover in shady areas
Fertilize correctly — not too much or too little
(a professional service will make sure this is done at the right level)

Two factors are important in determining what method to use in managing weeds. The type of weed is the first. They are classified as either broadleaf, grass or sedge. The life cycle of the weed is the second factor. Annuals have a one year life cycle, biennials have a two year life cycle and perennials have more than two years in their life cycle. Annual weeds usually get a pre-emergent treatment from a lawn care professional where the herbicide acts on the sprouting seed and keeps it from forming roots thus killing the weed before it emerges. Perennial broadleaf weeds are better treated with a post-emergent herbicide. Once weeds have emerged they are much harder to control as the herbicide will also damage turf grass.