Harnett County Center

CAUTION:The information and recommendations in this article are applicable to Harnett County, NC and may not apply in other areas.

FUNDAMENTALS OF A BEAUTIFUL LAWN, 4/10/98

Well, we've finally had some warm sunny weather. If you are like me, the itch to work in the yard is coming on strong. Having a lush green lawn can be a real pleasure, but it does take some work. But doing the wrong thing can be worse than doing nothing. Here are the fundamentals for doing it right.

CORRECT MOWING

The key to proper mowing is to do it at the right height and the right time. Centipede, bermuda, and zoysia should be mowed at about one inch. Tall fescue, on the other hand, should be maintained at about two-and-a-half to three inches.

Remember that a lawn is made up of thousands of individual plants. You want to be sure that each one of them is being treated well. When a grass plant is cut too low, it is very stressful on the plant. If done repeatedly, the plant may die.

It is also stressful when you cut off too much of the plant at one time. Thus, it is better to mow frequently, only removing a little each time you mow. If, due to travel or a busy schedule you have to neglect your mowing and the grass gets too high, you should raise the height on your mower. Then you can gradually cut it back to the desired height over a week or two.

If you mow your lawn frequently, the clippings will be very small, thus eliminating the need for bagging. The clippings will simply fall onto the lawn and slowly decompose, actually adding some nutrients back to your lawn in the process.

FERTILIZATION

Each type of grass has specific needs as far as when to fertilize and how much. Fescue, for example, should never be fertilized between April and August. Centipede should only be fertilized once a year, in late May or June.

Slow release fertilizers have a couple of advantages. First, they provide a more steady source of nutrients to your lawn. Secondly, they are less likely to cause water pollution from runoff or leaching through the soil.

Liming should never be done unless you have taken a soil sample. The object of applying lime is to raise the pH (reduce the acidity) of the soil. However, if too much lime is applied, you risk raising the pH to a level that may be damaging to your lawn. A soil sample will tell you exactly how much lime you need to bring you soil pH to the correct level.

AERATION

Aerating or coring lawns helps to alleviate compaction. Compaction is when the soil becomes very hard. This occurs where there is heavy foot traffic or when large equipment moves through your yard. When compacted, it is difficult for water and roots to move through the soil. Coring should be done when the grass is actively growing, so it can recover quickly. If traffic and compaction are not a problem, coring is not necessary.

DETHATCHING

When lawns are heavily fertilized, there may be a buildup of excess thatch. If the thatch layer is more than 1/2 inches, it should be removed by power raking. By following the correct fertilizer program, you may be able to avoid excess thatch buildup.

Back to Plant Talk Index

Home