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The Keys to Green

If a beautiful lawn is something you seek to accomplish, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some great lawn care tips to get you closer to your dream lawn. There are four important pieces to maintenance that will improve the quality of your grass:

  • Fertilization regiment,
  • Irrigation,
  • Disease prevention, and 
  • Insect control.

But,

If you want a greener lawn,

start with these practices:

One of the most important parts of lawn care is proper lawn mowing technique. Yes, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but it’s true! Not only is it important, but this is also a component of your lawn care that is very easily within your control.

There are endless varieties of turf. For example, if you are in the Atlanta area, fescue and Bermuda terf are the most common, and in Southwest Florida region, St. Augustine turf is more predominant.

But the good news is, regardless of where you call home and what kind of turf your yard hosts, best mowing practices remain consistent.

Mowing Blade Height

The height of your blade when mowing your lawn is crucial. Cutting too short can create extreme stress on the lawn, causing it to burn out and creating an environment vulnerable to weeds. Leave your grass too tall and you’re left with a lain-over and unsightly aesthetic.

It is easy to find blade height guidelines depending on the variety of turf found in your yard. For example, tall fescue turf should be kept 3.5-4” tall, and it’s crucial to mow as often as necessary to maintain this height.

And remember, it’s never healthy for the turf if you cut more than 1/3 of the grass height at a time.

But some general guidelines that are widely applicable include:

  • Never cut more than ⅓ of grass height at once,
  • Always keep your blade sharp, sharpening every 3 months,
  • Mowing with dull blades can actually make your lawn more susceptible to disease and insect damage.

Mowing Pattern

It may be tempting to get stuck in a routine when it comes to your mowing patterns, but it turns out this may not promote a healthy, beautiful lawn after all. Research has shown that it’s best to change your mowing pattern each time you mow. Whether you own a push mower or a riding one, wheels leave tracks, and taking the same path with each mow will inevitably wear down the grass in your pathway.

Here is a simple solution: alternate directions. Practice alternating from vertical, horizontal, and diagonal patterns with each consecutive mow.

To learn more about the best care for your lawn during this fall season, call your local Kansas City Lawn Care company, By the Blade KC!