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Watering

Water is the source of all life, making it perhaps one of our most valuable resources. Not only can practicing good watering habits help keep your lawn thick and green, but it can help conserve such a precious resource and keep you from pouring money down the drain (please excuse the pun). Here are some tips to keep in mind when considering your watering habits;

• If you have an irrigation system, do not run the same clock year round. Learn how to manipulate your system and do so often.
• Your lawn needs different amounts of water depending on the weather. Pay close attention to the weather and supply your lawn with water as needed.
• In ideal conditions your lawn will receive an inch to an inch and a half of rain water per week in 60-75 degree temperatures. Needless to say, this is not the case in New England. We can attempt to compensate for the varying temperatures by allowing more water during the hot months and abstaining from watering during long periods of rain.
• It is beneficial to your lawn to water infrequently. DO allow your lawn to suffer a little bit before watering. This will cause your grass to grow strong and more able to sustain itself under stress that you do not have control over.
• Apply a Moisture Manager to the lawn. The Humectants in the moisture manager will bond with the roots of the grass and help draw moisture from the soil, conserving water and reducing drought stress.

Mowing

Mowing is a great thing, as it keeps your lawn looking neat and presentable rather than looking like a hayfield. It can, however, be detrimental to your grass if proper mowing techniques are not utilized. Here are some things to think about before you cut your grass;

• Cut your grass as long as possible. Longer grass means longer roots and in turn, healthier grass. Cutting between 3 and 4 inches will optimize the health of your lawn.
• Never cut more than one third of the length of the grass at one time. Imagine cutting a tree at half its height. There is no way the tree would survive. Grass operates the same way. Strive to cut a little bit off of the top as much as possible rather than allowing the grass to grow long and cutting a large portion of the blade off.
• Dull mower blades are incredibly strenuous to grass, so keep your blades sharp. When the tip of a grass blade looks like it has been ripped rather than cut, it is time to sharpen your blades.
• Avoid cutting during extreme heat or when the grass is wet. Mowing during either of these times can put the lawns health in danger.

Thatch

Thatch is the layer of partially and non-decomposed plant material between the soil surface and green grass. Thatch of 1” or more is more likely to harbor DISEASE & INSECTS which increases the chance of damage.Excessive thatch can prevent water adsorption into the soil, causing drought stress in the lawn. Here are a few helpful tips regarding thatch;

• Do not allow the lawn to grow too tall before mowing. Cutting off more than 1/3 of the length of the blades during mowing will leave too much decaying material and add to the thatch layer
• Core Aeration is highly recommended for a lawn with excessive thatch. The aeration process introduces air and water to the turf and increases decomposition of the thatch layer
• Apply Moisture Manager to the lawn. The surfactants in the moisture manager will help water move through the thatch layer quicker and easier.

As always feel free to call the office at 978-425-0376 with any questions!