Remember last fall, when you aerated, seeded and fertilized? Remember spring, when you put down crabgrass preventer and maybe sprayed herbicide? Lawn care does not stop just because it is summer. Here are a few, free cool season grass tips for the not so cool summer. I thought “free” might get your attention.
Raise the height of your mower to three and a half inches for fescue grass. Taller grass blades help with shading the soil. Shaded soil helps retain soil moisture and prevent weed seeds from germinating. Mowing too low takes energy away from root development and moves energy into blade recovery. Look at it as a roots and shoots balancing act.
Change mowing directions. Repetitive mowing in the same direction can cause the grass to have rutted areas. It is also boring. Mow north to south one time then east to west next time. Mowing diagonally in alternating directions can give your lawn a very pleasing look and earn bonus points.
Sharpen your mower blade at least four times per season. A dull blade tears the grass instead of slicing it. You would not get your hair cut with dull scissors would you? Torn grass blades are an easier entry point for lawn disease, as well. Also, I know you want to mow early in the morning when it is cooler; however, your lawn is wet with dew and wet grass dulls blades quicker than dry grass. Wet grass also sticks to mower decks and will leave clumps throughout the lawn. Mowing takes effort so why not have the results match the effort?
All right, enough with the turf. How about free tips for mulched plant beds?
Loosen your mulch beds. Take out the bow rake from the shed and turn your mulch. This will bring the darker mulch to the top of the bed, giving a brighter appearance, as well as reducing compaction. Reduced compaction will allow air and water to pass through the mulch and into the soil easier. The roots of plants need air as well as water.
Edge your mulch beds. An edged bed looks better and reduces migration of mulch to turf and turf or weeds to mulch.
Remove weeds. Weeds are not your friend and not your plants’ friend either. Both are competing for the same moisture and nutrients. Besides, you paid for the plants.
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