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Every lawn has basic needs that must
be met to keep it healthy and beautiful. To learn more about what
you can do for your lawn, select a topic from the list below.
Additional
Information
Lawn Diseases
Drought Relief
Lawn Fertilizing
Mowing
Mulching
Lawn Pests
Seeding
Thatch
Watering
Weed Control
Most lawn diseases are caused by
fungi, although grass species vary in their susceptibility to
particular diseases. Other factors affecting disease development
include the overall health of the lawn, prevalence of certain
diseases in the geographic area, weather and seasonal conditions,
and lawn maintenance practices.
Although their causes, symptoms, and treatments may vary, basics
such as proper mowing and watering can help bolster your lawn's
resistance to disease. Here's an overview of the diseases that
could be invading and damaging your landscape.
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Drought is dangerous for any
landscape, because drought-stressed lawns are more susceptible
to damage from disease and insects.
The color of your plants is a reflection of overall health. Have
you noticed your grass change from a bright green to a dull gray
or blue-green? That can be an early indicator of drought stress.
Another sign is when your footprints don't spring back after you
walk across the lawn. As the effects of drought progress, the
turf loses its green color altogether and turns yellow, then
tan. The tan or brownish color signals drought dormancy. Drought
dormancy does not mean your lawn is dead. Because of the hot,
dry conditions, it has stopped growing in order to conserve its
energy for a more favorable time. But this stress does call for
specialized treatment to get your lawn healthy and attractive
again.
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Effective fertilizing involves more
than simply picking up the first bag of fertilizer you find and
spreading it over your lawn once or twice a year. To ensure your
lawn benefits from your efforts, the experts offer these guidelines for fertilizing your own lawn.
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Often delegated to the nearest teenager looking for some extra
cash, mowing might seem like a goof-proof chore. But, truth is,
lawns that are properly mowed are actually healthier and more
beautiful.
A properly mowed lawn is thicker and has deeper roots, making it
more durable and better equipped to combat weeds, insects, and
diseases. Alternately, according to the experts, mowing mistakes can result in
discolored grass tips, brown spots, and even damage to the lawn.
The experts also report that the most common mowing mistakes are mowing
too infrequently and cutting grass too short. Here are their
tips on proper mowing technique:
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Mulching offers multiple benefits to
lawns and gardens. Neutral-colored mulch sets off colorful
ornamental plants from the surrounding lawn or pavement,
providing visual appeal. But it does much more than beautify. Mulch helps maintain strong, healthy plants.
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You work hard in your yard, and
you want it to look as lush and lovely as possible.
Unfortunately, there's an army of aggressive pests out there
just waiting to undo your handiwork. During the spring and
summer months pests such as fleas, ticks, spiders, chiggers,
crickets, pill bugs and more hatch and become active, while
other pests are active all year long. Its important to
recognize the need to treatment of these problems as some
pests' bites have been known to transmit diseases or cause
allergic reactions for pets and people.
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Many factors, such as insects,
disease, and weeds, can contribute to thin or bare patches
in an otherwise healthy lawn. Once you or your lawn care
expert have determined the cause and treated the problem,
you want to make sure your fill-in strategy will be
successful.
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Every lawn has a layer of
thatch between the soil surface and the green grass.
Although it contains some living grass parts, thatch
primarily consists of accumulated dead grass stems and
roots that resist decomposition.
A thin layer (one-half inch or less)
is desirable, as it helps insulate your grass against
extreme heat and cold. Its cushioning effect also helps
your lawn stand up to traffic. But when thatch builds up
beyond one-half inch, it predisposes your lawn to problems
and limits the benefits of lawn treatments.
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It may seem elementary, but
proper watering techniques are essential to a healthy,
attractive lawn. Occasional light rains or short
downpours are not enough to ensure your soil has been
sufficiently soaked. So whether you're tending your
first lawn or simply wanting to confirm your watering
approach is on track, the experts offer this advice.
 | Established
lawns should be watered deeply, but infrequently.
Deep watering once a week encourages deeper root
growth, while frequent, shallow watering produces a
limited
root system.
| When
watering, make sure you moisten the top three to
four inches of soil, which covers the root zone.
| Although
watering frequency depends on the type of grass,
your soil, and the weather, most grasses require
about one inch of water each week for healthy
growth.
| The
best time to water is in the morning. This conserves
water that would evaporate if you were to water
later in the day, but also allows grass to dry
before evening. Grass that remains wet for long
periods of time is more susceptible to disease
development.
| If
you’re using a movable sprinkler, let it run in
one spot just until the water begins to run off the
surface, then move to a different area of the lawn.
| Monitor
your underground irrigation or sprinkler system to
ensure that you moisten the lawn’s entire root
zone without over-watering any sections.
| Water
the lawn once grass begins to discolor and wilt. If
you can’t keep the grass green, water your lawn
with at least one-half inch of water every seven to
14 days, which will keep the plants alive even if
they are dormant.
| Once
your lawn has turned brown and lost all color during
drought dormancy, it will take several weeks of
steady watering to spur regrowth
from the crown area of the plants. |
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What you can't see now can hurt your
lawn's appearance later. While your lawn lies dormant and weather
conditions tend to be wetter in many areas, spring and summer
weeds could be lurking in the grass. Research reveals that lawns that have
been thinned by disease or insects are especially susceptible to
invasions of weedy grasses and broadleaf weeds.
Without taking preventive measures at the right time, you could be
facing a patchwork of color and texture within your lawn. Weedy
grasses often contrast greatly with desirable turf grasses and can
be difficult to eliminate once they've become established in your
lawn. Broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions that rise well above the
turf and produce flowers, are even more visible within a uniform
carpet of green.
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