Lawn 101

Bright green and toe-wiggling soft—a lush lawn is one of summer’s greatest pleasures.

Kick off your shoes and step in. A beautiful lawn sets the stage for summer fun—from ball games to picnics. Plus, a lush turf amps up the curb appeal of your home. Face it: When your lawn looks great, summer is off to a fabulous start. Here’s how to have an envy-worthy green lawn:

Dethatch. Thatch is a lawn condition caused by root and stem buildup. A layer of thatch is a barrier to everything your lawn needs to be healthy: air, water and nutrients. Several things can cause thatch: too much nitrogen, mowing too short and shallow watering. Use a garden or thatch rake or power dethatcher to remove thatch if your lawn has a problem.

Aerate. Punching small holes in your lawn increases fertilizer and water uptake. That’s why it’s important to aerate your lawn every few years. Aerate your lawn in spring or fall as needed to help reduce thatch accumulation, improve rooting and enhance heat and drought tolerance. Use a manual or power lawn aerator.

Repair. If you have sparse, bare or discolored grass in your lawn, you can grow new grass. So do you sod or seed? Sodding provides an immediate result. Seeding takes longer but is less expensive. Before you start, prepare your soil by adding 2 to 3 inches of compost or other organic matter and till it in. Level the area with a rake and roll, and add a layer of sod or seed.

Weed. The best way to avoid lawn interlopers, such as dandelions and crabgrass, is to keep your lawn healthy. Treat weeds using herbicides, or hand-dig them if they are sparse. Stop weeds before they start by applying a pre-emergent herbicide in early spring. Regular mowing also keeps weeds from going to seed and replanting themselves.

Feed. Use a balanced fertilizer twice each year. Fertilize in early spring to help jump-start your lawn’s fitness—and then again in the fall. Lawn food contains nitrogen, which greens up lawns quickly. Using a slow-release product nourishes your lawn over time. Always follow fertilizer instructions. You can burn your lawn with too much.

Diagnose. Lawns attract a number of grass-destroying pests: moles, grubs, sod webworms and more. Make sure you know what is causing the problem before you treat. Your Lowe’s lawn specialist can help you determine a course of action.

Mow. No matter what type of mower you use, make sure you start with a sharp blade. A sharp blade cuts the grass; a dull blade shreds it. Sharpen your mower blade two or three times a year. When you mow, cut a third of the grass height As the temperatures rise, raise the mower height. Different grasses have different optimal growing heights, but in general it’s best to mow at the high end of that spectrum.

Water. The best way to water your lawn is uniformly, deeply—and infrequently. Lawns become increasingly tolerant of drought and develop deeper root systems when they are watered deeply and less often. Aim for 1 inch per week. An irrigation system, soaker hoses or overhead water systems provide needed lawn moisture.

KNOW YOUR GRASS
If you’re a new homeowner you may know the brand of refrigerator in your kitchen or the square footage of your guest room. But chances are you don’t know the type of grass in your lawn. Depending on where you live, there are different types of turf. Generally speaking, in northern states lawns are planted with cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. In southern states you may have a yard with St. Augustine, Bermuda, centipede or zoysia grass. Knowing the type of grass you have will help you care for it better.

GRASS MOWING HEIGHTS

St Augustine	2 to 4 inches
Fine Fescue	1½ to 2 inches
Tall Fescue	2 to 3 inches
Kentucky bluegrass	2 to 3 inches
Rye	1½ to 2 inches
Zoysia	1 to 2 inches
Centipede	1 to 2 inches

YEAR-ROUND LAWN CARE

January/February
Service mower/sharpen blades

March/April
Remove leaves/pick up tree debris
Apply pre-emergent broadleaf/crabgrass herbicide
Overseed/patch sparse areas based on light requirements
Dethatch and aerate if needed
Mow at recommended height for grass type
Soil test for nutrient needs

May/June
Feed lawn with fertilizer
Apply post-emergent herbicide if needed
Water about an inch per week
Increase mowing height as weather warms
Mow at recommended height for grass type
Spot treat weeds if needed
Sharpen mower blades

July/August
Water about an inch per week
Inspect for lawn pests/weeds and treat if needed
Mow as needed with raised blade
Sharpen mower blades

September
Feed lawn with fertilizer
Plant or sod new areas
Dethatch and aerate if needed
Apply broadleaf herbicides
Decrease mowing frequency as grass growth slows
Raise mower height
Repair damaged or worn areas

October/November/December
Mow until grass stops growing
Remove leaves/ pick up tree debris
Clean and store mower

Want to talk lawns? Talk to your local Lowe’s Lawn Care Expert for advice about grass care and feeding. To learn more go to lowes.com/lawn or see our lawn videos at youtube.com/lowes.

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By:Lowe's Creative Ideas

Posted: March 30, 2011

By:Lowe's Creative Ideas

Laura,

Thanks for letting us know that the shortcut isn't working. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We should get the problem fixed soon.

Sincerely,
The LCI Team

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