Lawn Care Guidelines

One of most important aspects of organic lawn care is mowing and watering. Here are some guidelines that will help your lawn reach optimum health and appearance.

Frequent mowing. Mow often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the grass blade is being removed. Grass blades are 90% water and the actual cutting of a grass blade is a stressful event. Cutting off too much of the blade puts a lot of stress on the grass. When the grass is stressed it is more susceptible to disease and pest problems.

Mow at the correct height. 2.5 - 3 inches in the spring, 3+ inches in the summer. (The highest setting on many mowers is 3 inches) Cutting shorter than this means the grass plant has to use carbohydrates from the root reserves to initiate new growth. Repeated scalping of the turf weakens the root system, directly affecting the ability of the turf to obtain water and nutrients. Lower mowing produces a shallow root system, making the grasses more succulent and susceptible to heat and drought stress and disease injury. Mowing at the correct height will prevent diseases, help the grass retain water and promote the roots to grow deeper. The taller the grass blade the more surface area there is which means more complete photosynthesis. Taller blades shade the soil surface, depriving weeds of sunlight and preventing them from growing.

Mulching. If you are only cutting a 1/3 of the blade off then don't bag your clippings. The lawn’s clippings are very beneficial to a healthy nutrient cycle. Mulching adds vital nutrients and water back to the soil without causing thatch buildup.

Change direction of cut. try to change the direction you cut every week. For example: cut up and down one week, back and forth the next week and then diaganol the next. This will help reduce soil compaction and stress on your lawn.

Sharpen mower blades. A dull mover blade will rip the grass instead of cutting it. This will leave a very noticeable white tip on the grass blade taking away from the aesthetic appearance of your lawn. A ripped blade will also take longer to heal leaving the grass more succeptible to disease.

Mow when grass is dry. Mowing when the grass is wet can spread disease-causing organisms from infected healthy leaves more rapidly. Mowing the grass and then watering it right after can have the same negative affects. If possible wait 24 hours after you mow before you water. This gives the grass blade time to heal.

Water deeply and infrequently. The idea is to let water get down to the root zone (6-8 inches) and then let the soil dry out before watering again. This will encourage the roots to dig deep. The deeper the roots are the healthier the grass will be. If you water frequently and shallow (every other day for 10-20 minutes) the water will not reach the root zone. It will stay near the surface and that is where the roots will stay. A shallow root system is more susceptible to drought and disease.

Water early in the morning. It is best to water early in the morning. This mimics the natural moisture grass gets from dew. This will allow the grass time to dry during the day discouraging disease and fungus. There will also be less loss of water to evaporation which helps conserve water. Adding Water Saver will also help reduce watering needs and conserve water. If watering in the early morning is not possible water late at night.