How to maintain good lawn care

Maintaining the lawn is one of those jobs that many of us consider a necessary evil, but it need not be a thankless task. A well-groomed lawn-one that is mowed at the right height when needed-is better able to resist insects, diseases, and weeds. The following guidelines should help make your job a little easier.

*Mow when the grass grows 1/3 to 1/2 times over the recommended height. For example, if the recommended mowing height is 2 inches, cut it when it reaches 3 inches.

*Suggested mowing heights:

Bahiagrass, 2 to 3 inches

Bentgrass, 3/8 to 3/4 inches

Bermudagrass, 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches

Bluegrass, 2 to 3 inches

Carpetgrass, 1 to 2 inches

Centipede, 1 to 2 inches

Fine fescue, 1 to 2 1/2 inches

Ryegrass, 1 to 2 1/2 inches

St. Augustine, 1 1/2 to 3 inches

Tall fescue 3 to 4 inches

Zoysia 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches

*Sharpen mower blades often so that they don’t tear the grass blades. Torn blades give the lawn a whitish appearance.

*Never cut off more than half the grass blade at a mowing. Mowing too short exposes the shaded lower stems to sunlight and causes burning and browning. If the grass is much too high, reduce its height a little at a time.

*About dethatching-if the lawn is healthy, it is not necessary to remove grass clippings if the clippings are able to drop into the lawn out of sight. These kind of clippings do not contribute to thatch. But if the lawn is maintained very short, or if the clippings sit on top of the grass, remove them to avoid smothering the grass.

*Always mow the lawn when the grass is dry.

*Be on the lookout for chinch bugs on St. Augustine lawns. On the sunny parts of the lawn, look for yellowish spots that rapidly turn brown; chinch bugs could be the reason. Full-grown adults are about 1/6 inch long and are black with white markings. Sevin (carbaryl) will control them.

May is a fine month to work in the garden or yard. Temperatures are not yet so high as to discourage us from spending a lot of time outdoors; and everything is so pretty! Enjoy it while you can, for June is fast approaching.

Tim Lewis is a Georgia Green Industry Association Certified Plant Professional, gardening writer, former Perry High School horticulture instructor, and former horticulturalist at Henderson Village and Houston Springs. He and his wife, Susan, own and operate Lewis Farms Nursery located on Hwy 26 two miles east of Elko, where he was born and raised. He can be reached at (478)954-1507, timlewis1@windstream.net, and at LewisFarmsNursery.com.