Make these critical fixes, and you’ll get green grass in no time.
Of course, you want your grass to look good, but theres more than just aesthetics at stake.
Keep your blades sharp, and don’t put awayyour lawnmowertoo soon.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Read on for tips on how to get the beautiful lawn that you want.
Why timing matters:Appropriately used, broadleafweed killers are highly effectivewhen conditions are optimal.
You’ll waste time and money on lawn care if the grass isn’t wet.
Credit: Scott Little
Warm temperatures often help liquid treatments work faster, too.
However, if you’ve been having a hot but dry summer, you’ll want towater your lawnfirst.
An program early in the growing season works wonders.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
It’s like vaccinating your lawn against weeds.
The right time:Apply preventer whenforsythiablooms drop (from March to May, depending on your region).
The right time:North: Feed in the fall and spring.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
South: Feed in spring and summer.
Why timing matters:Grass needs to be fedwhen it’s actively growing.
For cool-season grasses (bluegrass, fescues, and ryegrass), this primarily means spring and fall.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The result is earlier greening and better appearance the next spring.
Experts agree that this may be the most beneficial time to feed a cool-season lawn.
Warm-season lawns should not be fed in the fall unless they’ve been overseeded with winter ryegrass.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Aerating Your Lawn at the Wrong Time
You do aerate, right?
Over time, soil gets compacted by being walked on, andthatch builds up.
Aerating helps loosen the soil again and allows water to reach grass roots more easily.
The right time:Aerate when the soil is moist, and grass is actively growing.
The right time:Water early in the morning.
Why timing matters:Early morning is thebest time to give your lawn a drink.
The sun’s warmth will soon dry the grass and lessen the chance of disease.
Compared with frequent but shallow irrigation, this better encourages deep roots and makes your lawn more drought-tolerant.
Why timing matters:Many homeownersritually mow on weekends, effectively putting their lawns on a seven-day mowing schedule.
Most of the year, weekly mowing may be fine.
But when growth is vigorous in spring, mowing may be necessary every four or five days.
Your Lawn and Its Care.
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Keep mowing and dont set the mower down.
Purdue University Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture.
