Overall Philosophy: "Feed the SOIL,
not the grass."
Ensuring good soil health and vigor increases grass resistance to pests,
drought, and weed infestations. This of course will require a little extra
work. Some useful tips:
-
Fertilizer: You need at least 6 inches of
good soil. Use natural organic fertilizer and top-dress with ¼
- ½ inches of 100% compost to build soil structure and encourage
growth of beneficial organisms.
-
Grass Type: Kentucky-Bluegrass needs lots
of nitrogen!! Try a mix of Kentucky Bluegrass/Fine Fescues/Perennial
Rye Grass. Fine fescues do not require as much nitrogen...i.e.: less
fertilizer needed. Perennial rye grass germinates quickly. Beware,
annual ryegrass dies in the winter.
-
Mowing: cut grass to a 2-3 inch height. Use
a mulching mower if you don’t mow regularly, and leave clippings
on the lawn(they’re full of nitrogen from the fertilizer and
they’re also 90% water!). Keep the blades sharp!!
-
Watering: during the summer water infrequently
(e.g.: once/week) but deeply (1 inch). If you soil is sandy, you may
want to water ½ inch, twice a week. Remember in times of drought,
the lawn will go “dormant” and yellow. The grass is NOT
dead, simply conserving energy and water in a time of water stress!!
-
Weed Tolerance: 100% weed control
is NOT PRACTICAL. Adjust your tolerance to 90-95% weed control.
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