When it comes to taking care of your lawn, sometimes what you don’t do is as important as what you do.
Dozens of lawn care and pest management professionals recently gathered at a lawn care summit in Nashville, Tennessee. One session at the summit touched upon how cultural practices impact lawn care.
When we say “cultural practices”, we are talking about the common steps people do to take care of their lawn.The most common practices are mowing, fertilization, irrigation, cultivation and pest control. The session then broke down the importance of four of the practices:
Mowing: Grass that is improperly cut can negatively impact the quality of the lawn. Improperly cut grass can use up to 20% more water. Lawn industry experts say you should never remove more than one-third of the grass at a time when mowing. Instead, mow more frequently. Blade sharpness is also important. Dull blades can damage lawns.
Fertilization: Lawns have to eat. Hence, fertilizer. A lawn that is give a year-long supply of nitrogen can see an improvement in turf health. Your climate should factor in when you fertilize. For cooler climates, experts recommend three applications: One in the spring, one in the summer and one in the fall. For warmer areas, applications should take place between April and September.
Irrigation: Having a lawn sprinkler system can be a plus for almost any lawn owner. It’s still important to know when to water and to make sure that the lawn is not getting too little or too much water. Temperature, wind speed and humidity can also be factors.
Cultivation: Improper cultivation can be detrimental to the health of a lawn. Experts say aeration should be done in the spring and the fall. People living in warmer areas should aerate lawns in the summer. Compost can also help improve soil conditions.
