Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Listen to your lawn

Worried constant mowing is killing your lawn? Wondering if you should add lime or iron?

If you are asking yourself these questions, here are some general lawn care tips to ease your mind and help you maintain a healthy yard.

How do you know when it's time to water the lawn? Your lawn will give you many signs when it needs water. The leaves will curl to conserve moisture, the color will turn bluish-green and when you walk across it and look back, you will see your footprints. When you discover these signs, we recommend that you give your lawn a long drink of water. For healthy roots, water infrequently but deeply; this trains roots to grow deep in the soil for strength.

Wondering how much water makes a "long drink?" Measure it. Scatter throughout the watering zone plastic food containers that have been marked 1 inch from the bottom. Then when you are watering, time how long it takes for water to reach the 1-inch mark in the containers. In general, a lawn needs about 1 inch of water a week for healthy development. So listen to your lawn.

Is it possible to over mow? Actually, just the opposite mowing is healthy. You're trimming away the oldest part of the plant because grass grows from the bottom up, and a higher cut will ensure a deeper root system. John Deere experts recommend mowing on the high side. For bluegrass and fescue, mow at about 3 1/2 inches, for Bermuda and centipede grass mow at 1 to 2 inches, and for St. Augustine grass mow at 3 inches. Mowing encourages a lawn to spread and thicken to choke out weeds, and a deep root system is important because it can reach water farther down in the soil. When a lawn has shallow roots, there's more likelihood of a deep thatch layer harboring insects and disease.

Wondering if you should change the chemistry of your lawn? Here are some guidelines for adding lime or iron to your lawn. Grass prefers slightly acidic soil, so you either add lime to bring the acid level down or add sulfur to increase it. If you live in an area where it rains a lot, you might have to add lime each year. If a lawn turns yellow, sometimes the culprit is lack of iron. John Deere experts recommend getting a soil test before you do anything. If you're new to a community, ask your neighbors. If they lime their lawns, it's probably because they've learned that it's necessary for good results.

You don't have to be an expert gardener or landscaper to maintain a beautiful lawn. Just follow these simple tips and soon you will be able to recognize and respond to your lawn's needs. For more information visit www.deere.com.

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