MOWING
Keep your mow height at approximately 3.5”. Too short and the roots will be stressed, depleting energy reserves which can result in weakened and dead grass, leaving your lawn vulnerable to weeds. Too long and it will be difficult to mow, clipping will need to be bagged, the blades will become thin and inconsistent in length, and possibly will go to seed giving a weedy appearance. Change mowing direction periodically to avoid creating ruts in the lawn.
Pruning and Tree Trimming
Trim trees and shrubs to reduce shade encroachment into lawn areas.
Mowing Equipment
Keep mowing blades sharp and straight. Remember to keep lawn implements clean to prevent spreading lawn disease.
Irrigation
Begin watering in the Spring around two to three times a week, for roughly 15 minutes per zone for spray heads in smaller areas, and 30 minutes per zone for rotor heads in larger open areas. Water in the early morning hours concluding before sunrise. Avoid watering in the evenings, as it can promote fungal infestation. Established lawns need about 1” to 2” of water per week to thrive. As the temperatures increase during the summer, you may need to increase to daily watering during high heat or drought. Consider adding a rain sensor to your system, so the irrigation will only run as needed during times of inclement weather. Frequently check coverage for isolated dry areas, as heads can be easily bumped and need recalibrated. Cut down your watering frequency, as temperatures get cooler.
Watering Without irrigation
Every living organism needs water, so no matter how much product is placed on your lawn, it will not thrive without water. Invest in an irrigation system, or hoses and oscillating sprinklers, to deliver much needed hydration to your lawn. Oscillating sprinklers come in different coverage ranges, so make sure to know the size of your lawn. Watering times for oscillating sprinklers increase, as they distribute about an inch of water per hour per zone. Established lawns need about 1” to 2” of water per week to thrive. Watering in the early morning is ideal to prevent evaporation. Avoid watering in the evenings, as it can promote fungal infestation. Cut down your watering frequency as temperatures get cooler.
Fall aeration and overseeding
This is the best time to address compaction and thatch and to improve the density of thin areas with new grass. New seed needs to be watered daily to saturation for a minimum of ten days post-application. Please schedule irrigation system closings accordingly.
Final mowing of the season
Mow one setting lower during final mowing to reduce debris and leaf accumulation.
Eliminating lawn moss
We get a few inquiries every year about how to get rid of lawn moss. Here is an excellent article from The Spruce on lawn moss and our favored method for treating it. Please note that the article references lime applications, which are also often asked about We at Bee Green do not offer lime applications. Lime applications, as noted herein, are not guaranteed to work and we at Bee Green want to offer the most straigthforward, environmentally-friendly options as possible and not charge you for unnecessary applications. We do offer soil testing and the turnaround time is about two weeks from soil gathering to lab results. (Turnaround time can fluctuate based upon our service schedule and laboratory demand.) A more appropriate approach would be to try the dishwashing soap option first and then pursue more aggressive approaches, if warranted.
Please note that this article also states important precautions such as keeping dish soap off your roofing shingles and deferring to commercial removal from your home’s facade.
