General Information
Since 1985, Landers Landcare continues in it’s commitment to being: “Your Lawn Cutting Experts!” We would very much like to provide you with the best professional quality service for all of your lawn needs. We will maintain your lawn on a regular, dependable basis as part of our overall commitment in keeping your grass healthy and green. To serve our family of customers and our Internet visitors we are providing these free lawn tips for your lawn.
Lawn Watering
Proper watering involves watering thoroughly, but infrequently. With each application apply enough water to cover the entire root zone; it is recommended that you apply 1/2 inch of water per application. During hot dry periods, your lawn should receive a thorough soaking twice a week. This will enable your grass to develop deeper roots. Avoid frequent shallow watering, which helps weeds, such a crabgrass, to take hold of your lawn. If possible, schedule your watering for early morning, but remember not to water for at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled lawn cutting.
Mowing Height
The appropriate cutting height for our geographical climate here in the Cincinnati, Ohio area during the hot months is 3 inches so that the grass is left longer. Grass that is cut too short is more susceptible to weed invasion, drought and heat damage. We adjust our mowers accordingly and will readjust them as the current local weather dictates.
Mowing Frequency
Lawns that are cut regularly and at the proper height, actually help the lawn to flourish during dry times. Contrary to popular belief, weekly lawn cutting does not contribute to lawn burnout. Your grass clippings are 85% to 90% moisture which shade the soil surface and reduce moisture loss due to evaporation. Also, the finely cut clippings and their residue help cool the soil and maintain a uniform temperature. Additionally, weekly cutting ensures that not more than the top one third of the grass blade is cut. Cutting more than one third, at any given time, can cause stress on the grass.
Grass Clippings
With frequent mowing, the grass clippings that are returned back onto the grass and back into the soil have a wonderful natural benefit for your lawn. Because only the top one third of the grass is removed, at any given time during the grass growing season, that part of the grass clippings contains 85% to 90% moisture and some essential nutrients. In a recent publication, found in the “Community And Natural Resource Development”, they stated that these valuable nutrients in the grass clippings may generate up to 25% of your lawn’s total fertilizer needs. Some of those nutrients found in your lawns clippings are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium – the three most important nutrients needed by lawns and commonly supplied in most lawn fertilizers. Frequent mowing also allow the grass clippings to be readily decomposed and consumed back into your lawn which helps in the prevention of a thatch build up in your lawn.
Mulching
Mulching provides a natural way to improve your soil’s quality with nutrients as well as the aesthetic beauty that it gives enhancing your flower and shrub beds. Properly applied twice a year, once in the spring and fall, mulch provides an efficient way to conserve water evaporation in the summer and vital insulating protection for your plants in the winter.