The foundation of a good lawn is based on two things: watering and mowing practices. If these things are done well they lay the groundwork for a healthy and attractive lawn, if not then everything else is a battle against the tide.

Here are the very basics of mowing and watering correctly so you can lay the groundwork for a fabulous lawn:

Watering

Approximately 1″ per time. General watering needs are as follows:

  • Daily High of 70-85 degrees    once per week
  • Daily High of 85-92 degrees    every 4-5 days
  • Daily high over 92 degrees      every 3 days

Zones with pop-up heads run 15-20 min/zone

Rotary zone run approx. 30-45 mins/zone

Water during the day when we have cooler weather and in the very early morning during the hottest months (before sunrise is fine.)

Tip: Place some (preferably identical) small pots or cups around the lawn next time you run the sprinklers to make sure the lawn is getting at least 1″ of water. Use as many as possible so you can find out if the system is over or under-watering areas and adjust accordingly.

Mowing

  • Do not cut more than a 1/3 of the blade off at a time*
  • Mowing height should be 2 1/2-3″
  • Do not bag clippings every time, some thatch buildup is good.
  • Always use sharp, clean blades to avoid tearing and the spread of weeds.

* if your lawn hasn’t seen a mower over winter you can exceed this in the first mowing to achieve a 2 – 2 1/2″ blade height. Be careful of “scalping” though, we suggest asking your lawn care professional to assess the lawns health first as this can be stressful.

If your lawn is being watered and mowed correctly then fertilizing and other treatments become all the more effective. Instead of fighting for grass recovery, additional techniques and supplements can focus on beautifying your lawn.

Still have questions? Let me know in the comments section below.