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Maintainin a Lush, Green Lawn: A Four-part series from Joe Garpiel
Part I: PROPER MOWING
When it comes to maintain a lush, green home lawn, there are 4 simple steps: proper mowing, fertilization, irrigation, and aeration. All four of the steps are essential when it comes to your lawn.
For this session, I'm going to discuss the importance of properly mowing your lawn. Cool season grasses like Fine Fescue and Kentucky Blue Grass are commonly found throughout the State of Michigan and most of the Midwest. When mowing lawn containing these types of grasses, you should never remove more than 2/3 of the length of the blade of grass. In order to make sure you do not harm the grass plant, make sure that your lawn mower blades are extremely sharp for the cleanest and smoothest cut to the blade as possible. Our lawn mower blades are sharpened after 8 hours of mowing time to ensure a fresh cut. Dual lawn mower blades do not cut grass. They actually tear the blades of grass off. This type of mowing can cause the tips of the blades to turn a yellowish/brown color and make the turf susceptible to disease that can severely harm your lawn, ad can be costly to repair.
Mowing height is extremely important for cool season grasses; mainly because of different types of turf and site conditions. We have determined, through research and testing while mowing turf blinds in the mid-Michigan area, that mowing your lawn around 3' to 3 1/2' tall can reduce the risk of diseases. Also, there is less need for herbicides for weed control because taller grass plants can cough out undesired weeds. mowing your lawn a little higher may result in having to more more frequently, but this type of practice is more beneficial to your turf.
Finally, bagging or mulching your lawn is also important. A lot of people believe there is only one way to mow your lawn and that is bagging it. Bagging a lawn consists of removing all of the turf that has been cut leaving a clean manicured look. Although it looks very nice, bagging is not the best thing for the grass. Mulching is one of the most beneficial and economical things you can do for your lawn. You do not have to take extra time unloading a bag and in some cases having to pay to dispose of it. Mulching your lawn can reduce your lawns need for nitrogen by up to 40%, making your lawn green. Another advantage to mulching is the turf plant is made up of more than 90% water, reducing your need for watering as well. For the health of your lawn and your wallet, mulching is the better alternative.
If you have any questions in regards to this topic, please feel free to contact me and I will be more than willing to answer them for you.
Joe Garpiel
Landscape Management Division.
Benefits of Aeration
One thing I would like you to think about this winter and strongly suggest you do this upcoming season is core aeration. Core aeration is the least familiar, but extremely vital element to a healthy lawn.
Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. Aeration helps the roots grow deeper and produce stronger, more vigorous lawn. finally, core aeration is used to alleviate soil compaction.
Compacted soils have too many solid particles in a certain volume or space which prevents proper circulation of air, water, and nutrients with the soil. Excess thatch and heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface will also starve the roots from essential elements.
I hope to continue to maintain your turf for years to come. I want you to know that I will always be educating myself in the turf management field throughout my career. I will do whatever it takes to make your yard the greenest in town.
It has been an honor working with the customers of Garpiel Landscaping and I look forward to meeting new customers to share my experience with as well.
Matt Garpiel
State licensed pesticide applicator
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Our affiliation with Planet 7 Landcare Network allows Garpiel Landscaping to offer several brochures in pdf format. If you are unable to open any of the files below, please check to ensure that you have the most current version of Adobe Acrobat reader installed.
Hydro Seeding FAQ's
How much does Hydroseed cost?
Hydroseeding prices will vary greatly across the United States. Conditions such as Grass type, soil additives and extreme climates are some of the factors that will affect cost. Hydroseeding jobs are commonly priced by the Square footage of area to be seeded and can range from 6 cents/sq. ft to 15 cents/sq. ft nationwide.
What type of grass seed is used in Hydroseeding?
Most any type of grass seed can be used in Hydroseeding, factors such as climate conditions will be the determining factor as to which grass type is recommended. A Horticultural center or County Agricultural agent can tell you what turf seeds flourish best in your climate.
Why is the green color gone from my hydroseeded lawn?
The green dye that was present during the initial application will fade and disappear in as few as 2 days in some cases and in other instances it may last weeks. The colorant has no bearing on the quality of the hydroseed or the impression that the hydroseeded lawn has washed away.
How much should I water my hydroseeded lawn?
Initially water is essential to the development of a strong root system in your hydroseeded lawn. Newly hydroseeded lawns should be watered as much as 2-3 times a day. Special care should be taken to ensure that the lawn is NOT saturated during watering and puddles DO NOT form on the lawn. An irrigation system or handheld garden hose is often the best method of watering your lawn. The goal is to have a consistently moist area for the best germination results.
When should I fertilize my hydroseeded lawn?
This will often vary depending on the type of grass seed used, condition of the soil and recommended fertilizer types for your climate. A common practice is to apply a nitrogen rich fertilizer soon after the first mowing has been done. Weeks 4-6 are common fertilizing times. When in doubt, an Expert should be consulted as improper fertilization could cause severe damage to your lawn.
Can I walk on the hydroseed once it is applied?
Only as much as is absolutely necessary. Heavy traffic on a newly seeded lawn can permanently damage the new grass. Walking on a freshly hydroseeded lawn can leave depressions in the lawn and in some cases cause bare spots to form.
How soon will I have grass?
Often times hydroseeded lawns will begin to germinate is as little as 5-7 days. Most grass types will take between 3-4 weeks to fill in and depending on how often the lawn is watered, and the type of grass seed used, it can take up to as much as 8 weeks to see strong growth.
When should I first mow my hydroseeded lawn?
As a general rule of thumb the first mowing is recommended once the lawn reaches 3-4 inches in height. The 1/3rd rule is a good guideline, You should never remove more than 1/3rd of the grass blade at one time.
Do I need any special equipment to mow my hydroseeded lawn?
No. The most important item you can have when mowing your new lawn is a very sharp mower blade. Try to avoid sharp turns when mowing a fresh lawn so as to avoid tearing the grass out with your tires.
Is Hydroseeding guaranteed?
A reputable Hydroseeding contractor will stand by his work. Often times incidents such as torrential rains, strong winds or acts of nature are beyond the Hydroseeders control and are often not covered. A common problem in the development of a new lawn is neglect, not watering the property sufficiently will cause the yard to appear spotty and incomplete.
Is Hydroseeding better than sod?
Having your lawn sodded will give you a picture perfect lawn in as little as one day. Hydroseeding may take a few weeks to see your lawn fully develop. Hydroseeding is also 60%-75% less expensive than the costly application of sod. As to which lawn looks better, aftercare and attention to your investment will ultimately determine what your results are with either choice.
What's the best time of year to have my lawn hydroseeded?
This will depend greatly on your climate, traditionally the Spring and Fall months are the most conducive to growing any type of vegetation.
Do I need to have new soil brought in before I hydroseed my yard?
A soil sample will tell exactly what the health of your soil is and how conducive the area will be to grow grass. Additional soil is sometimes required if the existing soil is sterile or is nutritionally deficient beyond reasonable control.
I see green stains on my foundation and my walkway after my yard was hydroseeded, will it go away?
Absolutely, the green dye that may have splashed onto your foundation or walkways will usually fade away within a few days and can be hosed off with a garden hose.
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