TIP OF TOM’S THUMB

Healthy Lawn Practices

Using best management practices not only encourages a healthy lawn, but also minimizes the potential for water contamination from fertilizers and pesticides.

Mowing properly helps to improve the quality of the lawn.  The recommended mowing height is two to two and a half inches.  Mowing at this height for the grass encourages a deeper root system, which will help protect your lawn against drought and weeds.

Keep the mower blade sharp.  A sharp mower blade makes mowing easier, reduces wear on the mower, and results in a better looking and healthier lawn.  A dull mower blade tears the leaves instead of making a clean, sharp cut.  A torn leaf is more susceptible to an invasion of a disease.

Mow often so that only one third of the grass blade is removed at any one time.  Mowing off more than 50 percent of the leaves at one time causes scalping, which results in an increase in weed competition and in the death of some grass plants during the hot summer.

While  you are mowing with the one-third rule, make it easy on yourself and leave the grass clippings on the lawn.  This will save time, money and energy, since you don't have to stop and unload the bagger or buy trash bags.  Clipping also adds free fertilizer to the lawn, possibly as much as 25 percent of the lawn’s annual nutritional needs.

Less work for you, less work for the landfill.  Everybody wins.

 

TOM’S TIPS FOR APRIL GARDENING

• Evaluate the condition of your yard and garden.

 

• Launch a lawn maintenance program.  Fertilize, seed or mow, based on turf requirement.

 

• Apply pre-emergent weed control according to package label.

 

• Service the lawn mower and sharpen the blade.

 

• Cut back ornamental grasses.

 

• Prune spring blooming shrubs such as forsythia and spirea after they have completed flowering.

* Remove sticks, rocks and other debris from your lawn to prevent damaging your lawnmower or injuring yourself when moving.  Check your lawnmower and other lawn care equipment in preparation for the coming season.

• Put a birdhouse in the garden to attract insect-eating friends.

• Measure the rainfall with a rain gauge posted near the garden so you can tell when to water.  The garden needs about one inch of rain per week from April to September.

• When chrysanthemums show signs of life, dig up and divide large plants.  Discard woody portions and replant divisions 12 to 15 inches apart.

• Cut flower stalks back to the ground on daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring flowering bulbs as the flowers fade.  DO NOT cut the foliage until it dies naturally.  The leaves are necessary to produce strong bulbs capable of re-flowering.