Mowing
Regular mowing is very important to the health of your lawn and is often overlooked, so make sure to mow your lawn regularly. To maintain healthy grass, avoid cutting it too short. We recommend the 1/3 RULE, which means never remove more than one-third of the leaf tissue at any one time. In the Summer months—June / July / August—raise mower to the highest level.
Mulching
Lawn clippings should be mulched back into the lawn. The benefits of mulching lawn clippings are hard to ignore. From providing nutrients for the soil to saving significant amounts of time and money, mulching the lawn clippings just makes sense. Similar to mulching leaves into the lawn in the fall, lawn clippings add valuable organic matter back to the soil.
Watering
Get to know you lawn. Water when it needs it. Avoid automatic cycles unless on vacation. Sunny areas may need more water. Water between the hours of 4am & 8am if possible. A minimum of 1 inch per week is adequate. During hot weather your lawn may require 1-1/2 to 2 inches per week.
Overseeding
Many improvements have been made in turfgrass breeding. Newer varieties have improved color and insect/disease resistance. If you have an older lawn, it may be time to overseed. Fall is the best time to overseed—September 1-15.
Disease
Generally, disease is stress related. You can help avoid stressing your lawn by using good cultural practices for mowing and watering. Raise mower to highest level and water as needed. Overseed with a disease-resistant variety.
For More Information
For more information, visit the IANR Nebraska Extension Publication website by clicking here.
