Volume 1 Issue 2

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ProGardenBiz Landscape & Garden Magazine for the Green Industry

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Article by Trey Rogers, Ph.D. Prescription for a Healthy Lawn Lawn Care Tips Maintaining a healthy lawn is simple when you follow the Yard Doctor's lawn care tips.

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Never cut more than one-third of the grass blade during any one mowing.

By following this rule, the remaining two-thirds of the plant will develop deep roots and spread out, eventually creating a dense, healthy turf. Using this technique, of course, means shorter intervals between mowings in the spring and other high growth times, but a healthy lawn is the best medicine for preventing weeds and disease.

Alternate your mowing pattern.

Try not to follow the same path each time you mow. Think of a clock. Start at the 12 o’clock position and mow to the 6 o’clock position. The next time you mow, begin at the 9 o’clock position and mow to the to 3 o’clock position. The third time, mow from 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock, etc. Changing the mowing pattern every time you mow will keep the turf and soil from compacting and prevent wheel patterns in your lawn.

Leave grass clippings on the lawn.

You'll give your lawn valuable nutrients by grinding up the clippings with your mulching mower. You can do the same thing with tree leaves in the fall. And, don't worry: grass clippings don't promote thatch.

Control weeds while they're young.

The best time to treat troublesome weeds is early in their life cycle. That means applying herbicide to grassy weeds, such as crabgrass, in early spring and to broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, in the fall.

Look for a high-quality engine when buying a lawn mower.

There's nothing more annoying when you're ready to cut your lawn than a mower that doesn't start. Briggs & Stratton engines deliver power and performance and are easy to start.

Give your mower a tuneup.

The grass plant responds better to a clean cut than a jagged one, so have your mower blades sharpened at least once a year by an authorized dealer. Periodically examine the mower blades for damage, and adjust the wheel height for an even cut. Then use a Maintenance Kit to change the oil, air filter and spark plug and add a fuel stabilizer to reduce emissions and improve the startability of your mower.

Water early in the day.

Watering between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. helps ensure that the sun won't rob moisture from your lawn. It also gives your lawn the best chance to dry in the morning. Wet grass at night can lead to disease. Most lawns need about 1–2 inches of water a week to stay healthy.

Buy high-quality grass seed.

You get what you pay for. The cheaper the seed, the more likely there are weed seeds in the bag that will be introduced to your lawn. Always look for the label with the seed-to-weed ratio (the percentage of the bag that is grass seed vs. weed seed). It should contain less than 0.1 percent of weed seeds. If you can’t find a seed label on the product, don't buy it.

Avoid a fertilizer overdose.

Even good medicine causes harm when used improperly, so avoid doubling the recommended rates of fertilizer as well as seed, herbicide, insecticide, etc. One pound of water-soluble nitrogen per 1,000 square feet is the maximum amount established lawns should receive at one time.

Protect the environment while saving your lawn.

Lawn mower emissions contribute less than two percent of the total emissions output per year, but homeowners can take several steps to further reduce emissions. Change the engine oil and air filter after every 25 hours of operation. Use a non-spill gas container like Briggs & Stratton's Smart Fill® Fuel Can, and avoid tipping the mower during maintenance when the fuel tank is full.

Trey Rogers, Ph.D.
Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor

For more of The Yard Doctor read previous installments of this column in our magazine archives.

The Yard Doctor - Trey Rodgers, Ph.D

Profile of The Yard Doctor Dr. Rogers’ interest in lawn care began early, while he was working as a golf course groundskeeper during his teens in his hometown of Fort Smith, Ark. He earned the nicknames “Sultan of Sod” and “God of Grass,”...

See The Yard Doctor website for more tips from Trey Rodgers, Ph.D.

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Lawn Care Tips by The Yard Doctor

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