Most conventional lawns are cut too short for the health of the grass plant. Grass should rarely be cut lower than three inches and we never cut more than a third of the height of the grass plant. Leaving the grass plants a little taller makes them more disease resistant and drought tolerant and helps to choke out weeds, reducing the need for chemical herbicides. We recommend mulch-cutting or grasscycling to restore healthy nutrients to the soil. Sharp mower blades make cleaner cuts and put less stress on the grass plants by reducing openings for insect infestations and diseases.
At the end of the growing season reduce the height of the grass cut. Leaves can be mulched into the soil for fertilizer and to protect the roots of the grass plants.
Fertilization, Aeration and Liming
Fertilizer applied at the end of the season concentrates below the soil and strengthens the roots of the grass plants for the next growing season. We aerate the lawn to promote the activity of the organisms and facilitate the transfer of oxygen and water though the soil. Aeration promotes the growth of earthworms and microorganisms that are critical to the distribution of water and nutrition through the root systems of your lawn. If the soil test indicates that the soil is too acidic, this is the right time to apply lime.
