 Help Your Lawn Recover from Winter by Mike Ferrara, The Lazy Homeowner |
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The long winter night is over and it's time again to renew our lawns. Here are some easy, environmentally safe ways to produce lush, green grass without spending countless weekends doing it! In early spring, get your lawn off to a quick start by setting your mower a notch lower than normal to remove surface debris and any damaged grass. Use your bagging attachment so you don't have to spend time raking. If you have a name-brand mower, you should be able to buy a special de-thatching attachment that will help open up the turf so it can receive more air, light and moisture. If you have bare spots (and who doesn't?), over-seed the area with the correct type of grass. Check with your County Cooperative Extension agent or your local garden center. If appropriate, try some of the improved varieties that don't need as much fertilizer and are naturally disease-resistant. Some types don't even grow as fast! Don't throw your clippings in the trash...they're valuable fertilizer for your lawn. Use a mulching mower to return the clippings back into the turf as you mow. Toro* Super Recycler mowers have special deflectors that produce a clean "just bagged look" even in tall, thick grass. They also have quiet, low-maintenance overhead-valve engines that comply with the latest emissions regulations. As the weather gets warmer, raise the cutting height of your mower so that you'll be cutting no more than a third of the grass blade at one time. This will produce a healthier lawn because taller grass promotes longer roots that need less water. --Mike Ferrara, The Lazy Homeowner has appeared on more than 70 television stations across the country, offering tips and showing new tools for the home and garden. RELATED SUBJECTS: |
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