Help homeowners help you with lawn care

As a lawn care service provider, you offer your clients the best services and products possible to keep their lawns in good shape. However, educating your clients on the best cultural practices for turf management can also help them get the most out of the services you provide.

The list below provides a few best cultural practices to share with your customers. You can also download these best practices here.

  1. Maintain a recommend mowing height – Mowing height recommendations vary by grass type. Mow regularly and avoid removing more than one-third of the surface of the turf blade, as short mowing can damage the turf. Grasses with higher mowing heights are better able to compete with weeds and tolerate drought stress.1 Ensure mower blades are sharp as dull mower blades tear the turf rather than cutting it, and creates a ragged appearance. Mow when your turf is dry to avoid clumps of clippings, which will smother turf if not removed. Mowing dry turf allows even distribution of clippings over the lawn.

    The chart below provides an overview of recommended mowing heights for a variety of grass types2.

      Turf type 

    Recommended mowing height (in.) 

    Kentucky bluegrass

    1.5–2.5

    Kentucky bluegrass/fine fescue mix

    1.5–2.5

    Kentucky bluegrass/tall fescue mix

    2.5–3.5

    Kentucky bluegrass/tall fescue/fine fescue mix

    2.5–3.5

    Kentucky bluegrass/perennial ryegrass mix

    2–3

    Tall fescue

    2.5–3.5

    Bermudagrass (common or hybrid)

    0.75–2

    Bahiagrass

    2–4

    Centipedegrass

    1–1.5

    St. Augustinegrass

    2.5–4

    Tall fescue

    2.5–3.5

    Zoysiagrass

    0.75–2

  2. Water regularly – In general, turf requires 1 in. of water per week during the active growing season, and should be adjusted based on weather conditions. It’s best to apply the water in smaller amounts during the week instead of all at once, and to water in the morning or early afternoon during the heat of the day.2 Watering at night produces a wet lawn, creating ideal conditions for disease. Irrigation during heat and moisture stress periods can encourage turf recovery, reduce weed encroachment and help alleviate certain disease and insect damage.

  3. Don’t over-fertilize – While fertilization has a direct influence on the ability of turf to tolerate disease pressure, too much can be detrimental. Ensure your lawn is properly fertilized, but avoid adding too much fertilizer, which can cause unwanted damage such as yellowing or browning, or even kill healthy grass.

  4. Aerate – Soils that are subject to heavy traffic are prone to compaction.3 Aeration can help loosen compacted soil, which helps water, air and fertilizers reach the turf roots. It can also help with overseeding. Typically, aerating once or twice a season by removing small cylindrical cores of soil and thatch from your lawn is ideal. Tools like a mechanical core aerator can help with this process and can aerate a yard quickly to maximize the area covered. The best times for aerating cool-season turf are spring and fall when the soil is moist.4 Warm-season turf should be aerated in the summer.

  5. Manage shaded areas – Growing turf in shaded areas can be challenging. Turfgrass needs a significant amount of sunlight to thrive, and when adequate amounts aren’t received, lawns can thin out. Cultural practices, like pruning tree foliage to help increase the amount of filtered light, can help improve the look and feel of your lawn.5

  6. Prevent brown patches – You may begin to see brown spots on your lawn that are likely caused by insects or disease rather than lack of water. If you begin to see damage, contact your lawn care service to develop a treatment plan to help stop the problem from spreading and protect the investment you have made in your lawn.
By sharing these cultural practices, you can help your customers create strong, dense turf in their lawns, which can better withstand weed and disease pressure throughout the season. To download a free copy of this sheet to give to homeowners, please visit GrowWithSyngenta.com
1-3 Integrated Pest Management for Home Lawns, R. N. Calhoun, K. W. Frank, G. T. Lyman, Michigan State University, http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/integrated-pestmanagement-for-home-lawns
4 Miller, G. 2017. Lawns, Chpt 9. In: K.A. Moore, and. L.K. Bradley (eds). North Carolina Extension Gardener Handbook. NC State Extension, Raleigh, NC. http://content.ces.ncsu. edu/9-lawns
5 What is Core Aeration? https://weedmanusa.com/resources/lawn-core-aeration
6 How Pruning Trees Can Help Your Lawn Thrive https://weedmanusa.com/news/how-pruning-trees-can-help-your-lawn-thrive


Syngenta hereby disclaims any liability for Third Party websites referenced herein.

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