Tips for Green & Healthy Grass in Austin

Friday, May 17th, 2013

Green and abundant lawns serve as a great backdrop for cookouts, parties and other summer activities in and around Austin. To keep your lawn looking great, here are seven lawn care tips that will help you maintain a great, beautiful and healthy lawn all summer long in and around Austin.

 

Tip 1 - One-Third Rule 
Removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade will stress out your lawn. If you cut or take out too much of the grass blade, your lawn will have a difficult time thriving and will instead look burnt out.  When you have long grass blades, your roots will grow deeper. Grass that has deeper roots will withstand drought and oppose pests and diseases.

Tip 2 - Sharp Mower Blades 
Your lawn's appearance is enhanced by sharp mower blades. Cleaner cuts of grass are provided by sharp blades. Grass will be able to recover from mowing faster when it is cut by sharp blades. 

Tip 3 - Apply Fertilizer 
Use fertilizer to get a healthy, green lawn. You have to apply fertilizer at the right time to get the best results.  Your local nursery can help determine what fertilizer to use and when.

Tip 4 - Deal with Weeds, Insects and Diseases
Brown circles or dry areas around your lawn means that you might have a problem. As problems travel under the soil, big circles called brownouts caused by fungal disease or insects leave a line of traceable dead grass. You might need to consult a professional to help identify the exact problem to recommend a treatment.

Tip 5 - Deep Watering
Deep (rather than shallow) lawn watering is encouraged to grow deeper roots. One inch of water to 12 inches of soil is the preferred ratio for watering actively growing grass. Watering your lawn every three days is better than watering a few minutes every day. 

Tip 6 - Check Your Irrigation System
For proper turf watering, test your irrigation system. One suggestion is to place five straight-sided pans around your lawn. When you turn your irrigation system on, take note of how long it takes for one inch of water to accumulate. Check to see if all the pans get the same amount of water. You might need to adjust the amount or distance of your lawn's sprinkler heads.