Lawn Grasses

Seasons, weather and nutrient availability are some of the main things that can affect grass growth. The best and safest rule of thumb is to never remove more than 1/3 of the leaf blade at any one time. Lawns are being mowed too infrequently if there are piles of grass clippings left after each mowing. Grass plants have a “growing point” where all of the leaves originate. The growing point stays near the soil surface when grass is mowed frequently. When people let their lawns get really “hairy” the growing point begins to elevate from the soil surface. When finally mowed, the growing point may be cut and removed with the rest of the clippings. This means death to the plant. Frequent mowing and never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade ensures that the growing point will stay near the soil surface and the turf will stay healthy and dense.

Maintaining a sharp lawn mower blade, whether rotary or reel, is essential to maintaining healthy turf. Dull mower blades thrash and beat off the tops of the grass blades. This leaves a ragged cut, which becomes straw colored and gives the lawn a tan colored hue.

Before you attempt to fertilize your grass lawn it is recommended that you have a soil test if you have not had one in five years. There is a very good chance that you will only need to add nitrogen to your yard. This is because phosphorus and potassium naturally occur in our clay soil. Most of us also have very alkaline (phosphorus) water. Between the natural phosphorus in the soil, plus what we add when we water, there can be too much of a good thing in the soil. If you only need nitrogen, use a fertilizer that just has nitrogen. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium do not leach from the soil and must be used by the plants. Some nurseries will run a soil analysis for free or at a very low cost.

Even though automatic sprinkler systems require some attention, they still are much easier and use less water than watering with a hose. Grass should be watered deeply and weekly in the early morning. Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses thrive on one inch of water at a time. All grasses develop a poor root system with less water applied more often. Brown patches are caused by too little moisture getting deep into the soil. Be sure to frequently monitor your automatic sprinkler system for leaks and stopped up or misdirected spray heads. (From an article by Steve Kimball in The Green Thumb, newsletter for the First Men’s Garden Club of Dallas)