Lawn Care Myths I Hear Often

Over the years I’ve heard a lot of “bunk” when it comes to myths being spread about ways to take care of your lawn. In fact, some of these myths are just absurd, though many people do believe them. Let me clear up two of the biggest ones for you guys.

Wearing Golf Shoes Instead of Lawn Aeration

I talk to customers and readers of this site about lawn aeration all the time. You know I’ve said it’s one of the most important maintenance practices in the whole of lawn care… but someone, somewhere, a long time ago said that wearing golf spikes would do the same thing.

This is hilarious to me because first off, golf spikes are less than an eighth-of-an-inch long, whereas the tines on an aeration machine are 4-5″ long. You tell me — what works better?

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What Does Nitrogen Do For Your Lawn

If you want your lawn to be green, then you need to give it nitrogen. In fact, nitrogen is the primary element found in most lawn fertilizers. Keep in mind that lawn fertilizer is NOT lawn food. Grass and other plants make their own food (in the form of sugars) through the process of photosynthesis.

Lawn nutrients like potassium, phosphorus and, yes, nitrogen, support the process of photosynthesis.

In short, nitrogen is what makes your grass green, and the greener the grass, the more photosynthesis can occur and the thicker the lawn gets. But be careful!

Too much nitrogen can create big problems for your lawn.

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Essentials For Growing Grass Seed In Your Lawn

Pretty much everyone at least thinks about seeding areas of the lawn in the spring. Now, for me, the best time to throw down and grow grass seed is in the fall, but if your lawn has major thin areas or bare spots, you may need to go ahead and get it done now.

Growing Grass Seed

The first thing to realize is that you are not gonna be able to throw down any crab grass pre-emergent this year. Crab grass controls stop crab grass seed from germinating, and they do the same to your Kentucky Bluegrass or Perennial Rye. So if you’re gonna seed, learn to live with a little crab grass, too.

Next, remember the three “musts” for proper grass seed growing:

1) Moisture: If you cannot keep the seed wet, it will severely hamper the germination rates you get. Don’t just rely on the rain — go out and water the seeded areas for a few minutes each morning, just to keep the little beauties moist. It does not take a lot of water, but it does take consistent water… get it?

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How To “Go Green” With Your Lawn Care

HomeAbout the AuthorArchiveLinksLawn E-booksHow To “Go Green” With Your Lawn CareBy Allyn Paul, filed under Environmental Info.




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Lawn Dethatching Vs Lawn Aeration

Spring is dropping off quickly and summer will soon be rushing in, but it is never too late to aerate! You guys know I am a huge advocate of lawn aeration, but what if you think you need to dethatch?

De-thatching the lawn means you use a machine, appropriately called a “dethatcher” that literally combs through the lawn just above the soil line with a spiked roller. These spikes rip and pull the thatch from the lawn. I rarely recommend dethaching unless there is an extreme case.

Recently in my lawn care travels (yep, I see many lawns each week here in the Midwest) I have stepped on several that desperately needed dethatching.

Thatch is the layer of mostly dead grass roots and other organic matter that reside just above the soil line. If the layer of thatch is less than a half inch thick, we’re good, but when it gets thicker, and the lawn feels “spongy” underfoot, then something must be done.

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Social Media for the Green Industry – Part One

HomeGlossary – Landscape TermsMaterial CalculatorAbout UsIndustry VideosContact UsGopher SoftwareThe Lawn Blog – Sent to your EmailHustler – Makers of the Worlds First Zero-Turn MowersSearch all about Lawn CareSearch Results

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Happy St. Pattys Day

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