Care and Maintenance

There are four important elements in creating a beautiful lawn: watering, mowing, fertilizing and insect protection. Following are some tips in these areas to get you started towards the best lawn on your block…

Watering

• Water your lawn thoroughly in the early morning every two to three days during the peak growing season
• Apply extra water to light soils, slopes and areas near buildings or sidewalks
• Apply water sparingly to heavy soils, low lying areas and shaded areas
• For strong grass and deep rooting, make sure your lawn gets one inch of water per week during the growing season
• To gauge the amount of water you are using on your yard, place a pie pan or small can in your lawn to collect and measure water

Mowing

• Make sure your lawn mower blade is sharp for an even cut
• Mow every five days under normal conditions
• Mow only when grass is dry, wet grass causes clumping
• Cut no more than one-third of your grass height

Fertilizing

• Know your fertilizer types:
  • Granular Fertilizers - best for a year-round, systematic lawn treatment
  • Water Soluble Fertilizers - best for spot treatments on smaller areas
• To apply granular fertilizer evenly, choose either a rotary-type spreader or drop-type spreader
• Use a rotary spreader for large areas that need wide disbursement of fertilizer
• Use a drop spreader in areas that require controlled placement of fertilizer (i.e. around flowerbeds)
• Be sure to sweep fertilizer off sidewalks and driveways to avoid staining
• Try to maintain a soil pH level of about 6.5
• To measure pH, you can purchase a pH testing kit at your local lawn and garden center or contact your County Extension agent
• Use a lime product on your lawn to raise soil pH
• Use a gypsum or sulfur product on your lawn to lower soil pH

Insect Protection

To form a protective outdoor pest barrier in your lawn and around your home that lasts up to 30 days, use Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Granules. Or try Bayer Advanced™ Season-Long Grub Control Granules to rid your lawn of damaging grubs and mole crickets all season long.