1.  Leave the cores on your lawn!    Uneducated self proclaimed professionals are spreading the misconception that the cores need to be removed after aerating. This is not true, in fact it is best to leave them. They will quickly decompose and disappear, especially with a mow and a little rain. The first few inches of soil are the most nutritious and important. Constantly removing the cores will change the soil composition and eventually decrease the fertility. Unless there is an unusual amount of organic build up over the years we highly recommend leaving the cores.
  2.  Water your lawn deeply and less often! Turning on the hose or sprinkler for frequent light watering will decrease your root depth which reduces the nutrient uptake and drought resistance. This practice also results in higher evaporation levels. For a healthy green lawn you will need one inch of water once a week. More or less water may cause problems.
  3. Grass cycle your clippings! This means that when you mow your lawn you leave the clippings instead of bagging them.  The clippings will quickly decompose and return needed nutrients to the soil. The grass clippings also act as a natural mulch, helping your grass to retain water. We recommend doing this every second mow. If the clippings are two large and numerous this may not be a good thing to do. If the clippings create dense patches or rows then they should be removed. The best way to do this is invest in a good mower that thoroughly mulches the clippings.
  4. Mow to the proper height!  Never cut your lawn lower than two inches and never cut more than a third of the blade of grass at a time. If neglected and grown long you should only cut a third off at a time until you have returned the grass to it’s usual mowing height. Giving at least two days between each mow.
  5. Keep your Blades Sharp and clean! This is often overlooked but is very important. A clean cut goes a long way. So sharpen those blades at least once a year and try to keep the rust and oil free.
  6. Avoid over fertilizing and fertilizing at the wrong times  Okay this is a huge problem on many levels and unfortunately many companies out there are more concerned with selling you a service rather than they are about doing it properly. Unfortunately this is an entire topic on it’s own that we will have to write about in the near future. In the meantime don’t be fooled! Ask questions and do your research. As a general rule (which I hate to do) your lawn should not be fertilized more than twice a year. Stay tuned for more info on fertilization or feel free to contact us for help and advice.Sincerely,
    Mother Nature’s Contractor