Lawn Care Tips

Lawn care tips for minnesota lawns

Spring

Raking will be your first task of spring lawn care. Okay, I can hear the groans coming from all lands near and far, wherever grassy carpets are cultivated: "But we already raked leaves in the fall!" Sorry, but raking is for more than just removing leaves: it's for controlling thatch, too. A thatch build-up of more than 1/2 inch is considered excessive.

If your lawn is subjected to high levels of traffic year after year, it may eventually start to show signs of decline. In such cases, your lawn is probably suffering from compaction. For instance, the presence of moss plants signals compaction (among other things).

Besides compaction, the presence of moss plants also signals acidity. But grass likes a neutral soil pH. You can solve this problem by liming your soil. But don't expect a quick fix: the effects of liming are slow to take place.
Is your lawn riddled with bare patches due to dog spots, heavy traffic or neglect? If so, you may need to apply grass seed to fill in those bare patches. This solution is known as "over-seeding lawns." Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer when you over-seed. Five weeks after the grass germinates, apply a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer.
Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost and mulching mowers. But for those who prefer chemical fertilizers, we provide a fertilizing schedule specifically for your lawn. Many experts, however, recommend a lighter feeding in spring and a heavier one in fall for cool-season grasses. Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems.

Lawn care tips for minnesota lawns

Summer

Raking will be your first task of spring lawn care. Okay, I can hear the groans coming from all lands near and far, wherever grassy carpets are cultivated: "But we already raked leaves in the fall!" Sorry, but raking is for more than just removing leaves: it's for controlling thatch, too. A thatch build-up of more than 1/2 inch is considered excessive.

A lawn needs about 1 in. of water a week. If you're allowed to use a sprinkler or irrigation system, water twice a week applying 1/2 in. of water per session.

Frequent light watering does more harm than good because it encourages shallow root growth. So use a rain gauge or a soup can placed nearby to measure the amount of water you are applying. Of course, to avoid wasting water, be mindful of proper sprinkler setup. Be sure that water is not being wasted on sidewalks, driveways or the patio.

Morning is the best time to water most lawns. Before 10:00 am is the best of all because rising heat later on tends to steal a lot of the water through evaporation.

  • A lush green lawn requires 1"-1.5" of rain per week
  • Avoid watering when it is windy
  • Lawns that are frequently aerated absorb water much better
  • Mulch around shrubs and other plantings so the soil holds moisture longer
  • Adjust your sprinklers to evenly water your vegetation. Avoid areas that runoff
  • Check with your city about their watering regulations

Don't panic if there's a drought. A lawn can go brown and dormant for as long as eight weeks. When the drought is over, apply a summer fertilizer and repair damaged areas.

Lawn care tips for minnesota lawns

Autumn

To be sure, there will be some fall lawn maintenance you'll have to do regardless of the type of grass on your lawn. Let's look at these tasks first:

  • Apply herbicides to broadleaf weeds
  • Correct soil pH: if your lawn is not performing well, have your soil tested. If the soil test should show a need to reduce acidity, apply lime now. If alkalinity needs to be reduced, apply sulfur
  • Thatch removal: dethatch your lawn, by raking; for bad cases of soil compaction, you may have to employ the technique known as core aeration, for which lawn equipment is known as "aerators" can be bought or rented
  • Rake leaves, or use a leaf vacuum, lest the leaves smother your grass over the winter

Make sure to drain old gas out of lawnmowers after the last mowing

The nature of the following fall lawn care chores depends on whether it's a cool-season or warm-season turf grass that you have to care for:

  • Watering
  • Fertilization
  • Setting lawn mower height