1. Know Your Grass Type
How do I know what kind of grass I have?
Cool-season and warm-season grasses have different growth habits, mowing heights, fertility needs, and watering schedules. Knowing what region you live in is the first step in identifying the grass type on your lawn.
The northern part of the United States is home to cool-season grass. The southern part of the United States is where warm-season grass loves to grow. If you live somewhere in between, you are in the transition zone, where both warm- and cool-season grasses can survive. Before we dive into the complex Transition Zone, let’s first discuss the main options: cool-season grass and warm-season grass.
Cool-season Grasses
If you live in the northern half of the United States, then you most likely have cool-season grass. The best way to know for sure is by paying attention to how your grass acts during different months. Does your grass survive winters pretty well, but brown up or enter dormancy during drought in the summer heat? If it does, you have cool-season grass! This grass type is called cool-season because it thrives in the cooler seasons, such as fall and spring.
Cool-season grass types include:
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Fine fescues
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Kentucky bluegrass
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Perennial ryegrass
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Traditional tall fescue
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Turf-type tall fescue
Warm-season Grasses
If you live in the Southern states (the sunbelt area), you most likely have a warm-season grass type. This grass type tends to go dormant in the winter. If your lawn has warm-season grass, then it thrives in the hot springtime and summer of the South.
Warm-season grass types include:
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Bermudagrass
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Zoysiagrass
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St. Augustinegrass
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Centipedegrass
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Bahiagrass
2. Mow Your Lawn at the Correct Height
How low should you mow your lawn?
The decision on how often and how high you mow your lawn depends mostly on your grass type. Low-mowed turf can be aesthetically appealing and is recommended on specific grass types like Bermudagrass. However, some grasses don’t tolerate low mowing and respond negatively. Shallow rooting can occur and can put additional stress on the grass plant. When the leaf tissue area is limited, grass plants utilize most nutrients in the leaf tissue and less in the root system. As the mowing height decreases, the root depth also decreases.
There are reasons to raise or lower the height of cut-on grasses throughout the growing season. Grass types like Bermuda require a lower mowing height to perform best. Other turfgrasses like St. Augustinegrass benefit from high mowing due to the turf's leaf tissue size and growth habits. Environmental stresses like heat, drought, and diseases can reduce grass growth. Raising the height of the cut during stress forces more energy into the roots, which are of the utmost importance for survival.
Important Precaution about mowing:
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Never mow more than ⅓ or 30% of the leaf tissue at one time. This is called the ⅓ mowing rule, and mowing more than 30% at once can result in excess stress on turf, which can show up as browning grass, shallow rooting if done repeatedly.
3. Water Grass Deeply and Infrequently
How much water does your lawn need?
An established lawn generally needs between 1 and 1.5 inches of water per week. Depending on the location, soil type, time of year, and grass type, your lawn may need more or less water. Sandy soils are less able to hold water, while clay soils will hold the water well but absorb the water at a slower rate. If you have a deep-rooted lawn, it will handle harsh conditions much better than a shallow-rooted lawn. In addition, shaded areas will generally require less water.
It is recommended to water deeply and infrequently to promote healthy root growth. The best time of day to water a lawn is between four and eight in the morning. Watering in the middle of the night can promote ideal conditions for fungus and disease.
How much water per week does each grass need?
1 to 1.5 inches per week.
4. Conduct a Soil Test
What lawn fertilizer should I use?
Soil tests provide valuable information about your soil to help you understand what type of fertilizer you should apply. When you do a soil test, the results will tell you soil pH and available nutrients, among other things.
Benefits of soil testing:
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Understand pH levels to achieve a healthy lawn.
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Shows what nutrients your grass is lacking, or has too much of.
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Saves time, money, and frustration by identifying the status of your grass’s health.
If the soil test results indicate a correction, then testing once a year is recommended to monitor the progress. If the report indicates that the soil is in good health or a slight adjustment was required, then once every two or three years should be sufficient.
If you already have your soil test results and need help figuring out what to apply, contact us with your results. We will help you come up with a custom fertilizer plan for your grass.
5. Fertilizer Timing
When is the best time to fertilize grass?
The best time to fertilize your grass depends on whether you have cool-season or warm-season grass. That’s because these two types of grass have different active growing periods and dormancy periods. It is not recommended to fertilize grass that is not in an active growing period because when grass is dormant, applying nutrients could have a negative impact and be wasteful, as the grass will not use the nutrients applied.
When to fertilize warm-season grass?
If you have warm-season grass, you can start fertilizing in mid-to-late spring. Fertilize every 4-8 weeks in the summer, be sure to be fertilizing lawns with either liquid or granular nitrogen lawn fertilizer. Some of our favorite products for warm-season grass spring and summer fertilizer are our 15-0-15 lawn fertilizer, and our Lawn Energizer, nitrogen and iron fertilizer for lawns.
When to fertilize cool-season grass?
If you have cool-season grass, your grass starts growing in the spring, and spring is a great time to apply a balanced NPK fertilizer, like our 16-4-8 lawn food. Once the hot weather of summer sets in, you may want to scale back your nutrients if you’re seeing temperatures in the 90s and above or if there are long periods of drought.
6. Control Weeds Early
How do I get rid of weeds in my lawn?
The best way to control weeds is to prevent weed seeds from germinating in the first place. If weeds are an issue, applying a pre-emergent weed control application in the spring before soil temperatures reach 55 degrees consecutively can help. Pre-emergent herbicides offer different control lengths based on the type of active ingredient within the pre-emergent.
If you’re still dealing with weeds after applying pre-emergents, that could be because of an application timing issue, uneven application, or herbicide resistance. In this situation, if weeds are infesting your lawn, you can consider applying a post-emergent.
Post-emergent herbicides target weeds in the growing phase after germination. These herbicides are absorbed by the weed plant's leaf and root tissues and yield the best results when applied at an early growing stage.
The 4 Types of Post-Emergent Herbicides
1. Selective vs. Non-Selective
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Selective herbicides target weeds without harming turfgrass lawns.
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Non-selective herbicides kill all vegetation, including the lawn.
2. Contact vs. Systemic
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Contact Herbicides kill only the part of the plant they touch (fast-acting).
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Systemic Herbicides are absorbed into the plant and kill it from the inside out (slower but effective on deep-rooted weeds).
7. Sharpen Your Mower Blades
Why is my grass turning brown after mowing?
Sharpening mower blades is important for a healthy lawn and proper mower operation. Dull blades cause the lawn to turn brown, and the lawn will appear unhealthy. Grass that suffers from torn and ripped blades may not fully recover if mowed consistently with dull blades. Dull blades can also cause uneven cuts, leave differences in the height of the cut, and visually make the lawn appear “bumpy.”
The torn grass blades act as an open wound, making the lawn more susceptible to diseases such as brown patches, dollar spots, and rust. Tearing the grass hinders its ability to recover fully and grow stronger, deeper roots. The damage to the plant's leaf tissue and root system can reduce the amount of water and nutrients that can be absorbed, making the plant more susceptible to environmental stresses.
8. Aerate Compacted Soil
Should I aerate my lawn?
Aeration is the process of perforating the soil surface with small holes that allow water, air, and nutrients to be more easily absorbed into the ground. Aeration helps the root systems grow deep into the soil, which helps create a stronger and more vibrant yard.
Why is compacted soil bad for my lawn?
Compacted soil is bad for lawns and plants because it reduces soil pore space, impairs water infiltration, restricts root growth, and negatively impacts turf health and soil fertility.
When Should You Aerate?
The best time to aerate is usually in either spring or late summer/early fall when temperatures are moderate and there is plenty of moisture in the soil. Avoid doing it during dry spells or during very hot weather because these conditions can cause additional stress on already stressed-out plants.
Why aerate my lawn?
Our Liquid Soil Loosener is great to use in combination with physical or core aeration. Core aeration is a type of aeration that extracts plugs of soil from a lawn to increase air flow.
Core aeration, in combination with Soil Loosener, can help with the downward movement of water, allowing more water, nutrients, and air to reach the roots of your lawn. This will improve the quality of the soil in your yard, allowing more plants to grow and thrive.
Liquid Soil Loosener Benefits:
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Promotes drainage and decreases standing water
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Increases nutrient availability by helping fertilizer reach the root
9. Overseed for a Thicker Lawn
How to fix bare spots in your lawn?
The fall is a great time for seeding projects. For much of the northern half of the U.S., fall is the best time for establishing lawns by seed or filling in bare spots and over-seeding areas that have thinned due to summer stress. Throughout the south and much of the transition zone, the fall means it’s time to overseed your dormant warm-season lawn.
Why overseed the lawn?
Choosing to repair your summer-thinned lawn by seeding in the fall can be more advantageous than seeding in the spring for a couple of reasons. First, it allows you to apply pre-emergence herbicides in the spring. Remember that the pre-emergence herbicide you apply in the spring to prohibit the growth of various summer annual weeds may also prohibit the growth of your spring-seeded grass seed. Some herbicides, like Tenacity, can be used as both pre and post-emergents, but you should always confirm with the manufacturer.
How to seed a new lawn?
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Prepare the Soil
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Remove weeds and old grass.
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Do a soil test to check pH and nutrients.
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Loosen compacted soil (till or aerate).
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Level the surface and slope away from buildings.
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Clear rocks, debris, and trash.
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(Do this 2–4 weeks before seeding.)
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Choose the Right Seed
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Select grass type based on region and site conditions.
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Buy high-quality seed from a reputable supplier.
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Fertilize & Seed
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Apply a starter fertilizer with phosphorus before seeding like our Growth Booster lawn fertilizer.
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Correct nutrient or pH issues from your soil test.
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Add soil treatments (like humic products) if desired.
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Spread the seed evenly.
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Irrigation
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Keep the top ½ inch of soil moist until germination.
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Water lightly and frequently for the first 3 weeks.
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Transition to deeper, less frequent watering as roots grow.
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Feed with Nitrogen
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Once seedlings reach 1–2 inches, apply a nitrogen fertilizer to push strong establishment.
10. Be Patient and Consistent
How long will it take for my lawn to look good?
All homeowners want a deep green, weed-free lawn. There’s nothing like coming home at the end of the day or sitting on the front porch and admiring your beautiful paradise. A deep green lawn comes from proper fertilization, mowing, watering, and soil health management. But, at the same time, a great lawn comes with time, practice, and patience.
If you have any questions about lawn care, need product recommendations, or are struggling with your lawn care regimen, contact us, and we can help you get the best lawn on your block!
