Lawn Care Tips

Mowing. How you mow has a strong affect on the health of your lawn. We often see lawns "scalped" by mowing too low or the tips of the grass blade discolored due to a dull mower blade.

The best practices in maintaining your lawn are to never cut more than one-third of grass blade when mowing and to never cut the grass to less than 3" tall. This puts less stress on your turf as well as protecting your lawn from seasonal heat, resulting in better root development and a lusher, denser lawn.

• Make sure your lawnmower blade is sharp. Dull blades can shreds the tops of your grass causing discoloration and increased potential for disease.
• Never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade when mowing.
• Don't scalp your lawn. Grass should never be cut to less than 3". Taller grass helps shade the soil from the summer heat and allows better root development for an overall healthier and thicker lawn.
• Make sure your lawn gets 1" of water per week, especially in peak summer months. Long, thorough soaking are the most beneficial to your turf.
• Give Fit Turf a call if you see anything unusual or suspicious in your turf. Proactive response now can reduce problems later. And as always, service calls are always free at Fit Turf.

Watering. How often should I water? is a common question we receive at Fit Turf. If you don't want your lawn to go dormant, proper irrigation is critical as we go through another hot summer. Watering will not only give your lawn better color, but it will also be healthier and better able to resist disease and weeds.

For best absorption and the least amount of evaporation from the summer heat, early morning is the best time to water. When you do, make sure you water deeply to reach the root zone. One inch of water per week is recommended.

To gauge how long to water, you can place coffee cans or other untapered containers in the watering path. When you reach the desired amount, move the sprinkler to the next area of your lawn. Remember, it's not so much the number of waterings as it is the quality.

Grassy Weeds. Many people are aware of the annual battle to rid their yard of grassy weeds every year, especially in areas with thin turf. But can you tell the difference between the common ones in our area such as crabgrass, tall fescue and quackgrass? Differentiating between them is important because control is dramatically different.

Identifying them is not always easy, but there are some clues for the novice:

Tall Fescue: The blades of this perennial weed are strongly veined with rough edges. The sheath is not compressed, and below the ground, has a reddish hue.

Crabgrass: An annual spring weed, the blades on crabgrass are generally smooth and sparsely hairy at the collar. The sheath (or stem) is compressed and often times is tinged in purple.

Quackgrass: An aggressive perennial grass, has flat seeds at the top and sharp, pointed blades off the main stem. Quackgrass easily spreads making control of this weed difficult.

Weeds such as these not only detract from the beauty of your lawn, they also compete for water and nutrients with the grasses you do want. If you suspect any of these weeds growing in your yard, contact us at Fit Turf and we'll have one of our turf specialists evaluate and recommend a treatment for your property.

Tree Care Tips

Tree Maintenance. It's easy to take your trees for granted and sometimes forget they are a living product in our environment. Often, we are reminded when a problem occurs and expensive treatment or removal is needed.

Proper care of your trees has a tremendous long-term payoff. Beyond increased value to your property and energy savings when shading your home; better color, shape and overall health will save you money in correcting problems and possible replacement in the future.

Trees in residential landscapes have additional challenges. Unlike in nature where decomposing material provides the tree with nutrients, your trees are competing with your turf for the same needs. Add to that, the stress on the root zone with the man-made construction of homes, power lines and patios that can restrict water and growth. All these things can increase the chances for disease and susceptibility to insects and injury to your trees.

Regular evaluations to trouble-shoot issues can help reduce the likelihood of major problems. If you prefer not worry about it, Fit Turf's Fit Tree Program is available to improve the health of your landscape. Give us a call today for a FREE evaluation and recommendation.

Questions to consider from treesaregood.com:

• Do you have numerous dead branches?
• Does the tree have cavities, gaps or rotten wood along the trunk or in major branches?
• Are mushrooms present at the base of the tree?
• Are there cracks or splits in the trunk or where branches are attached?
• Have any branches fallen from the tree?
• Has the trunk developed a strong lean?
• Have the roots been broken off, injured, or damaged by lowering the soil level, recent construction or digging?
• Have the leaves prematurely developed an unusual color or size?
• Has the tree been topped or heavily pruned?