Our Turfgrass Tips include care and maintenance needed for popular turfgrass types in the Mid-South.

Click on your grass type to find tips for specific mowing, watering and seasonal suggestions.

Herbi-Systems’ Helpful Hints on Mowing

Mowing properly is just as important as watering and fertilizing. Proper mowing practices can greatly enhance your turf, help with the density, texture, and color as well as root development of your lawn.

• Mowing Schedule...
  Your mowing schedule should be based on the growth rate of the grass, not on the calendar. To keep your lawn looking its best, remove no more than one third of the grass blade at a time. Mowing on a 5-day schedule will reduce the need for bagging or raking and help your lawn retain its color.
• Mowing Procedure...
  It is recommended to change direction with each mowing.
• Mower Blade...
  The single most important requirement for proper mowing is making sure your mower blade is sharp. Sharpen your mower blade once each month. You'll really notice the difference.
• Bagging...
  Bagging is not recommended because you are throwing away valuable nitrogen in the grass clippings. If you mow on a proper schedule and at proper heights, bagging should not be necessary. With your lawn having the balanced nutrients and the proper pH, thatch buildup should not occur in most lawns, although some thatch buildup could occur in zoysia lawns.

Herbi-Systems’ Helpful Hints on Watering

• Early Spring...
  Generally, we are receiving enough rain this time of the year to take care of any watering that is necessary, but if it does not rain within one week after your application is done, your lawn will need to be watered.
• Spring...
  Should it not rain, you will need to water your lawn within one week after your application is done. Water infrequently but deeply. The water needs to soak 4-6 inches into the ground to encourage a deep root system.  Too much water can cause problems, such as increasing the chance of fungus, or run off and leaching of nutrients.  Morning to midday is the best time to water.
• Summer...
  Your lawn should receive roughly 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week during the hottest, driest months. Deep watering to a soil depth of at least six inches is recommended. Light watering is of little benefit and can actually harm your lawn.
• Winter...
  Your lawn needs water during the winter months for the roots to remain healthy.  Adequate watering will protect the roots from drying out and damaging the grass during a hard freeze (which is known as “winter kill”). Your lawn will need water if it has not rained in two or three weeks.

Email Us