Three Steps to a Beautiful Lawn

by English Gardens

Mowing

The first time you mow the lawn, cut it shorter than normal to help clean it up after the winter.

Make sure the mower blade is sharp. Dull blades cause bruised and ragged leaf tips, making grass more susceptible to disease and insects.
Remove only 1/3 of the total leaf blade in any one mowing. Mowing too low can weaken grass plants.
Avoid mowing when grass is wet.
Change direction of mowing pattern regularly.

Watering Your Lawn

A healthy lawn will thrive with a thorough, even watering that reaches the entire root zone. Water only when needed - - every three days. Water more frequently in hot, dry weather or whenever the grass begins to look a little wilted, or has a silver/gray tinge. The most common problem is watering too often for too short a time, which results in shallow-rooted grasses that are easily stressed and susceptible to weeds, insects, diseases and drought.

General watering guidelines:

Apply one to two inches of water per week
Keep newly seeded lawns moist until established. Water frequently (twice a day - more often if weather is windy, hot or dry) for the first two weeks.
As the lawn becomes established, water deeply - only as needed.
Water early in the morning to reduce the susceptibility of disease.
Use a rain gauge to accurately measure water.

Fertilizing

All healthy lawns require fertilization. The easiest way is a four-step approach specifically formulated for seasonal application. Start by applying a fertilizer with a crabgrass preventer before the forsythias bloom. Apply the next three applications at six to eight week intervals. A fifth step may be desirable, particularly if you use an irrigation system.

To obtain the best results using granular fertilizer, use either a drop-type spreader or a broadcast spreader. Drop-type spreaders are the most accurate, and are the best choice for products containing weed control. Broadcast spreaders are the easiest and fastest to use. Make sure the spreader is in good working order and use the recommended settings listed on the fertilizer package for your particular model.

Products

English Gardens carries a wide range of products to help keep your lawn green and healthy, including organic solutions and fertilizers with no phosphorous to meet earth-friendly recommendations for water quality protection. This family-owned business has seven locations in the Metro Detroit Michigan area and ranks among the top nursery business retailers in the nation. English Gardens is consistently voted THE BEST by readers of The Detroit News. Visit an English Gardens store to receive your Customized Season-long Lawn Care Program recommendations.