In seeking the best possible advice we could give for lawn care, we left no blade of grass unturned.
It was worth the effort.
“To take the science completely out of things, grass is like people,” is the response given by Cochrane Golf Club course superintendent Tero Pylvainen. “You need water. You need food and you need heat.”
A good massage doesn’t hurt, either.
“Through the spring you’re going to want to de-thatch it – ie. power-rake. Aeration is key for any grass, be it sports fields, golf courses, even your front lawn. Punching holes in it gets air in the soil and water in the soil.”
Fertilizing is also necessary. Interestingly, Pylvainen mentioned fertilizing in the fall before the snow flies is just as important as in the spring. And it requires a different mix.
“A fall feeding is good. Typically, your fertilizers have three numbers. Your fall fertilizer should have a larger third number. Your spring formulation is like a 25-4-10 type thing.
“In the fall, you want to feed the roots. You’re looking at the third number on that formula is a 25 or 30 so you’re feeding the roots.”
And don’t cut your grass too short over the summer. Raise that mower deck for a healthy summer green.
“A longer lawn is going to have higher drought tolerance and help suppress the weeds as well. If you’re talking about your average front lawn; two- two-and-a-half-inch height is probably adequate. It creates a canopy for the soil, essentially. It’s not going to dry out as quick.
“Shorter grass dries out faster.”
And, finally, water your lawn at night for better absorption. While watering during the day does not burn your grass, the wind and sun can reduce your watering efficiency.
“You’re best to water overnight, give it some time to percolate into the soil,” Pylvainen surmises. “There’s a myth people have that watering during the day burns the grass. That’s not true.
“But watering at night, it’s not windy. You’re going to get better coverage with your sprinkler and gives that moisture time to get through the crown of the plant into the soil.”
