Rocky Mountain Sod Growers Association

Lawn Care

Aerate and Fertilize

Lawn Care and Maintenance

Proper lawn care begins in the spring. To avoid summer problems, start focusing on your lawn care in March. The best prevention is a lawn that is healthy and thick. It will ward off weeds, insects and diseases better than any other measure.

In the Rocky Mountain region, most lawns are comprised of cool- season grasses. For cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrasses, fescues), it's best to aerate and fertilize the lawn before the grass gets going in April. If you choose to fertilize only once, feed in the fall; if twice, then in spring and fall. If you desire a green lawn from spring to fall, then fertilize four times per year, early spring, late spring, late summer and mid-fall.

Mowing

By ensuring that your lawn mower blades are always sharp, you will make certain that your grass is cleanly cut, not shredded. This will help stave off diseases. The lawn should be mowed when it reaches a height of 3 to 4 inches. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn recycles nutrients into the soil. However, clumps of clippings should not be left on the surface of the lawn.

Water uniformly, deeply and infrequently in the early morning or evening hours. See Watering Guide for more information.

Water Properly

How Much Water Are You Actually Applying?

Verifying watering uniformity can be accomplished with a very simple and inexpensive method that uses only 4 to 6 flat-bottomed, straight-sided cans (gauges), a ruler and a watch. Rain gauges may be obtained, free of charge, from RMSGA members.

Arrange “gauges” at random distances away from any sprinkler, but all within the area you assume is being covered.
Run the sprinkler for a specific time (pop-up spray heads - 15 minutes, rotors- 30 minutes).
Measure the amount of water in each can, checking for uniformity. Some variation is expected, but a difference of 10% or more between any two gauges must be addressed by adjusting sprinkler coverage or repairing sprinkler heads.

When Should You Water?

One simple method of determining whether the grass needs watering is to become aware of dehydration signs given by the grass. They are:

First stage — grass blades turn bluish gray in color.

are left when walked upon.

Second stage — footprints or mower wheel tracks

Third stage — grass blades turn straw color.

Another way is to use a soil probe, such as a screwdriver or large spike to determine how dry your lawn is. If the probe can be pushed into the soil easily, it’s probably still moist, but if it takes a lot of pressure to push it in, it’s time to water.

Watering Guide

The amount of water shown illustrates the need for more water in the heat of the season and less during cooler periods. Apply 1/2"-3/4" of water in 2 or 3 cycles to promote deeper infiltration and minimize run-off. Adjust the amount of water throughout the growing season by how often the grass is irrigated. Check the lawn as stated above to see if it needs water. Postpone or skip watering if there has been sufficient rainfall.

Average Weekly Water (Irrigation and Rainfall) Requirements To Maintain A Healthy Lawn

Inches Per Week

April
May
June
July
August
September
October

0" .25" .5" .75" 1.0" 1.25"

Watch Your Lawn for Symptoms of Problems

Although you take every precaution, you may still experience summer problems. Here are some common ones and ways to handle them.

Weeds: For information on management of Grassy Weeds:

www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/03101.html

For information on management of Broadleaf Weeds:

www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/03100.html

Other strange patterns or brown-yellow spots: It's extremely difficult to diagnose whether a lawn's problem is a disease, an insect, a certain weed or the next-door neighbor's dog visiting your lawn. Take a 2x2-inch plug of
affected grass and soil to your County Cooperative Extension office, and ask the staff to identify the problem and the treatment. Examine the entire lawn so you can describe any unusual patterns or colors. Take pictures with a digital camera if available.