University of Illinois Extension
Lawn care advice for people who don’t care about lawns
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[August 26, 2022]
Each year I try to write a couple of articles
about lawns. Each time I’ve written one of these, I have assumed
you, the reader, care about your lawn. Turns out, there are a lot of
people who have lawns, that don’t care about having a perfectly
manicured turf. You just want to know enough to get by. After all,
if it’s green then it’s good! This article is for you. Please note:
this information is for cool-season lawns in Illinois. |
Lawncare takes time, and we’re all busy. So, what
is a person to do if we want to apply minimal effort?
1. Mow high
2. Mow often
3. Keep mower blades sharp.
Need more details? Then read on!
Mow high
Cool season lawns that are typically grown in Illinois benefit from
a taller mow height. The myth of mowing a lawn short to reduce
mowing, is just that, a myth. Plants feed themselves through
photosynthesis which takes place in the leaves. By removing the
plant’s food source, it must grow faster and deplete more energy to
make up for the loss. Turf-type tall fescue prefers a taller height
of 3½ to 4½ inches while Kentucky bluegrass can be cut a bit shorter
at 3 inches.
Mow often - Follow the one-third rule
Mow often? Wait, I thought this was for the lazy lawncare household?
Bear with me here. There is some long-term study of the effects on
mowing and pasture grasses that translates well to lawns. When more
than one-third of the leaf blade is removed during one mowing, this
stresses out the grass plant. We can see this same stress period on
overgrown lawns when they get chopped back to their normal cut
height. Stressed lawns are less competitive to weeds, resisting
disease, and outgrowing insect feeding. Just mow often enough to
remove one-third of the leaf blade or less. I know, easier said than
done.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Aug/26/images/ads/current/atlantabank_lda_FAIR_2022.png) [to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Aug/26/images/ads/current/collins_lda_FAIR_2022.png)
Sharp blades make a difference
A sharp blade cuts and creates a smaller wound on the grass leaf. A dull blade
beats, shreds, and tears at grass blades, which creates larger wounds and a more
ragged appearance to the overall lawn. Larger wounds present more opportunities
for disease and take more energy to heal. Plus, a dull blade makes your mower
work harder.
And that’s it! The bare minimum to lawn care that will get you on your way to a
decent stand of turf.
More tips to help you keep your lawn healthy
Want to go a little farther?
• If you only fertilize once a year, apply it in the late summer to early fall
timeframe.
• Don’t bag your clippings. Chop them up with more passes or swap to mulching
blades.
• Overseed in the late summer to early fall with newer lawn varieties that have
better growth and disease resistance.
• And if you want to go the extra mile, topdress the lawn with a half-inch layer
of compost to add organic matter to the soil to improve water holding capacity.
Make sure to spread or rake the compost down to the soil to avoid smothering the
grass.
o Is it possible to have too much organic matter in your soil? Sure is! A soil
test will reveal if more organic matter is necessary.
Good Growing Tip of the Week: While I think dandelions are pretty
awesome, not everyone does. Mowing high, often, and sharpening blades will make
your turf more competitive and reduce (not eliminate!) the need for herbicides.
[Christopher Enroth, Horticulture
Educator, University of Illinois Extension] |