Grow and Maintain a Healthy Lawn

A healthy lawn resists invasion by moss, weeds, insects and diseases. If your lawn is not meeting your expectations, consider a lawn renovation.

Maintain the right growing conditions needed for strong, healthy turfgrasses.

Lawns change over time. After sowing lawn seed or laying sod, the mixture of desired turfgrasses and broadleaf weeds, grassy weeds and moss will evolve.

Soil drainage, soil fertility, sunlight, water stress, and how the lawn is cared for and used influence how a lawn looks over time.

Set realistic expectations. Match the lawn standards you want to maintain with the right maintenance schedule.

Grow a healthy lawn

A healthy lawn resists invasion by moss, weeds, insects and diseases.

• Plant grass species best suited for your area.
• Plant disease-resistant cultivars or mixtures.
• Lawn grasses require full sun to thrive. Lawns grown in shady areas will require more care to maintain to high standards. Or tolerate moss, which will likely grow in shady areas.
• Apply fertilizer and water to grow a lawn that matches the lawn standards you wish to maintain.

Regular mowing

Mow regularly. For most lawns, a mowing height of 2–3 inches is recommended.

• Keep your lawnmower blades sharp.
• Mow weekly during most of the growing season.
• Mow twice per week when the grass is growing quickly during mid- to late-spring.
• Cut only one-third of grass height at each mowing.
• Make at least two passes over your entire lawn. Go at a 45- or 90-degree angle to your first pass to avoid ruts and compaction from the mower.
• Use a mulching mower (has a special blade and enclosed deck) or reel mower to chop up debris into small pieces.
  • Mulch-mowing recycles nutrients to the lawn.
  • Rake up excess lawn clippings that don’t get finely chopped.
• If you don’t use a mulching mower, bag and remove the lawn clippings.

Mow higher in periods of stress such as dry or hot weather. The longer leaves promote root growth to absorb water from the soil.

Apply grass seed in spring or fall

The grasses in lawns naturally thin out over time. Keep your stand of grass thick and robust by applying grass seed regularly.

Apply grass seed or lawn patch to thin areas in the spring and late summer/early fall. Cover up bare soil with grasses.

Apply grass seed over your entire lawn at least every two years before it thins out.

Fertilize, but not too much

Unfertilized lawns tend to be thin and light green or brown in color. They often have moss and weeds mixed with grasses.

Unfertilized and over fertilized lawns are both prone to pests and disease.

Lawns grow vigorously when enough nutrients are available, especially nitrogen.

For low-maintenance lawns, apply fertilizer once in the fall to promote robust growth the following spring. Apply fertilizer in late spring and summer too for higher-maintenance lawns.

Mulch-mowing provides some nitrogen for your lawn. It is less work than mowing and bagging the clippings.

Check soil pH and amend as needed

Lawns grow best with soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5.

Check your lawn’s soil pH. Amend as needed.

We recommend sending soil samples to laboratories for analysis. Professional soil tests are more accurate than do-it-yourself options. Ask your soil testing lab to interpret the results and provide recommendations for amending soil pH.

For help with your lawn, contact Monnick Supply in Framingham and Marlborough, MA.

Source: extension.oregonstate.edu