wrote:
On Mon, 03 May 2004 17:23:16 GMT, GFRfan wrote:


wrote:

On Mon, 03 May 2004 16:21:17 GMT, GFRfan wrote:



wrote:


Hi Everyone,

Today is Monday, I mowed on Friday, and everyone else around me mowed
in the last 3 days also. My yard looks overgrown compared to my
neighbors already. Am I mowing too high?

Types of grass: blue grass, Tall Fescue, and perenial rye.

I cut at 3" to 3-1/2"

Thanks for the feedback, please post your replies here.

later,

tom




********************************************* ******
http://www.Intertainia.com
********************************************* ******


I don't know where you are or how short your neighbors cut their lawn
but for an answer, in July, look at your lawn and then look at your
neighbors lawn. That will be your answer. I'm betting yours will look a
lot healthier. Most people cut their lawn way too short and then rely on
chemicals to control weeds. With the longer lawn, you smother most weeds
and shade the ground, which also helps keep the roots cooler and
conserves moisture. 2" is my minimum but 3" to 3 1/2" is not
unreasonable in my area.



Thx for the quick reply. I'm in eastern Pa. My next door neighbor
goes down to the point the grass is white. My other neighbors appear
to go to 2"

My law also looks like a bad hair transfer if you go down to the dirt
level, there are many little bald spots. Does taller grass cause the
grass to use the extra enegy to spread sideways?

thanks,

tom

Are you fertilizing? How long has the lawn been there? Do you have a lot
of thatch? How long has it been since you aerated? Taller grass does
encourage lateral growth of the roots which will fill in most bare spots
unless you have a lot of thatch.



I just moved in under two years ago(aug 03), but I figure the lawn is
from when the house was built(93). The lawn wasn't very healthy.
Come the first spring here, even with alot of rain(2003), the yard had
large brown patches. I checked the grass when I was putting down fert
spikes for our trees, and the grass came up in sheets with lots of
grubs. All of 2003 I seeded(before crabgrass preventor), fertilized(4
step program), and milky spored the yard. Now it's 2004, the yard
looks nice and dark green, but if you go down to the dirt level, it's
got lines and bare dirt. Weird how my yard is very lumpy, figure
it's cause the dirt doesn't seem to dry out.

Even though i use a mulching lawnmower, the dirt is nice and brown, no
acculumation of thatch.

I have not areated at all. Will this help, and what techniques work
best?

thanks,

tom


Is your soil clay? Yes aerating will help immensely. Also, sounds like
you could use some peat moss spread before you aerate. Sounds like you
are doing a good job so far of healing what once was a very sick yard.
If your yard is lumpy you may need to use a water filled roller to
smooth it a bit. If you have a drainage problem then other steps need to
be taken. You may not have to go to this extreme but here is a bit of info:

http://tinyurl.com/2r76b


--
Yard and Garden Handyman