Is the Grass Greener on Your Side of the Fence?

Learn a few simple lawn care tips that will help you maintain a healthy lawn all year round.

One of the most important factors of lawn care is to make sure you chose a type of grass that is suitable to the climate in North Carolina. Cool season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass will grow well in the mountains, but struggles in the costal plains and piedmont regions. If you live in the hotter areas of North Carolina you should pick a warm weather grass like centipede grass, which is a low maintenance, general-purpose turf that grows well in full sun. To insure that your lawn stays healthy all year long follow the tips below to help you irrigate, mow, and fertilize your lawn properly.

Wet Grass is Happy Grass.

Water your centipede grass in the spring by applying about 1 inch of water per application each week. Sandy soils, common in the costal areas of North Carolina, may require up to 1/2 inch of water every third day. Accurate watering in the spring will help you avoid pest and non-pest problems from occurring later in the summer. Continue watering your lawn in this fashion up until August and as your grass browns in the fall to prevent excessive dehydration. Water your lawn only as needed in the winter to prevent dehydration.

Grass Food Made Simple

Do not apply fertilizer to your centipede grass in the Spring. A yellowish appearance at this time may indicate an iron deficiency that requires about 2 ounces per thousand square feet of iron sulfate mixed with water to remedy. In mid-June, use a high potassium fertilizer and fertilize with 1/2 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. An additional application in August may enhance growth in coastal locations. Apply 1 pound of potash per thousand square feet 4 to 6 weeks before the first expected frost using 1.6 pounds of muriate of potash or 2 pounds of potassium sulfate. Do not apply fertilizer in the Winter months.

A Cut Above the Rest

In the Spring, mow your lawn at 1 inch at the time of initial green up and before the grass gets above 1 1/2 inches tall. Continue to mow your lawn before it reached 1-½ inches in height through the summer and fall and try and maintain a grass height of 1 inch. Raise your mowing height by ½ inch several weeks before the first expected frost. No mowing is required in the winter, but make sure to keep your lawn free of debris. NEVER burn off centipede grass to remove excessive debris due to possible injury to the grass and potential fire hazard.

Follow these few simple watering, feeding, and mowing guidelines you will insure that the grass is greenest on your side of the fence. You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood.