The Grass Doctor

I need help with lawn care?

I just bought a house and know nothing about lawn care. Is there anything really important I should know? How do I tell what kind of grass I have? I live in Alabama. I have a lot of weeds, is it too late into the year to get weed and feed? The weather ranges from mid80s-90s right now. What weed killer do you recommend? I have an installed sprinkler system. How often and for how long should I water? Any other tips would be appreciated. =)

Public Comments

1. First, by having an irrigation system, you have the means for a very nice lawn. As for weeds, broadleaf weeds are only controlable whil;e they are actively growing. Weeds go dormant in heat and drought conditions just as the grass does. Broadleaf weeds are best controlled in the spring or late fall, while the temps are cool, and the plant is growing. Weed-B-Gon is a good product, and I use it myself. The Bayer products are great as well. As for watering, is your lawn fairly level, or are there hills and othe undulations in the lawn. Hilly areas need be watered at a reduced rate and for a longer period than flat areas due to runoff. Shady areas need reduced times. As an experienced sprinkler installer, as well as experienced lanscaper and applicator, I like to set systems at 20-30 minutes per zone, water every other day, and water before the sun comes up between the hours of 3 AM and 7AM. Also an installed rain-stat will prevent the system from activating after adequate rains, resulting in savings on the water bill. But a good benchmark is 1-1.5 inches per week. Watering during full sun hours is often a bad idea due to evaporation due to heat, and wicking by wind speeds typically being higher during the day. Watering in the late afternoon and evening will encourage the growth of fungus, and enable disease. Always mow when the grass is dry, never after rain or while the dew is still present. Cutting wet grass simply tears the end of the blades, much like a dull blade. This leaves a perfect entrance for disease. Mowing height really depends on grass type. Cool season grasses such as fescues, rye, and bluegrass, should be kept around 2-3" in the spring and fall. And 4-6" inches when rainfall is reduced and high summer heat is on. And never mow more than one third of the total length at a time. So if the grass is 3", only take it down to 2". Warm season grasses like centipede, zoysia, bermuda, st. augustine and the like may be mowed as short as 1" during the summer months. A common mistake for home owners with warm season grasses is a fall aeration, this exposes roots to cool temps and will result in next season problems like summer patch and other diseases. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.
2. Weed and feed should work for you, available at any garden center. Don"t be too surprise if you have to use it twice. You probably have bermuda grass unless you live near the gulf coast where they have St. Augustine. The lawn needs at least an inch of water a week, from rain or watering.
3. You should water your lawn so it receives at least an inch of water per week whether it is from rain or your sprinkler system. To determine this spread some empty containers ( tuna cans etc) out at differing distances from the sprinkler and turn it on. Come back every 15 minutes or so and check the depth of water in the cans (be sure to keep track of the time). Once you have an inch of water in the cans note how long it took and then all you have to do is turn on your sprinkler for that amount of time to give your lawn one inch of water. Remember that is a minimum amount of water required per week. You can water your lawn anytime....there are those that say you have to water at certain times but I find this completly false. I water in the morning in the afternoon and in the evening...it just depends on when I can get to it... and my lawn looks like a golf course. Think about nature... it rains at all times of the day and we still have grass ...it hasn't all died off. Just water when you can...but you need an inch or more per week. Also be sure to fertilize your lawn at least twice per year...once in the fall and once in the spring. Fertilizing in the summer is optional. Once you mow your lawn be sure to mow high. Don't cut your grass too short... leaving about 3 inches in length would be good. If you cut high like this it will keep your weeds to a minumum. If you cut your grass too short it is hard on your grass and weeds will creep into your lawn alot easier. Don't stress too much about a few weeds in the lawn......you can't be 100% weed free 100% of the time. You can still apply a weed and feed to help rid your lawn of weeds if needed. Follow these guidelines and your lawn should do just fine. Good Luck!