Time to start the lawnmowers?

Our wet, cold March is slowly creeping by. Already the cool season lawn grasses common in Indiana – Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue – have begun to grow. Though mowing now is likely to leave ruts in the wet soil, it’s time to think about that first time around the yard.

I recently attended a seminar by one of Purdue’s turf experts, Dr. Zac Reicher. He made some interesting points:
- In spring, grass grows quickly and should be mown often. The first mowing can make the grass shorter than 3 inches, but for all future mowings, set the lawnmower height at 3-4”.
- Wet grass may tempt you to wait a few days to mow. Don’t! If you have to choose between two evils – mowing wet grass and letting the grass get really tall before you mow – choose to mow wet grass.
- If you’ve already applied a crabgrass prevention product, great! It will stay active for the next couple of months and keep crabgrass from germinating in your yard. If you haven’t, make sure to get the product on your lawn by the middle of April. Look closely at the product label and choose the brand with the least amount of nitrogen fertilizer. If it has no fertilizer in it at all, that’s even better. April is not the time to apply lawn fertilizer. It will only make your grass grow and increase your mowing. For information on how to calculate the amount of nitrogen, see http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/tips/2008/3_17preemergence.html.- The best time to treat broadleaf weeds in your lawn is autumn. If you still have a few dandelions popping up, wait until they are blooming, then spot treat just the dandelions. They will be more susceptible to the herbicide at that time.