Lawn Care Myths

When it comes to lawn care, there are several myths you should be aware of. Lawn care myths usually take a short cut around science and proven facts - so don't let them become a part of your good yard care practices. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. If you scalp your grass it won't grow back as fast. Grass grows when it has moisture, fertilizer (nutrients) and a temperature conducive to growth. If these three critical elements are present in the right amounts, your grass will grow. Scalping may allow you to skip a cutting, but it is potentially very damaging down the road. A scalped lawn actually goes into a state of shock for a day or so. At the same time, you've created the perfect environment for weeds to germinate and grow while the grass works to recover. Scalping removes the grass leaves that were keeping the weeds from getting the sunlight necessary to grow in the first place. Keep your lawn healthy by cutting properly and avoid scalping it.
2. If you have moles in your yard, it means you have grubs. Grubs are always going to be present in your yard because they are the larvae of several beetle species. Total eradication of grubs is impossible, although they can be controlled. If you have moles, you can bet they are eating a lot more than grubs, which are only one entre in their diet. The reality is that the mole, like any other wildlife you may see in your yard, is there because its normal "wild" habitat is now a neighborhood. Another mole myth involves placing a stick of chewing gum in their hole or tunnel. As the story goes, the mole will eat the gum and die. It doesn't work. For more information, check out tips on ridding your yard of moles.
3. You can aerate your lawn with spiked shoes. This myth is not only off the mark, but a waste of time and effort. Whether you create your own spiked shoes or purchase some, this is not a beneficial method of aerating your lawn. If you have a lawn that is compacted or has too much thatch, you need to remove soil plugs, not just make holes. You either need to core cultivate (punch holes and bring small soil cores out of the ground) or dethatch with a power rake. Simply poking holes with nail-sized spikes will not do much, although it may be good for a laugh. Besides, walking around with nails on the bottom of your shoes has lots of negative possibilities, including, but not limited to falling and injuring yourself.
4. A little water is better than none at all during a drought. This is a myth that could seriously damage your lawn during a time of drought. Remember, your lawn needs about an inch of rain/water per week. If your community is in the midst of a drought and you can't provide the needed water, let your lawn go dormant instead. It will look dry and may even turn straw colored, but it will likely spring back to life when the rains come again. On the other hand, if you give your dry turf just a tiny sip of water now and then, the roots will be near the soil surface which makes them more likely to dry out.
5. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing creates thatch. Grass clippings have nothing to do with thatch. Clippings are 85-90 percent water and they break down quickly. It's okay to leave fine grass clippings on your lawn as a natural fertilizer - that's how a mulching mower works. Thatch is a combination of dead plant stems and roots that accumulate at soil level in your grass. To tell if your lawn needs dethatching, cut out a small section of the turf that includes the soil beneath it. If the dead grass layer is more than a half-inch thick, it's time to dethatch. You can do it yourself with a power rake.

Lawn care based on science and proven facts rather than myths, will give you a healthy lawn. If you have a lawn care myth you want to ask me about - or any other turf question - just ask the Yard Doctor.