4 More Lawn Care Myths

It happens to all of us: Well-meaning friends, family and neighbors pass along less-than-wise lawn care advice that we put into practice, then wonder why it's not working. Our own Yard Doctor, Trey Rogers, Ph.D, brought to light his five favorite turf untruths in his article, "Lawn Care Myths". And to keep more misconceptions from spreading like weeds, we've brought you four more here:

1. For a lush and tough turf, you should apply new grass seed to your lawn. This practice, known as overseeding, really won't do you much good. That's because your existing lawn will only compete with the new seed for water, sun, nitrogen and other nutrients in the soil. You'll have better luck with by simply keeping your lawn healthy with proper maintenance. The exception? Bare patches in your lawn. In this case, you can apply some lawn seed to fill in those empty areas. For great maintenance basics, check out "The Yard Doctor's Best Healthy Lawn Tips" video and follow his "Prescription for a Healthy Lawn".
2. All thatch is harmful and should be removed. While it's true that thatch (the dead grass layer that appears at the soil surface of your lawn) should be raked out to prevent a disease-harboring mat between grass and the soil, some thatch is actually a good thing. Here's why: A healthy layer of thatch cushions your lawn from foot traffic, helps conserve soil moisture and prevents weeds by shading the ground where weeds would likely sprout. What's a healthy layer? Less than a half-inch thick, or when you can still see bare ground between lawn plants. If thatch accumulates to more than a half-inch and you notice too much matted material, it's time to get rid of the initial layer.
3. You should fertilize every month. In reality, this common mistake can cause your lawn to burn and die. If you have decent soil, it's safer to fertilize just a few times a year, or every six to eight weeks for malnourished lawns. Most importantly, be careful to follow the directions for your fertilizer and only apply the recommended amount for a given lawn area. You should also know when fertilizing works best. If your grass is a heat-loving variety, fertilize at the peak of summer. If you have a cool variety, fertilize in early spring and fall. More on the perfect amount of fertilization.
4. Come fall, raking leaves is a must. Can't stand raking? Then you'll love this myth buster-even though there's a slight catch. The fact is, thick layers of fallen leaves that build up during fall months can, indeed, smother your lawn and contribute to turf disease. The myth is, constant raking is required. Instead, prevent leaves from piling up by mowing over them every five days or so. Make two or more passes with your mower and you can leave the mulch on your lawn, which will act as a fertilizer with loads of nutrients. And the truth is, that will save you a lot of work at the end of the season.