Lawn Tips
Our RYAN turf managers know about lawns. RYAN recruits horticulturists, foresters and others with degrees in related fields so you can rely on us for expert answers to your lawn care questions.
Efficient Mowers Reduce Pollution
The most efficient, least polluting mower is a side discharge mower.
One-Third Mowing Rule
Except for the first mowing of the season, never remove more than one-third of a blade of grass at one time. For example, if your grass is 3 inches tall, never mow more than 1 inch off at once.
Our Thoughts on Spring Seeding
Although spring seeding is sometimes necessary, it is rarely ideal. If you are going to seed in the spring, keep the areas to be seeded small and be sure to scratch the seed into the soil. If areas under trees need to be seeded, do it before the leaves come out.
Nutrition and Weed Control
Like other plants, turfgrass needs nutrients to grow. Supplemental nutrition in the form of granular fertilizer is especially important to turfgrass because we are constantly mowing off leaf blades which manufacture food for the plant, and because thick lawns are made up of densely packed grasses that compete with each other for food. Weeds also compete for precious nutrients and water, so it's important to keep weeds in the lawn at acceptable numbers
Mower Safety
Always keep hands and feet away from the moving mower blade and wear shoes at all times when mowing. Never mow by pulling the mower backwards. Because mowers can throw objects, do not mow close to people or cars.
Mower Blade Sharpening
If you sharpen your own mower blade, always wear gloves. It is also important to wear eye protection when grinding or filing the blade. Sharpen each side of the blade the same amount. To keep the blade sharp and your lawn looking good, sharpen every four to six mowings.
Clippings are Nutritious
It is not necessary to bag clippings from your lawn. They actually contain valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Returning them to the soil will return nutrients as well. Grass clippings are actually 90 percent water and decompose rapidly. They do not contribute to thatch.
Preemergent Control
Crabgrass and foxtail are monocots. Dandelions, clover, henbit, etc., are dicots. Preemergent herbicides only control annual grassy weeds (monocots). Unfortunately, there is no adequate, cost-effective way to prevent broadleaf weeds from coming up in your lawn. The best preventative is to keep you lawn as thick and healthy as possible so broadleaf weeds can't compete. Spot treat dandelions and other broadleaf weeds when necessary.
Clean Up After Mowing
Use a blower or broom to clean the grass clippings off your neighbor's driveway after mowing. If you have a mower with a side discharge, mow with it facing away from your neighbor's drive.