IMPORTANT SEASONAL ALERT
LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL
1) Reduce watering to 1" per week (rainfall + irrigation = total water amount). 2) Water only in the early morning. Attention St. Augustine customers: Mow lawn at a height of no less than 3 inches. Use a ruler to measure 3 inches from the soil to the blade tip. Do not use mower deck to gauge height.
Mowing and Watering Tips
Types of Grasses in East Texas
Tips For Mowing Your Lawn
When it comes to mowing your lawn it may be the least
favorite chore, however so vital to the health of your lawn. The next time
you are mowing it might help to think about the importance of your lawn,
benefits such as:
A. Cooler and quieter environment for your
home. Sidewalks and driveway temperatures can exceed 100 degrees F, however
your lawn remains 76 degrees F.
B. Lawns are extremely efficient oxygen producers.
An average 5000 sq. ft. lawn generates enough oxygen for eight people each
day. In comparison, it takes four 50 foot trees to produce the same amount
of oxygen.
The single most important point of mowing is height.
Different species of grass require or can tolerate different mowing heights.
The main consideration when mowing is to never remove more than 1/3 of the
blade in a single cutting. Now the grass clippings discharge options. There
are 3 options:
1. Full leaf discharge.
2. Mulching.
3. Bagging.
The preferred method is mulching, followed by bagging.
The only time bagging is selected over mulching is:
A. Lawn disease such as Fungi.
B. Half or more of the blade needs to be removed
and mower is unable to handle mulching load. Full blade discharge is the
least desirable due to excessive thatch accumulation which leads to pest
and disease problems.
Mowing Summary:
1. Mow frequent.
2. Never remove more than 1/3 of blade in a
single cutting.
3. Mulching is the preferred discharge method.
4. Mow at the upper range of the recommended
mowing height for your lawn.
Recommended mowing heights:
| Bahia | 2"3" |
| Bermuda (common) | .5" 2" |
| Centipede | 1"2.5" |
| St. Augustine | 2.5"4" |
The higher you mow St. Augustine the deeper the roots. This is very important during East Texas summer droughts. St. Augustine that is mowed too low during excessive heat and drought can become stressed and may not recover even with irrigation. St. Augustine kept at 4 may not look as tidy as 2 cut, however the 4 will be healthier, more resistant to pest, disease, and drought conditions.
East Texas Grass Types
| Type | Shade | Maintenance Level | Fertilizer Req. | Watering | Mowing Height | Planting Method |
| Bahia | moderate | low | 2-4 lbs. per 1000 ft./yr | drought tolerant | 2"-3.5" | seed |
| Bermuda | poor | average | 4-6 lbs. per 1000 ft./yr | drought tolerant | .5" - 2" | seed sod sprig |
| Centipede | low | low | 2-lbs. per 1000 ft./yr | low | 1"-2.5" | seed sod stolon |
| St. Augustine | excellent | average to high | 4-5 lbs. per 1000 ft./yr | moderate | 2.5"-4" | sod plugs |
| Call or E-mail for free lawn analysis or lawn problems. | ||||||
Watering Tips
Water the root zone 6"-8" deep. This normally requires 1"2" water a week depending on soil type. Use a rain gauge to measure weekly amounts and make up the difference with irrigation. Again the ideal situation is to water once a week, however this is not always possible due to clay soils, grass on slopes, etc. Generally the best time to water is early morning. Wet foliage in combination with cool temperatures are a path to disease. However in East Texas during drought conditions between mid June and mid August it is okay to water at night due to extreme heat and evaporation during daylight hours.
Water Summary
a. Water deep and infrequent.
b. Use rain gauge to measure rainfall and sprinkler
output.
c. Water morning only during normal rainfall
year.
d. Absolutely never water at night in East
Texas after August 20th.
e. Lawn needs 1 2 water per week. Use irrigation
if rainfall is insufficient.
More Lawn Tips
The best way to discourage weeds is to keep a healthy lawn. But some annuals will show up in the cooler months. January through March is the ideal time to control these weeds. When temperatures rise later in spring, it very easy to damage your St. Augustine with over-the-counter herbicides. You can rest assured LoneStar ChemPro has the latest products and technology to keep your lawn as weed free as possible.
Thatch Problems
Thatch problems arise when a build up of dead grass parts accumulate on the soil surface. While a thin layer of thatch is beneficial, a thick layer can stop the passage of air, nutrients and water into the soil. Your lawn should get a good aeration every 2 to 3 years.
Sod and Plugs
Sod and Plugs are grass that is grown on a turf farm. They are removed in sections along with a layer of soil held together by the root system. These can be used to lay out an entire lawn or to repair thin/bare areas in a mature lawn.
Plugs come in trays and are cut into 4x 4 squares. You can checkerboard plugs in an area and allow them to gradually cover the desired area. Some nurseries will let you use a tool to plant these plugs. It is a process similar to planting tulip bulbs. Sift in topsoil around these plugs after they are planted properly. This will give the runners something to grip onto as they begin to expand and thicken. Start mowing the plugs regularly. It will encourage them to spread out.
Laying sod does have some higher labor and material costs. Sod comes in a rectangular shape and can be cut into whatever shape you need. This helps with those odd shaped layouts. Sod also provides an instant lawn and greatly reduces any potential for soil erosion.
If you are sodding, have the sod delivered the day before or the same day as it is laid. If you do have to keep it for a while before it is laid, store it in the shade and keep it damp. This will minimize stress on your new lawn before it is laid.
Spreading out a layer of topsoil or even sand before laying your sod will be a great help to the establishment of the root system. This will be porous enough to allow the roots to grow easily. Laying sod on hard ground reduces the chance of your sod surviving. You can also use a piece of plywood to even out your new sod by evenly distributing your weight to make it even.
Newly laid sod should be kept wet. I mean, nasty, messy, sloppy wet for the first 1014 days after it is installed. This will promote root growth similar to placing a piece of clipped ivy into a glass of water. After the sod becomes attached to the soil, reduce the watering frequency. You can check for this by gently pulling on the sod. If it pulls up with some resistance, it is doing okay.
Avoid fertilizing new sod for at least a couple of months. But do mow it regularly once it begins to show some top growth. Grass tries to fix itself or regenerate, when it is cut. When you do fertilize it, use a mix with Phosphorus (the middle number on the bag) to promote good root growth. After a few months, your sod should be doing well.