Avoid the itch, Call Rich! Professional Poison Ivy remediation.
Avoid the itch, Call Rich
I belong to a neighborhood Facebook group. This evening I responded to a member’s question regarding watering his lawn. I though it would be helpful if I posted my reply here. So...
To start, It is not necessary to water your lawn every day. As long as the soil is porous enough to allow 1-1.5” of water to the root system per week you will be fine. I advise our clients with large systems to water using half their system one day and the other half the following day. The key is to water deeply, not frequently. You want the water to go down so the roots will grow further below the surface to reach the water. Shallow roots are not healthy for the grass. If you water for short intervals daily, the root system will stay toward the surface. Then, if we experience a heat wave, drought or long periods of sunshine, the root system will get damaged and you will also be susceptible to weed and disease. I usually recommend 40 minutes per zone 2-3 times per week, depending on the soil.
As for timing... you don’t want to water too early because doing so will allow the lawn to stay damp in a dark environment (got mushrooms?) on the other hand, you don’t want to water during the heat of the day. Either of these scenarios would be breeding grounds for mold and fungus. Early morning watering is best. Late afternoon would be your second option.
Since I’m at it, this would also be a good time to suggest that, most lawns out here are made up of Kentucky blue grass, Fescues and assorted Rye grasses. As the hotter weather sets in, you should adjust your grass cutting height higher. We try to cut our lawns at 3.5 to 3.75” in July and August. This helps keep the soil cooler and assists in avoiding weed development. It also is beneficial with photosynthesis. The additional sunlight absorbed by the longer grass blades helps strengthen the root systems.
Hope this lengthy answer helped with your simple question. LOL
If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me directly. 😎
Rich P.
RiteWay Property Service Corp.
If you see this on your property... you should call us. We can treat and eliminate your poison ivy problems.
Please call 631-495-3252. Thanks!
About Zoysia Grass
On a neighborhood site I belong to, there’s been some discussion about seeding a lawn. Some folks were suggesting Zoysia plugs. The following is my contribution to that discussion. I thought I’d share it here. Please “like” it if you find it interesting or helpful. Thanks!
Unlike Rye, Fescue, Kentucky blue grass, etc., zoysia is a warm climate grass. It’s preferred temperature range is between 80 to 95 degrees. However, even though it likes these temperatures, during high temperatures it needs lots of water for it not to turn brown. Especially in sandy soils (Long Island).
There are other issues with zoysia as well.
Zoysia spreads REALLY slow!
It creates lots of thatch which, after a few seasons, prevents water & nutrients from seeping into the soil.
Zoysia also requires more frequent mowing than “cool climate” grasses (otherwise it piles up and becomes difficult to mow... dulls mower blades etc.).
Also, for optimum results, zoysia should be cut short (1’-1.5”) and mowed using a reel mower to avoid “scalping”.
Weather conditions, improper cultural practices and poor sanitation can promote disease and pest problems in zoysia as well. For example, standing water and temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees make zoysia grass susceptible to dollar spot, which causes brown patches and white webbing in lawns.
Zoysia is also susceptible to nematodes, (microscopic worms) that eat the roots and cause yellowing and stunted growth. If you happen to introduce infested sod to unaffected lawn areas, you can lose your entire lawn. You need to carefully clean your lawn and garden equipment after each cutting to control this pest.
Finally, your lawn will be brown earlier than most of your neighbors and won’t turn green until well into the Spring.
You live in a cool climate area. It would be my suggestion to stick with a “cool climate” grass like fescue, rye or Kentucky blue grass.
Just sayin! 😎
