Mowing your lawn is simple, right? Not so much. Grass is a living, breathing organism, and has very specific requirements. For instance, cutting your grass too short can make your lawn look bald or patchy, while letting it go makes your property look like a scrapyard. The key is to find that happy medium where your grass looks healthy but isn’t overgrown, and Mower Source has all the answers.

Mowing Height

Different climates have different grasses, and each one demands a different height for optimal growth. At the most basic, grass and the height it should be cut can be divided into cool season height and warm season height (when it grows the most).

One tip to use if you have no idea what kind of grass you have and still want to get the height right is to cut no more than one-third of the leaf. The reasoning for this is so grass can grow at its optimal rate during its peak growing season. Cut more than that, and you’ll stunt the grass’s growth. Grass is a plant like any other, and cutting it the right amount will promote full, lush growth, while it can thin out and look patchy if you go too short.

It’s not absolutely crucial to know what kind of grass you have, as you can tell by how fast or slow it’s growing, as well as the climate you live in. But one good thing about knowing exactly what kind of grass you have is you can Google its tallest recommended height. By staying within those parameters, you’ll ensure deep, healthy roots, which means the grass can hold onto water more easily and space out so weeds can’t grow as readily.

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Sharpen Those Blades

It’s no good knowing the theory behind proper grass height if the goods don’t match that. The duller the blades, the more of a tendency they’ll have to just bend the grass blades instead of actually cutting them. Plus, dull blades making you feel like you’re working 10 times harder with a fraction of the result.

Other tips to remember include:

Mowing the lawn doesn’t have to be a magic formula known to few, although there is a bit of an exact science to it. Now that you’re armed with everything you need to know about grass height and other tips, let Mower Source take care of the hardware. Our line of lawn mowers and accessories have something for everyone, and shipping is free to the lower 48 states.

Before you hang up your lawn tools for the winter, consider the fact that your grass doesn’t stop growing just because the weather turns cold. Instead, it absorbs water and nutrients that enable it to grow healthy and lush in the spring. Take time to complete six easy fall lawn care tips as you create a lush lawn.

1. Keep Mowing

Until the first snowflake falls, lawn mowers prep the grass to receive maximum sunlight. Take care to cut no more than one-third of the blades, and set the lawn mower blade as low as possible.

2. Remove Debris

All the leaves, grass clippings and sticks that accumulate on your lawn need to be removed. Otherwise, they suffocate the grass and increase the likelihood of fungal disease. Regularly remove debris with an attached mulching kit or bagging kit.

3. Use an Aerator

Your grass’s roots need oxygen and water year round. A walk-behind aerator punches holes in the ground and prepares your lawn to receive the nutrients it needs.

4. Apply Fertilizer

Fertilizer application in the late fall delivers important nutrients that make your grass grow strong and deep. Apply a slow-release fertilizer to your lawn with a broadcast spreader or with a drop spreader that provides an even layer of maximum coverage.

5. Control the Weeds

Weeds are like your grass. They’ll drink anything in the ground, including weed killer. So, apply an organic weed killing formula in the fall to reduce weeds in the spring.

6. Repair Bald Spots

Remove the bald spots on your lawn with a lawn repair mixture of grass seed, fertilizer and mulch. Scratch the soil’s surface with a rake, spread on a thick layer of the mixture and lightly press it into the soil. Water the area thoroughly, and then water every other day for at least two weeks.

Lawn Mowers

These six fall lawn care steps prepare your yard to grow lush and vibrant in the spring. Now is also the time to save on lawn mowers as the mowing season comes to a close. Get the best end-of-season deals on lawn mowers from MowerSource.com. All lawn mowers ship free! (lower 48 states)

Image Credit: Simone Roda, Flickr.com

Your lawn’s health and appearance is one of the first things people notice when they drive by your house or stop in for a visit. If you want your lawn to be as lush and green as possible, consider using a mulching mower rather than bagging to produce an even healthier and more attractive lawn.

Improve Your Lawn’s Health

The mulching mower’s blade cuts each piece of grass several times and deposits those small particles back into your lawn. Ohio State University reports that those particles decompose within hours and deliver important nutrients into your lawn. Those nutrients include water and nitrogen.

Water is obviously an important need for any lawn’s health. Because each blade of grass contains up to 80 percent water, mulching it back into your lawn ensures your yard receives the valuable liquid nutrition it needs.

Nitrogen also nourishes your lawn. It’s a main ingredient in most commercial fertilizers. So, instead of tossing clippings into the recycling bin, burn pile or trash can, use them and their valuable nitrogen to deliver nourishment to your lawn every week.

In addition to water and nitrogen, mulched grass clippings contain other invaluable additives that keep your lawn healthy. These additives include calcium, iron, magnesium phosphorous and potassium. Each of these nutrients contributes to your lawn’s vibrant health and lush, green appearance.

Improve Your Lawn’s Appearance

A manicured lawn definitely looks neat. You don’t need to cut the grass super short, however, to achieve the appearance you want. Follow Cornell University’s rule of thumb and cut no more than one-third of the grass blades at one time. This way, your lawn stays beautiful, and the grass blades are long enough to recover sufficiently from weather changes, insects or disease.

Mulching Mower Sale

Mulching mowers give you a healthy, manicured lawn. Find the perfect mulching mower for your lawn when you shop at MowerSource.com. With free shipping on all mowers, you can save money while keeping your lawn nourished and lush all summer.

Resources:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1191.html
http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/sceneec8a.html

Wish your grass was greener on this side of the fence? Follow these tips to get a healthier lawn and greener grass you can be proud of.

1. Start with the soil.

Green grass starts with healthy soil. Get a soil test kit from your local home and garden store or a county extension office. Find out exactly which nutrients your soil needs to function at its best and get recommendations for caring for your soil type. The healthier your soil, the easier it will be to grow green, healthy grass.

2. Go natural.

Chemical fertilizers kill the natural organisms in healthy soil that feed your lawn with nutrients. The more chemicals you add to your lawn and the more natural organisms you kill, the more chemicals your lawn will need to stay healthy and green, creating an endless cycle of “chemical dependency” for your lawn.

By testing the soil, you can find out exactly which nutrients your lawn needs, thereby minimizing the need for chemicals on your lawn. Choose organic fertilizers whenever possible.

3. Dethatch.

The more clogged up your lawn gets with dead thatch, the harder it is for the soil to absorb water and nutrients. Help your lawn “breathe” by removing the thatch layer once it gets to be about a half-inch thick.

4. Soak it.

Your lawn needs about an inch of water every week. Use a rain gauge to see how much rain your lawn gets every week. Then water with sprinklers or an irrigation system to make up for what your lawn didn’t get from the rain.

Water in the early morning rather than in the middle of the day so that the water won’t evaporate before it can be absorbed by your lawn. Stop watering when you’ve reached an inch of water. Over-watering won’t keep your lawn any healthier; plus, it wastes resources and your money.

5. Don’t scalp it.

Cutting your lawn too short makes it vulnerable to getting scorched on hot summer days. Instead, adjust the blade on your lawn mower a bit higher and mow more often to keep the roots of your grass cool and shaded.

Push Mowers

Looking for a push mower that’s built to last? MowerSource.com sells high quality push mowers, riding mowers, and zero turn mowers from Toro, Husqvarna, and Ariens. Get free shipping on all orders to the lower 48 states!

As this summer progresses, we want you to succeed when it comes to your lawn. We know how important the look of a pristine lawn is, but sometimes getting the look you want means starting over and completely renovating your lawn. Lawn renovation can feel like a daunting task, but with these 8 lawn care tips, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier, greener lawn!

Husqvarna XT722 Self-Propelled Mower

1. Find the problem: Ask some simple questions. Where does your lawn need a little extra TLC? What looks unhealthy? There are many issues that could keep your lawn from achieving its full potential. Shade, excess water or weeds are just a few of the problems you could face.

2. Start from the Start: If your lawn is too overrun with weeds, spray it with an herbicide that contains glyphosate. This will kill all vegetation but allows for new turf to take hold more easily.

3. Mow, Mow, Mow: Really scalp the lawn. Mowing low will leave the areas with the small dead plants in order to prepare for repair.

4. Repeat Rake: Rake these dead areas and leave just about 1/4 of an inch left. Rent an electronic rake from a local hardware store to speed up the process.

5. Let’s Plant: It’s time to replant. Seed distribution is key. We suggest spreading half of your seeds north/south and then making another pass east/west. This should cover your area quite effectively.

6. Water: Keep your planting area moist! The soil should never go dry the first two weeks after planting. Once the sprouts begin to show, take a cue from Goldilocks. Don’t let the soil have too little or too much water. The soil needs to be just right.

7. Feed the Beast: Remember to fertilize not only the planting area, but the entire lawn. Don’t fertilize until you see significant shoots in the planting areas. Feeding too early could kill them.

8. Mow Again: When the grass has reached about 3 inches in length, mow it. Mowing will prevent weeds and encourage healthy growth of your grass. Make sure that your mower is sharp. A dull mower could tear the seedlings from their new home. Finally, mow as normal with regular growth.

Lawn Mowers

Looking for a new lawn mower to take better care of your lawn? Mower Source offers high quality Ariens, Husqvarna, and Toro lawn mowers and riding mowers for any yard, big or small. Get the best pricing around, plus free shipping to all 48 states in the continental U.S.! Shop now for our mid-season deals on lawn mowers and lawn care tools.

Even with the right combination of nutrients, your lawn won’t be healthy without enough moisture to absorb those nutrients. Lawn watering is a vital step in caring for your grass and keeping it healthy. Here are some tips on the best time to water your lawn.

When to Water

With enough rain, your lawn won’t need to be watered very often. A well-maintained lawn is designed to capture and use rain water efficiently. But if you hit a drought period in mid-summer, or you live in a dry area of the country, watering your lawn is important if you want to keep it alive.

Once your grass begins to start turning brown or looking dried out, it’s time to break out the sprinklers or turn on the irrigation system.

Best Time of Day to Water Lawn

The best time to water your lawn is early in the morning, before the temperature reaches its peak in the middle of the day. The hotter it gets, the faster the water evaporates. Watering the lawn at the hottest part of the day allows too much water to evaporate before it soaks into the ground.

If you can’t get up early enough to water the lawn in the early morning, or if you don’t have an irrigation system with automatic settings, the next best time to water the lawn is in the evening. However, keep in mind that some lawn experts say watering the lawn at night can promote the growth of fungus and cause lawn diseases, since the water sits on your lawn overnight.

How Often to Water Lawn

Experts say that your lawn needs about one inch of rainfall or water each week. More than that is wasted water. You may be able to cut lawn watering down to once a week, as long as you can water the grass long enough to equal one inch. To help you gauge how much water your lawn is receiving, place a coffee can or small container on the ground within reach of the sprinkler system. When the water in the can reaches one inch, your grass is well watered.

Conserving Water

The better your lawn can absorb water, the less water you will waste. To keep your lawn healthy and protect the roots, mow high in the summer. The extra shade keeps your lawn’s roots from getting scorched by the sun and heat.

Mowing at the coolest time of the morning, and only watering your lawn when it needs it will also help conserve water. Your pocketbook and the earth will thank you.

Self-Propelled Mowers

Wish you could make mowing the lawn easier? A self-propelled mower matches your pace and makes it easier to push the mower uphill. Get free shipping on self-propelled mowers from MowerSource.com! We offer high quality, warranty-backed lawn mowers from Ariens, Husqvarna, and Toro, with the best prices available online!

If you want to keep your lawn green and healthy, you’ll need to feed the lawn the nutrients it needs to thrive. When to fertilize the lawn depends partly on which part of the country you live in, which type of grass you have, the health of the soil, and other factors. But for most lawns, the following fertilizing tips will get you headed in the right direction.

1. Give it 5.

Most lawns need about 5 applications of fertilizer per year. Start in the spring when the soil reaches about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This is typically when the lilacs are starting to blossom and the grass comes out of hibernation.

Fertilize again about four weeks later (typically in early to mid-May) and then every six to eight weeks after that. Fall fertilizing is still important, since the roots are still going down, and they need the proper nourishment.

2. Water it.

Your lawn needs enough water in order to absorb and use the nutrients in the fertilizer. Some fertilizers require you to water the lawn before or after applying the fertilizer, for best results. Read the directions before application.

3. Don’t overdo it.

Too much fertilizer can backfire on you. Go easy on the application, and only stick to the amount recommended on the fertilizer label. To spread the fertilizer evenly over the lawn, do a once-over with half the recommended amount of fertilizer. Then spread the second half and cover the lawn perpendicular to the direction you spread for the first application.

4. Use the right fertilizer.

Slow-release fertilizers last longer, which means you can wait longer between applications. Don’t use slow-release fertilizers in the late growing season, however, since you don’t want to stimulate too much growth in late autumn.

Lawn Mowers

Keep your lawn healthy this summer with a new lawn mower from MowerSource.com. We carry only the best brands in the industry: Ariens, Husqvarna, and Toro. Our lawn mowers are guaranteed to last. Mower Source offers the best prices available, with free shipping and excellent customer service to back up our products. Give us a try. You’ll be glad you did! Shop for lawn mowers online or give us a call at (855) 636-3381 to speak with someone who can help you find the right lawn mower to meet your needs.

The heat of summer and dry weather can be tough on your lawn. Here are some tips to keep your lawn green and healthy this summer, despite the heat and periods of drought.

1. Don’t neglect maintenance.

By keeping your lawn mower blade sharpened and your deck’s underside clean, you’ll avoid damaging the grass and make your lawn mower last longer. The blade should be sharpened every month, ideally, or at least twice a year. If the blade is damaged, replace it with a new lawn mower blade.

You’ll also want to clean out grass clippings and debris from underneath the deck after you’re done mowing. With a built-in deck cleaning port—such as on the Toro Recycler lawn mower series—you can easily clean the deck after every time you cut the grass.

2. Mow smart.

If you’re using a mulching mower, take your time when mowing. The mower needs extra time to process the grass finely enough to nourish the lawn and make the grass clippings small enough to be invisible. Only mow the grass when it’s dry, and overlap each pass slightly for an even cut. Alternate cutting directions each time you mow to disperse the mulch evenly for a healthier lawn.

3. Raise the deck.

Cutting the grass too short in hot, dry weather can lead to brown patches on your lawn. When the summer gets hot, raise the mower deck so that the grass is taller than 3 inches after mowing. While you’ll have to mow more often, the longer grass will protect the roots from the scorching midday sun and help prevent the dreaded patches of brown grass.

4. Go easy on the slopes.

Fast speeds and sharp turns on hills can tear up the grass—not to mention, put you in danger of tipping the mower. If you use a walk-behind lawn mower, mow the hill from side to side. With a lawn tractor or riding mower, mow straight up and down (or consult the manual to see their recommendations). With a zero turn mower, you’ll need to be especially cautious going downhill.

Mulching Mowers

Keep your lawn green and healthy this summer with a mulching mower from MowerSource.com. We offer walk-behind mulching mowers and mulching kits for riding mowers and zero turn mowers. Best prices around! Get free shipping to the lower 48 U.S. and free lift gate delivery on select zero turn mowers.

Want a lawn with more curb appeal? How you handle grass clippings affects the appearance and health of your lawn. Here are some tips on figuring out when you should bag grass clippings and when you should mulch.

When to mulch

If the grass is always greener on the other side, it might be because your neighbor is mulching instead of bagging. In most cases, mulching is a better idea than bagging, because the grass clippings act as fertilizer for your lawn and help it retain the moisture it needs to stay lush and healthy.

Worried about the appearance of your lawn by letting the grass clippings sit? Buy a mulching mower that cuts and re-cuts the grass clippings until they are barely noticeable, then forces the clippings deep into the lawn, where no one will notice them. You’ll get the best of both worlds: a clean-looking lawn and the nourishment your grass needs to keep it green.

Handled properly, mulching can:

• Make your lawn healthier by serving as fertilizer and helping your lawn retain moisture.
• Save time on mowing, since you don’t have to stop and empty the mower bag.
• Save money on lawn care—both on grass clipping disposal and because you won’t need to use as much fertilizer.

The key to avoid thatch buildup when leaving the grass clippings is to only cut the lawn no more than 1/3 of the blade at a time. Smaller mulching pieces will decompose rapidly, nourishing your lawn rather than causing problems.

When to bag

If by chance the grass has grown too long and you need to cut more than a 1/3 of the blade, that’s when bagging comes in handy.

Large clumps of grass clippings look bad—not to mention the fact that they can smother your lawn if they’re not raked evenly over the surface. So if you’ve been gone on vacation for a couple of weeks and come home to an overgrown lawn, bagging is a good option at that stage.

A bagging kit is also the best option if you want a pristine, manicured lawn without any mulch or grass clippings. By fertilizing your lawn, you can keep it just as green and lush as you can with a mulching mower or mulching kit.

Mulching Mower Sale

Need a mulching mower or a mulching kit? Mower Source offers mulching mowers and mulching kits for Toro, Husqvarna, and Ariens mowers. Get free shipping when you purchase your mulching mower or mulching kit from MowerSource.com!

When too much thatch builds up on your lawn, it blocks water and nutrients from fully absorbing into the grass, which makes your lawn start to suffocate and turn brown. By removing the thatch when needed (after it reaches about a half inch in depth), you can keep your lawn healthy and green.

How to Dethatch Your Lawn

You have several options when it comes to dethatching your lawn. First, you can do it yourself by using a dethatching rake or by renting a commercial dethatcher. If you have a small lawn, you can dethatch it manually with a special rake designed to remove the layer of thatch buildup from your lawn. This is the gentlest way to dethatch your lawn, but it also requires the most work on your part and takes a long time to completely cover your entire lawn. That’s why we only recommend it for very small yards.

Another do-it-yourself option is to rent a dethatcher from a hardware store or lawn supply store. Since it’s a heavy piece of equipment, you’ll need a way to load it on a truck and unload it when you get it to your house. A commercial dethatcher is much more efficient and faster than a rake, if you can find a place to rent one. The blade depth is adjustable; typically you don’t want it to reach any deeper than a half inch into the soil.

Finally, you can opt for commercial dethatching from a local lawn service. This is the best option if you are not familiar with the process of dethatching or don’t want to take the time to do it yourself.

Practical Advice

• Before dethatching your lawn, we recommend cutting your grass to half its normal height. This makes it easier to see the thatch layer and how effectively you’re raking the lawn.
• Mark any hidden objects on your lawn that you need to avoid, such as irrigation heads.
• To get the best results, dethatch each section of your lawn twice, going over it the second time at a 90 degree angle compared to your first pass with the dethatcher.

Lawn Care after Dethatching

• If your lawn looks a bit ragged after you dethatch it, that’s normal. It will take anywhere from 3 to 4 weeks for your lawn to return to normal—and when it does, it should be greener and healthier than before.
• Use a rake to remove the thatch loosened up by the rake or machine. Then spread grass seed over areas that are bare. Rake the seeds lightly into the soil.
• Fertilize your lawn after dethatching. Keep the grass well watered to help your lawn recover from the dethatching process. Regular watering, fertilizing, aerating, and mowing will help keep your lawn healthy and prevent rapid buildup of the thatch layer.

Lawn Tools

Get your lawn ready for spring with lawn mowers, equipment, and yard tools from MowerSource.com! We have all the equipment you need to keep your lawn healthy and green this season. Get free shipping on all orders to the lower 48 U.S.