Understanding Your Lawn

Most lawns in Minnesota and western Wisconsin are made up of cool-season grasses, including:

• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Perennial Ryegrass
• Fine Fescue
• Turf-Type Tall Fescue
These grasses thrive during spring and fall when temperatures range from 60°F to 75°F. During periods of summer heat, they naturally slow their growth and may enter dormancy if they do not receive enough moisture.
Knowing which grasses are in your lawn helps determine the best mowing height, watering schedule, and fertilization plan.

Lawn Mowing

Proper mowing is one of the simplest ways to improve lawn health.

Mowing Tips
• Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at one time
• Keep mower blades sharp
• Alternate mowing patterns weekly
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn whenever possible
• Avoid mowing when the lawn is excessively wet

Recommended Heights

Early Spring 2½–3 inches
Summer 3–4 inches
Fall 2½–3 inches
Final Cut 2–2½ inches

Irrigation Basics

A properly maintained sprinkler system delivers even coverage and conserves water

Perform seasonal inspections to:

• Check for broken sprinkler heads
• Look for leaks
• Adjust spray patterns
• Test controller settings
• Replace worn nozzles
• Winterize the system before freezing temperatures

Core Aeration/Overseeding

Compacted soil limits the movement of air, water, and nutrients.

Aeration helps:

• Relieves compaction
• Improves root growth
• Increases water infiltration
• Reduces runoff
• Enhances fertilizer effectiveness

Fall is generally the best time for core aeration on cool-season lawns.

Overseeding thickens existing turf and fills bare or thin areas.

For best results:

• Aerate first
• Choose high-quality seed suited to your site
• Keep the seed moist until it germinates
• Reduce heavy foot traffic until the new grass is established

Fertilzation & Weed Control

A fertilization program keeps grass thick, healthy, and naturally resistant to weeds.

Benefits

• Greener color
• Stronger roots
• Faster recovery from stress
• Improved drought tolerance
• Better disease resistance

A typical annual program includes:

• Early Spring
• Late Spring
• Early Summer
• Late Summer
• Fall Winterizer
  Always follow fertilizer label instructions and avoid applying before heavy rain.

The best defense against weeds is a dense, healthy lawn.

Common weeds include:

• Dandelions
• Crabgrass
• Creeping Charlie
• Clover
• Plantain
• Nutsedge
  Preventive weed control and timely spot treatments are often more effective than waiting until weeds
  spread.