What’s true and what’s not? These are the Top 5 lawn care myths that we want to address once and for all.
Myth #1: The best time to plant grass seed is in the Spring.
This is not true, especially in Maine. Unpredictable changes in Spring time daily temperatures could put your newly sowed grass seed at risk. A sudden cold spell could kill the tender new grass before it has a chance to harden off. A warm, dry spell could allow weeds that thrive in dry conditions to move in and overtake the new grass. The best time to sow new seed in Maine is in the fall when temperatures are more consistent, and competitive weeds like crabgrass are dormant.
Myth #2: Golf courses cut their grass short, so I should do the same.
Golf courses use sophisticated methods and very expensive machinery to maintain their turf. The proper mowing height for a healthy, drought resistant lawn is 3-3.5″ A good rule of thumb is to “mow high, mow often” or never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at one time.
Myth #3: The products that lawn care companies use are dangerous and more powerful than what is available at the store.
The products that professional lawn care companies use can be purchased at any garden center. The difference is that professionals are regulated by law and are trained to use them in the proper amounts and apply them in the correct way.
Myth #4: I was digging in my lawn and saw a grub, I must have to apply grub control product.
If you have a healthy fescue lawn with a strong root system, a few grubs will not do much damage. In fact they can help aerate the soil similar to earth worms. It is having too many grubs that becomes an issue. Call a professional for an evaluation if you think there is a problem.
Myth #5: Watering my lawn by hand with a garden hose saves more money and water than with an irrigation system.
A professionally designed irrigation system uses sensors that only allow for watering when conditions require it. Proper irrigation can offer a cost savings of approximately 15–20 percent on water bills over watering with a garden hose and sprinkler. The rotating nozzles used in professional irrigation spread heavy droplets of water at a slower pace, which makes them more targeted and effective.
