Warm Season Turf Maintenance

King GREEN's lawn service programs help with weed control and improve your lawn’s color, but additional maintenance practices are the homeowner’s responsibility. These practices will greatly enhance the health, color, and density of the lawn.

Bermuda Lawn Care

• Scalping your Bermuda lawn helps eliminate grass and thatch that have accumulated over previous years, enabling the lawn to green up more quickly. It is not necessary to mow on the lowest setting, but the mower should be lowered at least one notch to remove dead or dormant grass. The ideal time to scalp a Bermuda lawn is mid-March to early April. Be sure to bag or catch the clippings on this initial mowing to open the lawn to sunlight and help it access water and nutrients more efficiently.

• Aeration should follow scalping, usually from April through late spring. This process helps relieve soil compaction and breaks up thatch.

• Topdressing is best done from the start of the growing season through mid-summer. It can help level the lawn, repair winter or drought damage, and improve overall aesthetics.

• Regular mowing is recommended at a height of 1 to 2 inches. Keep the mower blade sharp and follow the one-third rule—never remove more than one-third of the grass blade during any single mowing. Changing your mowing pattern regularly can also improve turf growth and appearance.

Even with adequate rainfall or irrigation, Southern summers are hot and humid. Lawns will show the effects. Under these conditions, consider raising the mower height. Taller grass retains moisture better and shades the roots, helping reduce stress and fungal issues.

Zoysia Lawn Care

All of the above maintenance tips apply to Zoysia lawns, with one important exception:

• Never scalp a Zoysia lawn. This grass has a shallow root system and grows more slowly than Bermuda. When injured, recovery takes longer. Mow Zoysia regularly at a height of 1.5 to 2 inches.

Final Note

Regardless of grass type, it is not necessary to bag or catch the clippings at every mowing. Grass clippings are not a significant source of thatch. Thatch typically results from turf damage or disease. Following these maintenance practices, along with the King GREEN lawn service program, will help keep your lawn healthy, thick, and green.

– Tris Moore, King GREEN