YARDWORK Lawn care: Sow it, grow it, mow it
There is such a thing as too much mulch. More than 2 inches is a haven for bugs.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- A wet spring has produced an abundance of spring flowers, but also lots of insects and flourishing lawn grass, said Dave Goerig, Ohio State University horticulture extension agent.
Goerig said Mahoning and Shenango valley residents are likely having difficulty keeping up with lawn mowing in recent weeks because of the abundance of rain.
Two simple rules apply when mowing grass. It is possible to mow grass when it is wet, but don't cut too low, he said.
"Raise the blade a notch or two, and mowing will be easier," he said. "If it's wet, there will be mower tracks, but they will disappear."
Goerig said in any condition, grass should never be cut lower than one-third of its total height at any one cutting. Cutting more than one-third at a time stresses the grass, he said.
"The best thing to do is make a higher cut, then a lower one in a day or two," he said. "In the city there are ordinances about cutting grass, and if you ignore it too long, even because of the weather, you'll have a hayfield."
Drought troubles
Goerig said some homeowners may have trouble with lawns because of last year's drought. Any lawn that hasn't turned green by now was killed by the drought.
Homeowners who find bare or brown patches in their lawns don't have to go to the expense of totally replacing the lawn, Goerig said. Simply rake the bare spots and plant new seeds, a process called overseeding, he said.
Overseeding can be done by hand, or most equipment rental stores will rent an overseeder, which will cut trenches and drop the seeds in place, he said.
Mulching is another favorite pastime of backyard gardeners this time of year, and Goerig said the biggest mulching mistake people make is using too much.
"You never want to put down mulch more than 2 inches deep," he said. "If you have it deeper than that, you are creating a wonderful home for lots of insects you probably don't want."
Goerig said totally replacing mulch each year is not necessary. Homeowners can simply rake the mulch around so the weathered mulch is underneath.
Preparing the soil
Anytime is a good time to add new plants or trees, and homeowners should be preparing soil now for vegetable or flower gardens, he said.
Goerig said any plant or tree being sold now at area nurseries are fine to plant. Moving plants from one place to another now, however should be done in the fall.
"Now is not the time to move plants around," he said. "If you're thinking of bringing some saplings in from Uncle Joe's woods, wait until the fall," he said.
Flowering plants such as rhododendron can be pruned, but Goerig said homeowners should wait until the plants, which are in full bloom now, have quit blooming. The flowering plants start working on blossoms for next year as soon as this year's are gone, he said.
tullis@vindy.com