Lawn Care Myths: What Tulsa Homeowners Should Know

Myth: Always bag and remove grass clippings

Does your lawn mower have a bag? Do you routinely remove all of the clippings as you mow? There is a myth that this is good practice for lawn care because grass clippings block the light and prevent air and moisture from getting down to the roots of the turfgrass. Some variations of this myth also imply that grass clippings add to the thatch layer. Here are some facts you need to know:

Too much of a good thing is bad. You don’t want piles of grass clippings on your lawn. 
A light sprinkle of grass clippings will dry quickly and begin to decay, returning nitrogen to the soil. Your clippings become fertilizer.
Leaving grass clippings can help your lawn retain moisture during dry spells.

We recommend leaving some grass clippings on your lawn when you mow.

 Myth: Always bag and remove leaves

Have you been told that leaving leaves on your lawn is bad? Well, there is a kernel of truth to this myth. This is probably why it has been around for so long. However, it is essential to understand that leaving some leaves on your lawn and mowing over them can be good for your lawn. The leaf mulch, like grass clippings, becomes fertilizer for your soil. Just be sure to leave a light mulch. Don’t go overboard. 

Myth: Water your lawn every day

A common lawn care myth is that you should water your lawn daily to keep it healthy. In reality, frequent shallow watering can lead to weak, shallow roots, making your grass more vulnerable to drought and disease. Instead, it's best to water deeply and less often—about 1 to 1.5 inches per week, including rainfall—to encourage strong root growth and a more resilient lawn. Check out our article on proper watering.

Myth: Keep grass cut low

Have you heard that cutting your grass short will reduce how often you have to cut it? Not only is this inaccurate, but it can damage your lawn. Cutting your grass too low will lead to a dry, brown lawn that will start to thin out. We recommend cutting only ⅓ of the length of your grass at any time. If you follow this grass-cutting rule, your lawn will do better in dry or moist weather. Learn more about proper mowing strategies.   

Myth: Any ‘ol grass type is fine

This myth is prevalent in Tulsa. Lawns in our area can have warm-season or cool-season grass. Warm-season grass types do well on hot Tulsa days, and cool-season grasses keep lawns looking nice during the winter. Both are helpful to have on your property. However, there is a method to the application process. You can’t just throw any ‘ol grass seed out there. It is essential to have a proper mix, particularly in areas that get full sun or lots of shade. A lawn care professional will assist you with finding the right mixture to battle summer drought stress and winter dormancy. 

Myth: Spring is the time to apply fertilizer

Is spring the right time to fertilize your lawn? You might think so if you misunderstand the advertising at your local hardware or home improvement store. Spring might be the right time to fertilize your lawn, but some factors must be considered. For example, warm-season grasses like bermudagrass and zoysiagrass may remain dormant in spring. It is often best to fertilize these grass types in early summer. The goal is to give your grass “food” when it is actively growing. If you have a cool-season grass type, it is best to fertilize it in late summer or early fall. Selecting the right kind of fertilizer for your lawn is also essential. If you give your grass the wrong type of fertilizer, it can damage your lawn.

Remember that over-fertilizing is as bad as not giving your lawn enough fertilizer. Selecting the right products and applying the correct amounts of fertilizer in each season is critical. Complicated lawn care tasks like this are where professional lawn care pays for itself.

Professional lawn care in Tulsa & surrounding areas

Take the hassles and misery out of lawn care. Your Nutri-Green team understands the needs of Tulsa, Broken Arrow, and Eastern Oklahoma lawns. We will analyze your lawn with a 21-Point Lawn Evaluation, checking essentials like pH balance, grass types, and weeds present. We will give your lawn what it needs throughout the year and every season based on our findings. We will communicate with you, letting you know what we’ve applied, and offer helpful tips to keep your lawn looking its best. We tackle all of the big tasks for you:

• Soil analysis
• Family and pet-friendly treatments
• Fertilization
• Pre-emergent applications
• Weed control
• Overseeding
• Aeration
• And more

It is easy to get started. Contact us today for a free lawn evaluation. Expert help is worth it when it comes to maintaining a beautiful lawn.