Fall Checklist... Is Your Lawn Ready for Winter? What About Your Lawn Mower?

It is that time of year again. Make sure you are ready for the cold weather when it comes.

What You Need To Get Done Outside Your House:

* Remove the leaves from your gutters

* Unhook hoses and store them inside

* Trim trees & shrubs that touch your house

* Put up your storm windows.

* Stock up on sand & salt for the ice that might be coming with winter

* Pull out annuals once they have died back

* Have your chimney inspected each year and have it cleaned if it needs it

* What about your lawn mower? Don't forget to get your mower tuned up so it will be ready in the spring. Make sure to go through your lawn mower servicing check list. If you mower is not up to par check out the new Kubota lawn mower line up.

What You Need To Do Get Done Inside Your House:

* Change air filters

* Check all doors & windows for drafts. Apply weather stripping, caulking or putty where the heat might sneak out

* Test all smoke detectors & replace the batteries if needed

* Check your insulation & add more if you need to. The attic floor is one of the most important spots since heat rises

* Protect your plumbing pipes

Lawn Care Advise- How High To Mow Grass

Lawn Care Advice -

How High to Mow Grass

Many people wonder how high to mow grass, for a great-looking lawn that is properly maintained. Knowing the proper height that you should keep your grass at, will keep your lawn healthy and beautiful.

It's very tempting to cut your lawn short so that you don't have to mow it as often. However, mowing your lawn too short only damages the grass by making it more prone to the growth of weeds, to insect infestations and to drought. This happens because your lawn's roots won't be as strong and healthy, and their smaller size gives plenty of room for weeds and other undesirables to take hold. Mowing your lawn too short also allows for increased water loss in the soil, because of the thinner, smaller root system. The optimal height for your grass is about 3 inches. This may take some adjustment in your lawn mower itself to achieve the proper grass height.
Your lawn mowing schedule will change throughout the season, because in the spring grass will be growing faster. This may mean you need to mow your lawn each week. However as summer approaches and the weather heats up, you may be able to mow your lawn only every couple of weeks. Keep an eye on your lawn's growth, because different climates will mean some grass grows faster than others. Don't let your grass grow higher than 5 inches. If you find your grass is growing quickly, you can cut down on your watering to compensate. In addition changing your fertilizer routine to fall or summer, instead of the spring may also help to slow your grass growth.

An exception to the 3 inch height rule for your grass, is when you first mow your lawn after winter. The winter months means that some of the grass may be damaged and contain other debris, so you should set the blade of your lawn mower to cut as close as possible. That will ensure a clean cut and a good start to the spring season. Then, as the weather warms, you can adjust the level of your lawn mower blade higher. You'll need to cut your lawn more often as a result, but you will actually save on watering they doing this. The higher your grass grows, means the longer and stronger the root system will become. That enables it to retain water, rather than it being lost in the soil. Before you know it, your lawn will be returning to a green and lush state.

Knowing how high to mow grass in the various seasons, will prevent damage to your lawn, and promote healthy growth. It will also keep pests and weeds away, both of which can be difficult to get rid of. Now that you know how high to mow grass, your lawn mowing time will be spent more efficiently, you will save on water costs, and it will result in healthier, more appealing lawn for you, your family and friends to enjoy.

About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.

Your Basic Lawn Care Maintenance Schedule

Your Basic Lawn Care Maintenance Schedule

A recommended basic lawn care maintenance schedule involves three components. These are watering, mowing and fertilizing your lawn. This guide will let you know what schedule you should be keeping to take the best care of your lawn.

The first step in your lawn care maintenance schedule is of course watering. Your watering schedule will vary based on the climate you live in, but a good rule of thumb is that when your grass begins to curl, your lawn needs watering. This stage - curling - means that your lawn is trying to keep its moisture in. Letting your watering schedule go past when your grass starts to curl means that your lawn may turn brown. It's recommended never to allow your grass to dry out, because you will only have to do a lot more watering after the fact. So save your time and the cost of watering by observing your lawn's signals regularly. Generally speaking, you should be watering your lawn on a weekly basis, adding about an inch of water each time. If your lawn is exceptionally healthy and lush, you can get away with not watering it as often, but when you do you should water it for a bit longer.

The next step in your lawn care maintenance schedule is mowing your lawn. This is also dependent on your particular lawn and how fast it grows. You want to be sure you don't mow your lawn too short, but rather keep it a bit higher. Lawns benefit from frequent mowing, because it helps them to thicken and spread out, which will help prevent weeds from taking hold. Frequent lawn mowing also fosters a root system that is deep and healthy. Those two factors allow your grass to access water deep in your soil and keeps disease and bugs from taking hold. Should your lawn become plagued with weeds, increase your lawn mowing schedule to compensate.

The third step in your lawn care maintenance schedule involves applying fertilizer. This too will vary depending on where you live and how soon your cold weather arrives. The optimal time to fertilize your lawn is after the grass has stopped growing and doesn't require mowing, and before the ground is frozen. Around the end of September is generally a good time to add fertilizer that has a higher nitrogen ratio. The nitrogen content will help your lawn grow and be nourished, after the dry, warm summer weather. Then around the end of October or early November, you can add a fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus ratio. The phosphorus will nourish your lawn's roots. Remember to adjust the schedule based on your particular climate. Many people these days are opting for organic fertilizers, which nourishes lawns without being too harsh on the grass. Organic fertilizers are also a great way to protect your grass against pests and to provide improved conditions overall.

Following this basic lawn care maintenance schedule will keep your lawn healthy all season long.

About the Author:
Blake Bahrns is a lawn mower parts and small engine parts expert with over 20 years of experience working on lawn and garden equipment. For additional lawn mower tips, lawn care tips, and more free lawn mower articles visit http://www.lawneq.com/.