Lawn Care Best Practices

Mowing Best Practices

Bermuda and zoysia grasses are best maintained at a shorter height, not exceeding 2 inches. Even during extreme summer heat, maintaining these grasses at a shorter height can help them require less water and nutrients while improving drought and stress tolerance.

During the summer, Bermuda and zoysia can realistically be maintained at approximately 1.5 inches. During spring and early summer, they can be maintained as low as 0.75 inches.

Saint Augustine should be maintained at approximately 2 inches during spring and early summer, and should not exceed 3 inches during the summer.

Recommended Mowing Heights

• Bermuda: Up to 2 inches; approximately 1.5 inches during summer and as low as 0.75 inches during spring and early summer.

• Zoysia: Up to 2 inches; approximately 1.5 inches during summer and as low as 0.75 inches during spring and early summer.

• Saint Augustine: Approximately 2 inches during spring and early summer; no more than 3 inches during summer.

The One-Third Mowing Rule

Never remove more than one-third of the total grass height at one time.

If more needs to be removed to reach the desired height:

• Cut the lawn over several mowing sessions.

• Remove and discard the clippings.

• Avoid removing more than the top third of the grass in a single mowing.

Mulching is acceptable for regular maintenance cuts, but removing more than the top third at once can create a dense thatch layer, which can restrict the grass's ability to grow and recover.

Watering Best Practices

Watering requirements for these turf types are largely temperature-based. During most of the year, approximately 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week may be sufficient. During periods of extreme temperatures, approximately 2 inches per week is recommended.

Watering is best done deeply and irregularly. Depending on soil conditions, a soaking cycle may be necessary.

A soaking cycle involves:

• Run the entire irrigation system for half of the desired watering time.

• Run the system again later the same day for the remaining time.

Mist-Style Sprinkler Heads

For mist-style sprinkler heads:

• Up to 90°F: Run approximately 30 minutes per zone or station, twice per week.

• Above 90°F: Physically monitor the lawn and consider adding 10 minutes for every additional 10°F.

• At 100°F: Approximately 40 minutes per zone or station, twice per week.

Mist-style heads are described in the provided guidance as highly efficient and capable of putting out the maximum amount of water.

Rotor Sprinkler Heads

Rotor sprinkler heads include systems where the heads physically turn or the water moves in an artificial pattern.

Recommended watering:

• Up to 90°F: Run for approximately 1 hour, twice per week.

• Above 90°F: Add 15 minutes for every additional 10°F to each watering day.

Rotor heads typically cover the work of approximately three zones of mist-style heads. Because of this, they need to run longer to provide a comparable amount of water.

When to Water Your Lawn

The time of day you water can be especially important for Saint Augustine and zoysia.

Follow these watering guidelines:

• Water early in the morning.

• Start no earlier than 5 AM.

• Water for as long as necessary to complete the watering cycles.

• Do not water at night or in the evening.

The provided guidance states that watering earlier than 5 AM or at night/evening is a major cause of fungus and disease in these turf types.

How to Recognize Drought Stress

Knowing the early signs of drought stress can help you increase watering before serious damage occurs.

Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine may begin to show drought stress when the blades start to fold, creating a noticeable crease in the blades.

The progression described in the provided guidance is:

• Blades begin to fold and develop a noticeable crease.

• Blades slowly begin to curl inward.

• Blades become fully rolled, resembling a straw.

• At this stage, the lawn is severely underwatered and may be at risk of serious damage or death.

If the lawn reaches these severe stages, increase watering immediately.

Bermuda and Zoysia

Bermuda and zoysia can show similar signs of drought stress, although the symptoms may appear differently.

The progression described in the provided guidance is:

• Grass begins to thin.

• Color begins to fade.

• Grass becomes needle-like, wispy, or white in appearance.

• Continued underwatering can cause the affected area to become dormant.

• The area may turn light gray, then purple or black.

• Some areas may develop a severe burnt-orange color.

If you notice your lawn entering these stages, increase watering immediately.

Lawn Recovery and Seasonal Damage

If drought damage occurs late in the season and the lawn does not recover before dormancy begins, the affected areas may continue to look damaged throughout winter and into spring until the lawn becomes active again.

Important considerations include:

• Dead spots that occur during summer may become somewhat larger by spring.

• Damaged areas may require sod replacement.

• Zoysia is particularly slow to recover once damaged and may require replacement.