Lush Lawns

7 Lawn Mistakes That Are Killing Your Grass

Are you making these? 😬

1

Mowing Too Short

Scalping stresses grass and invites weeds. Keep cool-season grass at 3–4 inches. Warm-season at 1.5–2.5 inches. Never cut more than ⅓ at once.

2

Overwatering

More lawns die from too much water than too little. Water deeply 2–3x per week, not daily. Aim for 1 inch total per week. Morning is best.

3

Wrong Fertilizer Timing

Fertilizing too early wakes grass before roots are ready. Wait until soil hits 55°F. For cool-season grass, fall is actually the most important feeding.

4

Dull Mower Blades

Dull blades tear grass instead of cutting it, leaving brown ragged tips. Sharpen blades every 20–25 hours of mowing — at least twice per season.

5

Ignoring Soil Health

Great grass starts underground. If you've never tested your soil, you're guessing. Compacted, acidic, or nutrient-poor soil = struggling lawn.

6

Skipping Overseeding

Lawns thin naturally over time. Annual overseeding fills gaps before weeds do. Fall is ideal for cool-season; spring for warm-season grass.

7

Bagging Clippings

Grass clippings return nitrogen to your lawn — free fertilizer! Mulch-mow instead of bagging. Exception: bag if lawn is diseased or clippings are excessive.