Bow to your sensei, and I will show you the true path to healthy grass. Those who follow this path will be rewarded with a lush, healthy lawn that will make your fellow ninja green with envy.
1. Advice from a samurai: do not wildly slice at your grass.
A fierce warrior will cut the grass at the right height, for the right season.
A fundamental rule of honorable lawn care is to adjust your lawn equipment to cut at an ideal height for your type of lawn and for the season.
A length of 2 - 3" is sufficient for typical lawns during the spring and early fall. During the heat of summer, a true master of lawn care will cut the grass even higher. It is dishonorable to cut below the minimum recommended height except for the last mowing of the season. In this rare occasion, it is acceptable to cut the grass around 1.5".
Those who posses great wisdom understand that propper height is important. The tall grass is very honorable, and it's extra length absorbs more sunlight, resulting in a healthy and respectful plant.
It is dishonorable to remove more than 1/3 the height of the grass in one mowing. The true path is not always the easy one. You may need to mow more often during the spring and early fall, but your hard work and perseverance will pay off.
It is wise to leave the clippings on the lawn after you mow. You will save time and energy that is better spent practicing your mongoose stance, and the clippings will decompose, adding vital nutrients back to the soil, resulting in a lawn that is at peace with it's inner being.
2. Keep your blade sharp!
Mighty warriors know that a dull blade tears at the grass, as opposed to slicing it cleanly. Examine your lawn a few days after mowing. A dull lawnmower blade will leave a jagged brown line across the tip of the cut grass. This is most dishonorable, and your blade should be sharpened. Highly skilled lawn ninjas sharpen their blades once for every 8 hours of use. At our dojo, we sharpen ours monthly.
It is harder for the grass to fight off pests and disease when it has been dishonored by being cut with a dull blade.
3. Chinese water torture!
Overwatering your lawn is more damaging than depriving it of water. Most grasses require 1 - 1.5" of water weekly. This much water will penetrate the soil between 4 - 6" below the surface for clay soils and 8 - 10" for sandy soils.
A skilled warrior doesn't guess how much water his yard is getting. A rain gauge will be needed to guide you to propper watering. At the end of the week, look at the gauge. If there is sufficient water from rainfall, there is no need to add more. If this is not the case, you may water more, but measure the amount of water that your sprinkler is adding.
It is wise to follow local regulations during watering bans. Remember that less water is acceptable and grass is a tough plant. When rain once again blesses your lawn, it will prove resilient with a some help.
4. Your body is a temple- this applies to your lawn as well.
A powerful warrior must understand the importance of self control. Using fertilizer 4 times a year is more than enough: spring, summer, early fall and after the first frost. If you're in a drought, it is wise to skip the summer application, but never skip the fall feeding.
5. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
A wise man once said that preventing problems is easier than fixing them. Consistency is the key to good maintenence. Repair bare spots as needed. Spot treat your weeds using propper herbicides. It is most honorable to follow the directions provided with your herbicide. It is acceptable to use pre-emergent herbicides to prevent grassy-type weeds such as crabgrass.
A good ninja will have his lawn aerated yearly. It is most honorable to do this in the fall when soil temperature is around 60 degrees.
These are the simple directions that one must follow in order to attain the most honorable of lawns.
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