A common question that homeowners ask is "how tall should I mow my lawn?" 

The answer to this question depends on a few things:

• Type of Grass
• How tall the grass is before you cut it
• Time of year

TYPE OF GRASS
The most common types of grass found in lawns in the south, like where we are, Prattville Alabama, are Bermuda, Centipede and Zoysia. 

Bermuda Grass
Bermuda Grass should be mowed to a height of 0.5 - 2.5". A short cut gives a very manicured look but makes it a bit more difficult to control weeds. Remember that one of the most effective methods of weed control is having a thick lawn, mowed a little tall, that drowns out the resources that weeds are competing for. 

​Centipede Grass
Centipede Grass should be mowed to a height of 1" to 2.5". 

Zoysia
Zoysia should be mowed between 0.5" to 3.0". Keep in mind that there are multiple types of Zoysia so there is no one size fits all solution. Be sure to research specific height requirements for your type of Zoysia for the region where you live. 

A good rule of thumb is to never mow off more than 1/3 of the total grass blade length. So mowing frequently enough to maintain this rule of thumb is recommended. Mowing off too much at one time also creates excessive lawn clippings that have to be bagged or raked and discarded. 

A few other tips: 

• During prolonged periods of limited rainfall or drought, keep your lawn taller to help it retain moisture and avoid burning out
• At the beginning of spring, mow your lawn short to remove dead grass blades
• Allow grass in shady areas to grow taller than those in the sun
• Dethatching and aerating are great methods to help improve the health of your lawn. (We'll cover those topics in a later post)

Hopefully this article was helpful for the DIY'er. If you'd rather leave it to your expert local lawn care service, give us a call at Prattville Lawn Pros and leave the worrying to us! (334) 315-0500

Until next time... Remember, "the grass really is greener on the other side!"
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When mowing your lawn, one thing that can't be underestimated is the importance of sharp mower blades. 

A common question that homeowners ask is "how tall should I mow my lawn?" 

The answer to this question depends on a few things:

• Type of Grass
• How tall the grass is before you cut it
• Time of year

TYPE OF GRASS
The most common types of grass found in lawns in the south, like where we are, Prattville Alabama, are Bermuda, Centipede and Zoysia. 

Bermuda Grass
Bermuda Grass should be mowed to a height of 0.5 - 2.5". A short cut gives a very manicured look but makes it a bit more difficult to control weeds. Remember that one of the most effective methods of weed control is having a thick lawn, mowed a little tall, that drowns out the resources that weeds are competing for. 

​Centipede Grass
Centipede Grass should be mowed to a height of 1" to 2.5". 

Zoysia
Zoysia should be mowed between 0.5" to 3.0". Keep in mind that there are multiple types of Zoysia so there is no one size fits all solution. Be sure to research specific height requirements for your type of Zoysia for the region where you live. 

A good rule of thumb is to never mow off more than 1/3 of the total grass blade length. So mowing frequently enough to maintain this rule of thumb is recommended. Mowing off too much at one time also creates excessive lawn clippings that have to be bagged or raked and discarded. 

A few other tips: 

• During prolonged periods of limited rainfall or drought, keep your lawn taller to help it retain moisture and avoid burning out
• At the beginning of spring, mow your lawn short to remove dead grass blades
• Allow grass in shady areas to grow taller than those in the sun
• Dethatching and aerating are great methods to help improve the health of your lawn. (We'll cover those topics in a later post)

Hopefully this article was helpful for the DIY'er. If you'd rather leave it to your expert local lawn care service, give us a call at Prattville Lawn Pros and leave the worrying to us! (334) 315-0500

Until next time... Remember, "the grass really is greener on the other side!"

Introduction
So maybe you've heard of pre-emergent herbicide or maybe you haven't. This article is designed to explain what pre-emergent herbicide is, how it works and why it's a necessity if you want a lawn free from weeds. 

What is pre-emergent herbicide?
Pre-emergent herbicide is a product sold in a variety of forms, by a variety of companies, and when applied properly, is designed to prevent weeds before they ever occur. This does several things for you: 

• Prevents weeds, creating a better looking and healthier lawn
• Creates less need for post-emergent weed control products that are used to kill weeds once they appear
• Has a exponential impact year over year. The less weeds that grow, the less seeds that are dropped, meaning less weeds to prevent or control the following season. 
• Last, but not least, it'll make the neighbors wonder why your lawn looks so much better than theirs.

I'd say that pre-emergent weed control is the biggest kept "secret" among home owners who have a yard free of weeds. 

How does pre-emergent herbicide work? 
So this magical substance sounds great, right? But if you're like me you want to know what mechanism really makes this stuff function. Well, the way it works is that once it's applied and watered in, it prevents existing seeds from being able to sprout roots. Without sprouting roots, the weed can't form and it's dead before it really ever had a chance to experience life. To get even more technical it works by inhibiting certain enzymes that are responsible for aiding in the process of germination. 

When to apply pre-emergent weed control? 
In order for pre-emergent weed control to work you have to time it properly. Too soon and the effects will wear off before the seeds are ready to germinate. If you time it too late, the seeds will sprout, take root, and you've missed your window of opportunity. The only hope for you then is to find some selective post-emergent weed control products to help combat the weeds that have taken root. 

There's no one right answer on how to properly time pre-emergent weed prevention. If you live in the southern part of the United States, like I do, in Tuscaloosa Alabama then you're going to need to put your pre-emergent out sooner in the season than if you live in say, North Dakota or Oregon. 

A good rule of thumb is to apply the pre-emergent herbicide when you expect soil temperatures to get up over about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and stay there for a few days. These are the required temperatures for germination to occur in most weed species. For me here in Tuscaloosa, that could be as soon as January or February and in the northern part of the country that could be as late as April or May. 

A second application is needed in the fall to prevent any seeds that are left over from being able to germinate. A good pre-emergent product should give you coverage for about 4 - 5 months. 

Do you need to apply pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn?
In short, yes. The only way you're not going to spend your entire year being overrun with weeds in your lawn is if you apply a weed prevention product and put it out at the right times as outlined below. This really is one of the the biggest reasons that when you drive through a subdivision you sometimes see a lawn covered in weeds and then the next door neighbor has a flawless weed-free lawn. There are some other contributing factors that I will cover in future blog posts, but this one is huge!
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Will pre-emergent herbicide harm my grass? 
If applied in the recommended amounts and on the proper schedule you'll see no negative effects on your lawn, just less weeds. 

Do's and Don'ts of pre-emergent herbicide

• Do apply pre-emergent weed control as outlined above
• Don't miss the target window when soil temperatures are sustained at 55 degrees for a few consecutive days
• Don't overseed your lawn or plant any grass seeds during the window of time while your pre-emergent herbicide is functional. Because pre-emergent herbicide will inhibit the germination of the new seeds, you need to wait until the newly planted grass is well established before application. 
• Do be sure to water in pre-emergent herbicide when in granule form. It will not function properly until watered in. 
• Don't worry if you're a few days early on application or if the weather changes. A few days early on pre-emergent weed prevention is much better than being a few days late!
• Do feel free to rub it in to the neighbors that you have a superior lawn!

If this article was helpful or if you have any thoughts or opinions be sure to leave a comment below. 
Also, visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/prattvillelawnpros
Thanks for stopping by. ​