HOME IQ interviews John Deere lawn care, landscaping and turfgrass expert, Dr. Mark Schmid.
Mark Schmidt, a John Deere lawn care, landscaping and turf grass expert, has insights and ideas for homeowners who want to enjoy and enhance their yard. Mark’s Ph.D. in agronomy along with his professional experience in landscape design, irrigation and turf management, make him uniquely positioned to provide advice on maintaining a healthy and beautiful property.
John Deere Z655 Zero-Turn Mower
Most lawn lovers get geared up in the spring and early summer for gardening, greening-up the lawn and planning outdoor parties. But by August, some of the dazzle has worn off, right along with the razor sharp edge on your mower blade. In many areas drought and extreme heat have set in, making the lawn a bit more brittle and the idea of lawn care a bit drearier. To give the yard (and your motivation) a pick-me-up, we’ve consulted with Mark Schmidt, a John Deere (and IMRE client) lawn care and turfgrass expert to provide some advice.
Mark, what are the signs that your yard is stressed and needs some TLC?
Well, browning is an obvious sign of lawn stress, but there are warning signs even before that happens. When a lawn gets dry, it protects itself by curling its leaves, which can sometimes make them look a bluish-green color. Footprints in the grass – signifying the lawns’ inability to bounce back – are also signs that it’s struggling to hold moisture. It’s time to take action if you see any of these occurrences.
Like what? What are some ideas for keeping your turf at its healthiest this time of year?
There are three simple things folks can easily do to help their lawns survive in tough conditions. First, make sure you water deeply and infrequently, about an inch of water once a week. This will encourage a stronger, deeper root system. Secondly, mow a little higher. Longer grass also helps shade the soil so it can hold moisture more effectively. Finally, make sure your mower blades are sharp. A dull blade can shred the tips of grass plants, creating entryways for disease. Shredded grass dries out and turns brown.
What happens if your community has water restrictions?
Always abide by water restrictions, no matter how it affects your lawn. However, you can make the decision to not water at all. If you decide not to water, the lawn will likely go dormant and sleep through a dry spell. Under extreme conditions, not watering may cause some turf to die. If you water a little now and then, you keep the lawn awake but aren’t providing enough water for it to flourish. This can promote shallow roots and a weak overall grass system that is less capable of coping with environmental stress, like drought.
What are some projects we should look forward to in the coming months?
It may seem like a while before things cool down, but soon you’ll be preparing for fall activities like aeration, fall fertilization and leaf removal. It’s also a great season to perform some at-home maintenance on your mower, like oil changes, spark plug replacement and general cleanup.
Thanks, Mark, for your great lawn and garden advice. Home IQ looks forward to checking back in with you next season.
