Columbus, OH Lawn Care Guide

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    Your QuickStart Guide to Lawn Care in Columbus, Ohio

    We take pride in our lawns in Columbus. The grass that covers your landscape is like a cover to a book. People will assume that the inside of your home is just as pristine as your yard. Since it’s the first thing people see when they drive up to your house, you want it to be picture-perfect. Since we get more than the average amount of precipitation (more than 56 inches a year), that’s not tough to achieve. 

    We still need to water occasionally and mow often. How often you should mow, and water depends on the type of grass covering your landscape

    The 4 Most Popular Grass Types in Columbus

    Tall Fescue

    Tall Fescue grass is perfect if you don’t want to spend a lot of time watering and maintaining your lawn. This variety is drought-resistant and will survive a hot, dry summer. It also holds up well during our cold winters. 

    It does grow quickly and will need mowing at least once a week. It looks best when mowed between 3 and 3 ½ inches.

    Kentucky Bluegrass

    This is the most common grass you’ll see on Columbus lawns. Kentucky bluegrass is actually an eye-catching shade of green, but in the spring, the bluish-purple buds tint the landscape blue. 

    As a cold-season grass, Kentucky bluegrass holds up well to winters here. It’s long-lasting and resilient to heavy foot traffic, It’s also more resistant than other grasses to disease. If you’re planting a new lawn, keep in mind bluegrass takes one to three months to establish itself, so it’s best to plant it in the spring or fall. We recommend mowing this grass to a height of 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches.

    Perennial Ryegrass

    Got kids and pets? Perennial ryegrass is perfect for your yard. As one of the toughest sods, it can stand up to heavy foot traffic and hot and cold weather. Like Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, it continues to grow in poorly drained soil. It’s best to keep this grass shorter, 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches.

    Buffalo Grass 

    Buffalo grass is a turf you can plant and almost forget about. It’s extremely versatile and doesn’t require a lot of attention. It’s also durable and can bounce back after heavy snow and a lot of foot traffic. You should mow Buffalo grass at a height of 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches.

    Columbus Lawn Maintenance Tips

    Mowing Tips

    Never cut more than one-third of the height of your grass. If your grass is too short, it is vulnerable to pests and diseases. Most turfs need a weekly mow until late fall when the growth slows down or stops. Consider varying the pattern and direction each time you mow. Otherwise, your grass blades will lean in one direction, making your lawn look unbalanced. After mowing, leave the clippings behind. They will decompose and fertilize your lawn. If you hire a lawn service professional, make sure to remind this person.

    Keep Your Mower Blades Sharp

    Dull mower blades will tear the grass instead of cutting it. As a result, your lawn will turn brown. With sharp mower blades, you only need to pass over your lawn once instead of several times to get the job done. Most hardware stores can sharpen them for you, or you can do it yourself in less than an hour. Just make sure you disconnect the spark plugs first. 

    Set the Right Blade Height

    You can adjust the cutting height by raising or lowering the mower’s wheel. Look on the side of your lawnmower and find a knob or lever that adjusts the height for your grass type. 

    Overseed

    Your lawn will start to look tired and worn out after a summer of use. By raking up all debris and thatch and spreading fresh seed, you can replenish some of those bare patches over the fall and winter. A thinning lawn is an invitation for weeds and pests. You can spread seed over the smaller areas by hand, or rent a seed spreader for the entire lawn. 

    Aerate and Fertilize 

    Your soil can become compacted after a summer full of heavy traffic. Poking tiny holes in the lawn, or aerating, gives the grass a chance to take in more moisture and nutrients. It also raises the lawn’s resistance to diseases and pests. Do this in the fall, just before you add fertilizer. Fertilizing the lawn at the end of September will help it make it through the cold winter. Before deciding which fertilizer to use, find out what your lawn needs. You can get a home soil test kit at your local home improvement store. The extension office at the Ohio State University can recommend labs in your area to test the soil for you.   

    Water 

    In spite of all the rain Columbus has seen recently, your lawn may need a little more moisture before it goes dormant over the winter. Keep your sprinkler ready until the first frost. A few good soakings will give the roots of the grass the strength it needs to make it through the winter. You also want to make sure the new seeds and fertilizer work their way into the soil. Check with the city or Wikilawn’s post for lawn watering restrictions in your area. 

    Soil Testing

    soil test-lawnstarter.jpg

    Soil tests often provide valuable insight into what’s going on in your soil.  According to Ohio State, “Soil tests provide more helpful information on soils than any other resource.”  Soil tests take the guess work out of lawn care so that you can make informed decisions on what fertilizers and treatments apply to your lawn.  “A standard soil test will provide information on soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), lime requirement index and base saturation” according to Ohio State’s website.  The cost of most soil tests is under $100.

    Winter Care

    While you won’t be mowing in the winter, you can’t completely forget about your lawn. It’s crucial that you rake up the leaves, or mulch them finely with your mower. Wet leaves that pile up will suffocate your lawn and invite disease. Be sure to remove any lawn furniture from the grass and avoid walking on the lawn when it’s covered with snow or frost. This could damage the lawn when it’s dormant.

    As the snow melts, even out or remove large piles. A concentrated pile of snow could weaken the lawn and make it hard for it to bounce back when spring arrives.

    About Wikilawn

    Wikilawn strives to be the #1 resource about lawn care in your region.  From in-depth soil guides to lists of the top lawn care pros near you’ we’ve got you covered.

    Landscaping Trends in Columbus, OH

    *All photos on the Wikilawn website are free for commercial or non-commercial use. Visual attribution is required.

    Trend #1: Ground Coverage You Can Eat!

    Trend #2: Annual Sage is All the Rage in Cooler Climates

    Trend #3: Stacked Stone Walls with Natural Landscape

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