Taking good care of your lawn often requires no more work overall than taking poor care of it. A lawn that is properly mowed, fertilized and watered has far fewer problems with weeds, diseases and insects. A well-kept lawn also remains dense and attractive, providing you much more enjoyment and environmental benefits. TVT offers maintenance tips for the following grass varieties: Kentucky Bluegrass: WATER NEEDS: Moderate - apply 0.5 to 1 inch of water as a deep soaking every 5 to 7 days to encourage a deep healthy root system during dry or hot periods. Avoid frequent, shallow watering that results in shallow roots, permitting weed germination and growth. MOWING & THATCHING: Optimum mowing height 1 1/2 - 2 inches for a high quality lawn. Mow regularly with a sharp rotary or reel mower, allowing clippings from frequent mowing to remain on the lawn. Never remove more than 1/3 of the shoot growth at one mowing. Kentucky bluegrass may develop some thatch at higher nitrogen levels. Prime time to dethatch is in early fall. SOIL & FERTILIZATION NEEDS: Performs best in fertile, non-acid reacting soil with good drainage. Fertilize twice a year, spring and fall, with a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. Apply 2.5 to 4 lbs. actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per year for higher requiring nitrogen varieties also apply fertilizer at 0.5 to I lb. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. every 4-6 weeks. During summer, fertilizer rates should be reduced by 50%. Water thoroughly after fertilization. DISEASE, WEED & INSECT CONTROL: New varieties have improved resistance to diseases such as leafspot, stripe smut, powdery mildew, dollar spot, Typhula blight, summer patch and rusts. If broadleaf weeds need to be controlled with herbicide, the turf should be well established and in vigorous condition. Practically all insects that damage lawns can be controlled biologically or with insecticides. Ryegrass: WATER NEEDS: Moderate - twice weekly, deep watering (at least 1 inch per application) is sufficient - during very hot weather, water more frequently - new varieties have good heat tolerance. MOWING & THATCHING: Low growth habit - mow with a reel or rotary mower at 1 to 2 1/2 inches - new varieties have good mowing qualities and are more tolerant to close mowing. There is no thatch as grass thickens by tillers instead of stolons or rhizomes. SOIL & FERTILIZER NEEDS: Highly adaptable to a wide range of soils, from light and sandy to heavy and clayey. Fertilizer needs are low to medium - fertilize with high nitrogen fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks in spring and fall, applying between 3 to 6 lbs. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. annually. DISEASE, WEED & INSECT CONTROL: Most new varieties of ryegrass have good resistance to diseases and insects, including brown patch, leaf spot, stem and crown rust - used in warm climates in combination with bluegrass, ryegrass reduces the spread of major summer diseases. If there is a weed problem, controls are most effective during spring and fall months - be sure that turf is in vigorous condition prior to herbicide application. Practically all insects that damage lawns can be controlled with insecticides. Dwarf Tall Fescue: WATER NEEDS: Moderate - apply 0.5 to 1 inch of water as a deep soaking every 3 to 7 days to encourage a deep, healthy root system during dry or hot periods. Avoid frequent, shallow watering that results in shallow roots, permitting weed germination and growth. MOWING & THATCHING: Optimum mowing height of 2 to 3 inches for a high quality lawn. Mow regularly with a sharp rotary or reel mower, allowing clippings from frequent mowing to remain on the lawn. Never remove more than 1/3 of the shoot growth at one mowing. Tall fescue forms very little thatch. SOIL & FERTILIZER NEEDS: Adapts to a wide range of soil conditions - has rather deep extensive root system for a cool-season grass that makes excellent use of soil moisture and mineral nutrients - good tolerance to saline soil conditions. Fertilize twice a year, spring and fall, with a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium - apply N at 2 to 4 lbs. per sq. ft. per year. Will respond well to high nitrogen applications to achieve a higher quality turf. Water thoroughly after fertilization. DISEASE, WEED & INSECT CONTROL: Varieties are available that are resistant to net blotch, brown patch and crown rust. For weeds, chemical controls are most effective during fall and spring. Fine Fescue: WATER NEEDS: Low to moderate - water thoroughly (at least 1 inch) once or twice a week during most summer conditions - can enter summer dormancy if no water available. MOWING & THATCHING: Mow regularly with a reel or rotary mower - slow growth habit results in a uniform response to mowing - does best with a mowing height of 1 - 2 1/2 inches - will tolerate close mowing in cool climates. Clippings from frequent mowings can be left on the lawn, as Fine fescue does not develop thatch. Fine fescue can be left unmowed for a "meadow look." SOIL & FERTILIZER NEEDS: Tolerates acid soil well, growing within a soil acidity range of pH 5.0 to 6.5 - has the lowest fertilizer requirements of any cool-season grass - apply a high nitrogen fertilizer with 1 lb. of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per year split between spring and fall application. DISEASE, WEED & INSECT CONTROL: Most varieties have good resistance to many turfgrass diseases. Mixed with other grasses, fine fescue adds disease resistance to the turf. It has occasional susceptibility to summer diseases in hot climates, especially in moist, fertile soil.