Sustainable Lawns

With more than 2.8 million acres of home lawns in New York State, what we do with our lawns matters. By cultivating a dense, vigorous lawn, you create an attractive environmental asset that will:

• Provide a safe and fun place for outdoor play for people and pets of all ages.
• Catch, filter and conserve surface water to reduces run-off of contaminants
  
• Reduce soil erosion.•Cool surface temperature.
  
• Capture and store carbon.•Filter air pollutants.
  
• Reduce noise pollution.•Increase home selling price
  

Video: Make Your Lawn an Attractive Environmental Asset

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How do we get a dense, vigorous lawn?

Seed Right

• Did you know you could sow grass seed into existing lawns? Overseeding allows you to introduce better grass species, fill in bare patches, and reduce crabgrass infestations. Most seed labels will tell you the amount to apply if you are seeding a new lawn or overseeding.

• Pro-tip: Buy the right mixtures of species.

• Videos:
  Patch Weak or Bare Spots
  Choose the Right Grass Seed

• Resource: Turfgrass Species and Variety Guidelines for NYS

Mow Right

• Proper mowing keeps your lawn dense and less likely succumb to weeds, insect damage, diseases, and traffic. The higher the mowing height, the deeper the root system. So, set your mower to its highest setting and mow frequently enough that you never cut off more than 1/3 of the leaf blade.
• Pro-tip: Keep your mower blade sharp
• Video:
  Lawn care: Mowing high makes less work
  Mulch Your Clippings and Leaves

Feed Right

• Feed the roots by applying fertilizer in late summer or early fall! Good roots help lawns get through the winter, green up top growth in spring, and minimize pest and drought stress. Read the label to ensure you are applying the correct amount.
• Pro-tip: Leave the bag off. Returning grass clippings reduces the amount of fertilizer needed.
• Video:  Mulch Your Clippings and Leaves

Water Right

• Cool-season grasses slow growth under mid-summer or drought conditions. They may even turn brown, but drought stress is rarely lethal. During active growth, lawns need no more than one inch per week. Too much water = disease, moss, and runoff.
• Pro-tip: Let weather data help determine how much to water.

Brown Spots, Weeds, & Other Pests

• Deicing salt, dog urine, disease, insects, and weeds can impact how your lawn looks and performs. The first step is identifying the real issue so you can develop a plan.
• Videos:
  Your Best Defense Against Weeds
  Cornell Turfgrass and Landscape Weed ID walk-through
  Using IPM to Assess Your Lawn for White Grubs
• Resources:
  Turfgrass Problems: Picture Clues and Management Options
  Turfgrass and Landscape Weed ID
  Grub ID tool
  Biocontrol Around the Home: Nematodes for White Grubs

Last updated December 29, 2022