The Lawn Conundrum

Lush green carpet? Or too much work?

Story by Alice Slusher

Over dinner one night recently, I told my husband I couldn’t decide what to write about this month. He asked me about the most common questions in our Master Gardener Plant Clinic this time of year. I replied that lawn care is at the top of the list. He said, “Well, there’s your article!”

I have a love-hate relationship with lawns. Yes, a lovely verdant spread of soft grass under bare feet is a little bit of heaven. But personally, I think we need to lose lawns. They use too much water, pollute our streams and rivers from overfertilization, and are pollinator deserts. It requires so much work, expense, and resources to keep a lawn lush and green.

This is a rant for another time, but I would encourage everyone to start small but begin replacing lawns with new planting beds. Just the place to plant drought-resistant shrubs and perennials— natives, when possible—to welcome our beneficial insects. Check out eco-lawns, too: low upkeep, low-growing plants that need little to no fertilizing and mowing.

GARDENING NEEDS?

Lawn Maintenance

Clean-Ups • Bark • Soil

Planting • Pruning

Aeration • Fertilization

Weed Control

Retaining Walls • Patios

Sprinkler Systems

Installation/Repair/Maintenance

Blackberry Removal

Tree Planting & MORE!

FREE ESTIMATES •REFERENCES

J.J. Landscaping

360-241-6889 or 360-762-9220

However, if you have a lawn and are not ready to give it up yet, here are some tips for having the lawn you’ve always wanted and still being environmentally friendly. Keeping your lawn very dense is the best way to protect it from insects, diseases, weeds, and moss. Several activities can help to achieve it: frequent mowing, weeding, timely fertilizing, regular overseeding, proper watering, aerating, and de-thatching (are you sure you don’t want to shrink your lawn and make new easy-care planting beds?).

Most lawns should be mowed to about 2-3 inches. You may have to mow twice a week in spring to keep it that height. The taller the grass, the deeper its roots will grow, making your lawn more drought resistant. Use a mulching blade on your mower—you can return the clippings to the lawn, adding nitrogen back into the soil. And no raking! Never remove more than one-third of the height at one cutting. If you let it get away from you, you’re better off making several passes over a week’s time.

Kalama resident Alice Slusher volunteers with WSU Extension Service Plant & Insect Clinic. Call 360-577-3014, ext. 1, or send question via cowlitzmastergardener@ gmail.com.

Under-fertilized lawns are pale green or brown, sparse, weedy, and often have moss. The most important time to fertilize is in late fall to help the grass get off to a great start in spring. If you mulch-mow during spring and summer, that’s the equivalent of another fertilizer application with no added work or expense on your part! And you are protecting our waterways from the effects of fertilizer over-use.

Programs & Events

OSU Extension Columbia County 503-397-3462

Online Workshops: Registration is required. extension.oregonstate.edu/county/columbia/ events

Gardening Spot on KOHI (1600am radio) Every Saturday, 8:05 to 8:15am.

May 16 (6:30–8pm) Chat with Chip online interactive Q&A program. Reserve a place: http:// beav.es/STR

May 25 How Flowers and Plants Get their Colors, Col. County Master Gardener Chapter meeting. OSU Ext. Office, 6:30pm.

WSU Extension Cowlitz County 360-577-3014

304 Cowlitz Way, Kelso, Wash.

For connection info or registration for in-person classes: cowlitzcomg.com/public-events)

May 16 May 16, 5:30pm In-person Planning to Save Seeds. Longview Public Library

Online Workshops. Tues., noon:

May 16 Vertical Gardening

May 23 Managing Moles

May 30 Growing Ripe Tomatoes in Pacific NW

June 4 Native Plants in Landscaping

June 13 Drip Irrigation: How-to

June 20 Choosing Landscape Plants

June 27 Protecting Your Plants from Heat

Watering your lawn — decision time. Are you planning to let your lawn go dormant and brown over the dry summer months? It will save you from regular watering, but unirrigated lawns are prone to moss and weed growth and can’t withstand high traffic.

If you choose to irrigate your lawn, plan on giving it 1-2 inches of water per week. If it’s hot and dry, water more; if it’s cooler, use less. The trick, according to research at OSU, is to apply the water incrementally during the week, never more than ½ inch at a time. How do you measure an inch? Place a tuna can in your lawn as a measuring cup and turn on the sprinklers. Note the time it took to reach an inch, and divide that time into five weekly morning watering sessions. Regular overseeding is necessary, and dethatching and aerating should be done as needed. Sounds like a lot of work to me! Wouldn’t you rather start minimizing your lawn and creating easy-care, pollinator-friendly planting beds?