CULLINAN IRRIGATION & LAWN CARE CULLINANIRRIGATION.COM

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2 Get ready for the growing and mowing months with a maintained mower and irrigation system. Give your sprinkler system a spring tune-up. Activate the system by closing drain valves, turning the water on, and cleaning and adjusting the sprinklers. If your sprinklers are not cleaned and adjusted regularly, performance will deteriorate. This is also the time to do any repairs. A properly maintained system will perform better and last longer. 1. Start smart. Service your mower and irrigation system. Keep those mowing blades sharp. Sharpen your blade before your first cut. Dull blades tear and damage grass which can lead to a duller looking lawn. Torn grass can also make it easier for pathogens and infections to harm grass. A new spark plug and air filter are cheap insurance to help keep your mower running smoothly. No, they won t likely need replacement annually, but changing them at the start of each season takes out the guess work. Start with a fresh tank. Gas that sits in the mower through the winter months can accumulate moisture that can potentially cause damage to the engine. A good habit is to run the tank dry in the fall and start the spring with a fresh fill up.

3 A good hearty raking will wake up your lawn so that it s ready to grow and flourish. Clean up old debris to clear the way for applying fertilizer and herbicides. Get rid of any twigs and leaves that have accumulated over the winter. A layer of wet leaves not only looks messy, but it can also smother a lawn if not removed in early spring. 2. Spring cleaning goes for healthy lawns, too. Raking is for more than just removing leaves. It helps to control thatch, too. Some thatch is natural and good for a lawn, but too much can be a problem. A thatch build-up of more than half inch or so may also be enough to damage and smother your lawn. Feel the lawn. If your lawn is spongy or bouncy underfoot, it may have an excessive layer of thatch that simple raking may not be able to adequately clear. When raking isn t enough, it may be time to call in a professional to have your lawn dethatched.

4 Minnesota winters can do a number on your lawn. The frigid deep freeze and salt used to melt ice to clear a safe paths can severely damage or even kill areas of your lawn. 3. Repair damaged areas. First, make sure the grass is dead and not just sleeping in after hibernating all winter. The best way to see if your lawn is dead or sleeping is to tug the brown areas. If the grass comes up easily out of the dirt, it s likely the roots have failed and the grass is dead. If there s resistance, the roots are holding on and may spring back to life. After the last chance of frost when night temperatures are above 35 degrees soil temps reach at least 50 degrees, it s time to repair. Cut around dead areas with a spade, then pull out the dead patches. Add in some fresh soil and seed and lightly rake it in. Water with light mist for about 15 minutes a day to keep soil moist. If the soil dries out, seed will not germinate. As soon as the grass starts to grow, give it a good soaking and fertilize. Wait to cut it until it s about three inches.

5 Apply fertilizer just as your grass begins its most active growth. Be sure to closely follow the application directions on the product. Spring and fall are good times to fertilize your lawn. In our Minnesota climate, where winters are cold, fertilize in fall for a quicker spring green-up. Cool weather grasses go dormant over winter and store energy in their roots for use in the spring. 4. A healthy lawn starts with a healthy diet. It s time to fertilize and feed. Spring is the time to apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds from taking root in your lawn. Crabgrass begins to germinate when the soil reaches about 58 degrees. That s when to start your fertilizer application program. Also, be sure to use fetilizer that is specifically blended for Minnesota lawns.

6 In general, lawns need about one inch of water per week to maintain green color and active growth. A well-maintained sprinkler system on a timer is the best way to ensure that your lawn gets a good soaking on a regular basis. To check the output of a lawn sprinkler or sprinkler system, scatter some pie tins around the yard to see how much water collects over a specific length of time. 5. Quench your lawn s thirst with proper watering. Having a rain gauge can also help you keep track of how much water the lawn receives naturally. There s no point of running your sprinklers if Mother Nature is doing her part. Lawns that don t get enough water can risk going dormant. This won t necessarily kill your lawn, but it can result in a dull lawn with unsightly brown patches. If your lawn goes dormant, a few good watering sessions will likely spring it back to a lush green appearance.

7 Aeration punches small holes in your lawn so water, fertilizers and oxygen can get to your grass s roots. 6. Give your lawn some punch with aeration. Over time, the soil under your grass can become compacted, especially in high-traffic areas. Compacted soil can make it hard for the grass s roots to get the nutrition they needs to grow. Dig a small section of grass about six inches deep. If the roots don t extend further than two inches into the soil, your lawn would benefit from aeration. In Minnesota, it s usually best to wait for fall to aerate. If you re unsure, contact a lawn professional for advice. Water the lawn thoroughly one to two days prior to aeration. This will help the aerator penetrate the soil and pull out soil cores much more easily. Run the aerator over the lawn in a pattern that covers it only once. The soil cores can be left on the ground and allowed to decompose. After aeration is an ideal time to apply grass seed and fertilizer.

8 A good trim job does more than result in a nice looking lawn. Proper mowing actually increases the health of your lawn by increasing the lawn s density, which in turn decreases weeds. 7. A stylish lawn starts with a proper cut. So how much should you cut? A good rule of thumb is never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade length at any one time. If you consistently cut your lawn too short, it can produce brown patches and other harmful side effects. Cutting too short, too often can increase vulnerability to pests and disease, increase the risk of soil compaction and reduce the surface area of the grass blade, making it insufficient to produce food through photosynthesis. Mow when the grass is dry. The blades will be upright and less likely to clump when cut. Mow higher in shaded areas under trees. In these areas grass has to compete with tree roots for water and nutrients. Also, avoid mowing in the heat of the day to prevent heat stress on your grass. And remember, it s okay to leave your clippings unless they form clumps or rows. The clippings can return nutrients and nitrogen to the lawn.

9 Your main job in fall is to keep your lawn free of leaves and other debris. Using a mulching mower will break up leaves and add the organic matter to your soil. But be sure to clean up any clumps so they don t kill the grass. 8. Start next season smart with a good fall clean up. Keep your grass a little shorter in the fall. If your grass gets much longer than about three inches, it can mat, leading to winter lawn disease problems such as snow mold. But don t cut it shorter than two inches or you may limit the grass s ability to make and store food for growth in the spring.

10 In Minnesota, fall is a good time to fertilize your lawn. Your grass will store the nutrients in its roots as it goes dormant over the winter, and your lawn will be ready for a jump start when spring warms the ground. 9. Put your lawn to bed with a good feeding Your last fetilization of the season is usually mid October. This gives your grass the nutrients that will be absorbed and stored until needed for spring growth. Lawns that have received late-season fertilizing are often the first to begin growing in the spring. Fall is also a good time to control perennial broad leaf weeds such as dandelions, plantain, clover, and creeping Charlie. Be sure to got your final treatments of the season in when temperatures are still above 50 degrees. The herbicide needs time to do its job before winter cold sets in.

11 Winter and water in a sprinkler system is not a good match. To ensure your system doesn t get damaged during our long winter deep freeze, it s important to put your system safely to bed for the hibernation season. 10. Winterize your irrigation system for a deep clean before the deep freeze. Just draining your system isn t enough in our harsh Minnesota climate. Some water remains and can freeze, expand, and crack the sprinkler system conduits. While we use pipes made out of polyethylene (flexible material) it can still expand under the pressure of freezing water and rupture. Plus, freezing water in the back-flow assembly can damage the internal components and can crack the brass body. In Minnesota, the most complete and safest way to winterize an irrigation is to uncharge the system and remove water from the system using a high volume air compressor. This is called a system blowout. It s important that the air compressors are specifically set up and equipped to safely blowout sprinkler systems with regulated air. Due to the potential danger to your system involved with winterization, it is best to call a professional.

12 Post this information in your shed or garage for handy reference. Minnesota Home Lawn Care Guide April May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Seeding Sodding Fertilizing Mowing Watering Aeration Dethatch Crabgrass Control Broadleaf/Weed Control PRE-EMERGE POST-EMERGE Indicates best time of year to carry out this lawn practice. Indicates time of year when this lawn practice can be done. Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Minneapolis Park, and the Anoka Conversation District CULLINANIRRIGATION.COM

13 Is your lawn a yawn? Cullinan Irrigation & Lawn Care has been bringing new life to lawns with professional irrigation and lawn care services for home owners and companies since Need your sprinkler system serviced? From spring start-up and fall blowout to leak repair or general maintenance, we have you covered. Or we can install the whole irrigation system. We also offer complete lawn care and landscaping services from mowing to clean up to tree planting, decorative rock and more. CULLINAN IRRIGATION & LAWN CARE P.O. BOX 611 ROGERS, MN CULLINANIRRIGATION.COM