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Lawn Care

Save Water, Save Money with Turf Training in 2022

April 19, 2022 by Wendy Pettit

Welcome Friends! Glad you dropped in to learn about saving water and money by Turf Training.

Save Water and Money by training your lawn to grow deep roots

You cannot teach a lawn to fetch the paper or to roll over. Even though some say that it can play dead, in the winter!  But you can train it to grow deep roots now so that you and it will be happy in the heat of the summer later.  

Now that your lawn is now coming out of the dreary winter, time to train it.  You can train it to grow deep roots, so that you can cut your water bill during the summer and your lawn can be happy during those hottest Utah summer weeks.  The process is more painful for the owner than the lawn itself, but by July, it is possible to be watering your lawn once every two weeks or less, depending on your soil type.  I know it works; I’ve lived it.  This plan is for established lawns; new turf requires different care to get established.  Follow these steps and you too can have a well trained happy green lawn and a lower water bill.

  1.  April – This month, do not water your lawn!  Mother Nature is taking care of that for you.  DEEP INFREQUENT watering creates deep roots and thriving healthier plants.
  2. April or May – Aerate your lawn.  Perfect time is just before one of our spring rains. 
  3. Apply the proper spring fertilizer.  Follow the directions explicitly.  Again, the ideal time is just before a good rain to wash it into the turf.
  4. If you haven’t already, apply pre-emergent.
  5. Early May – Keep your finger OFF the automatic sprinkler system. Do NOT water your lawn.  I know it is painful because the sun is shining and spring is here, but don’t do it.  Your lawn is stretching its roots deep.  Let them dive! “Let it go!”
  6. Late May and June, repeat #5 unless one of the following occurs…
    • a. Mother Nature hasn’t watered for 3 weeks.
    • b. When you walk across your lawn, your footsteps don’t bounce back up.  Time to water.
    • c. When you look across your lawn, you notice a dull bluish green tone in spots.  Time to water.
  7. If 6a, b, or c, happen, then it’s time to DEEP water – Put a good inch of water or so on your lawn.  Placing a tuna can on your grass will let you know when you’ve watered sufficiently.
  8. Repeat steps #6 and #7
  9. In August, you will notice that you may possibly need to water a little more often, but WATCH THE LAWN!  Follow 6a, b, and c.  It will tell you!

IMPORTANT NOTE – This training is not meant for the following:  flower beds, newly seeded lawns, newly placed sod, trees or shrubs.  Learn from our experts those proper watering techniques. 

A TRUE STORY TESTIMONIAL – This personally happened to me.  Read and see.

Texas SmartScape has a wonderful diagram that illustrates exactly what your lawn roots are doing according to how you water.

Watering Lawn Methods graphic by Texas Smartscape

Graphic by Texas Smartscape

Also, watch this 1:38 minute video on wise watering tips to save you money and make your beautiful lawn happy and water-wise.

Filed Under: Gardening, How To, Lawn Care Tagged With: deep roots, drought tolerant grass, happy lawn, Lawn Care, lawn watering, save money, save water, turf watering

GARDEN CENTER IS NOW OPEN!

April 25, 2020 by Wendy Pettit

utah garden center open to public

Dear Valued Customers:

We have opened our gates to the public!  Store hours on Saturday are 10-6 pm.  Beginning Monday the 27th, store hours will be 9-6 pm.

Please know that we take Covid-19 seriously and aim to protect YOU AND OUR EMPLOYEES.  Therefore, we are doing the following:

  1. Sanitizing common surfaces continually throughout the day.  This includes shopping carts. 
  2. Installing plexiglass barriers at checkout stands.
  3. Requesting our employees AND customers to adhere to the CDC recommendation to wear a mask or a fabric covering while in our store.  A bandana can work just fine.
  4. Requesting our employees AND customers to adhere to the CDC recommendation to maintain a 6-foot social distance as much as possible. We have 6 feet markers throughout the store. One way to figure is that one of our shopping carts is approximately 3 feet, imagine 2 carts.      ***PLEASE*** when picking out your favorite plant, be aware of your spacing.  We all need to be patient during this crazy time!  If you need to pass someone in the aisle, walk past and do not stop to talk.  Using common sense and being courteous will help everyone have a good experience.
  5. Use CREDIT CARDS if possible.
  6. No Public Restroom and drinking fountain.
  7. Customers may still order via email with parking lot pick up the same day or next business day.  Due to the heavy volume, no more phone orders or in-the-parking-lot orders can be accepted. All our employees are busy inside servicing the in-store customers.

Salt Lake Store: [email protected]

West Valley:  [email protected]

No Garden Consulting at this time.

We appreciate your cooperation to protect our employees and our other customers. It means a lot to us.

We remind you of the other CDC recommendations:

  1. If you are sick, PLEASE STAY HOME, get better, and then come to visit us!  We want to see you healthy!  Should you choose, you can email your order and have someone pick it up for you.
  2. If you need to sneeze (we know it is ALLERGY season), sneeze into your elbow with your mask on!
  3. Wash your hands regularly with soap & water.  A liberal rubbing with hand sanitizer is the next best thing. 
  4. Remember to not touch your face if you haven’t washed your hands. 

Covid-19 doesn’t have wings to fly on its own.  It is transferred by contaminated hands or with droplets when we talk, sneeze or cough.  Hence washing hands, wearing a mask when social distancing isn’t always possible, coughing/sneezing into an elbow, and keeping the 6-foot social distance are important, and very doable!  We can do this!

THANK YOU for your cooperation and patience during this challenging time.  We are grateful that we offer an essential service to the community and wish for your best success in growing your own food, beautifying the community, remaining healthy physically and mentally, and tending your gardens and yards this season.

Happy shopping and happy planting,

Western Garden Centers

Feast your eyes on this sampling of temptations!

wall of peonies waiting to open

A wall of peonies loaded with buds waiting to open

Healthy tomato plants

Ingrid Bergman Hybrid Tea Rose

Giant succulent plants

Sun-Believable Brown Eyed Susan

Iceberg Floribunda Rose

Marigolds of all varieties

Ruffled Red Echeveria

Begonias

Gorgeous petunias

Good As Gold Hybrid Tea Rose

Anna’s Promise Grandiflora Rose

Rosie the Riveter Floribunda Rose

Celestial Night Floribunda Rose

Filed Under: Covid-19 updates, Flowers, Fruit, Gardening, Herbs, Lawn Care, Perennials, Products, Tomatoes, Tools, Trees, Utah Gardening, Vegetables, Yard Care Tagged With: covid-19, garden center open, safe shopping, shop the nursery, social distancing, Utah gardening, wear mask

Western Gardens HARD GOODS

April 11, 2020 by Wendy Pettit

Many are asking for better photos of what we have in HARDGOODS – chemicals, organics, tools, etc.  Here are some of our most requested items and video walk-throughs of our aisles at the Salt Lake Store.  Our West Valley store has the same!  Give us a call with your order!  We will even load it in your vehicle for you!  Thanks for supporting Utah small business!

FUNGICIDES & HERBICIDES

Video – FUNGICIDES – CLICK HERE

Video – HERBICIDES – CLICK HERE (coming soon)

F-Stop fungicide in Utah major lawn diseases

F-Stop is a great one that solves most lawn diseases.

Wide variety of fungicides in liquid, powder, concentrate, and more.

Wide variety of fungicides in liquid, powder, concentrate, and more. Follow label instructions

 

INSECTICIDES, PEST CONTROLS, & ORGANICS

Video – INSECTICIDES, PEST CONTROLS, ORGANICS – CLICK HERE

Video – How to use the TREE & SHRUB SYSTEMIC INSECT DRENCH – CLICK HERE

Systemic Insect drench to apply early utah spring for non-fruit bearing trees

Apply early to mid April in Utah. Drench non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs. Follow directions on label. It works!

Neem Oil organic pest control

Organic insect controller

Diatomaceous Earth Organic pest control

Organic pest control for those critters with soft bodies and joints

Weed Free Zone - kills broadleaf weeds in lawn

Proven to work in early spring (cool weather). Kills weeds in lawn – spurge, clover, and more. Do NOT spray on any broad leaf plant you want to stay alive. Made only for weeds in lawn application. Follow label instructions!

ANIMAL REPELLENTS

Video – ANIMAL REPELLENTS – CLICK HERE

 

FERTILIZER PRODUCTS

Video – Fertilizers – Specialized, Organics, Tree Stakes and more –  CLICK HERE 

Video – Fertilizer Favorite – Gardener’s Special –  CLICK HERE

Video – Fertilizer WGC General use & SOIL AMENDMENTS – CLICK HERE

Video – LAWN CARE – Our 4-STEP PROGRAM FERTILIZER – CLICK HERE

Video – LAWN CARE – ORGANIC Fertilizers – CLICK HERE

Gardeners special fertilizer with micro-nutrients

Our manager’s favorite all-purpose fertilizer with micro-nutrients.

BIRD SUPPLIES

Video – BIRD SUPPLIES – CLICK HERE

 

CONTAINERS – Pots and more (inside store – not including Ceramic Pots outside)

Video – CLAY POTS (small/medium), SEED TRAYS, LABELS – CLICK HERE

Video – PLASTIC POTS, CASTORS for moving heavy pots – CLICK HERE

Video – HANGING baskets, WINDOW boxes, Liners, etc. – CLICK HERE

 

LAWN CARE / GRASS SEED & STARTING A NEW LAWN

Video – GRASS SEED / STARTING A NEW LAWN OR OVERSEEDING – CLICK HERE

Video – Our Popular 4-STEP PROGRAM for Lawns all season long – CLICK HERE

Video – ORGANIC Fertilizer for LAWN CARE – CLICK HERE

pdf –  INSTRUCTIONS  – How to Plant a New Lawn from Seed

Array of sun and shade grass seed. April is a perfect time to plant lawn from seed.

Array of sun and/or shade loving grass seed. April is a perfect time to plant lawn from seed.

More shade and sun loving grass seed options

More shade and sun loving grass seed options

bare spot repair for lawns and grass

Need to just fix a bare spot in your lawn? Here is an easy product to work with!

TOOLS – including GLOVES etc.

Video – TOOLS – CLICK HERE (COMING SOON)

Photos of Favorite Tools – CLICK HERE

2 in 1 bench/kneeler.

Another best seller! 2 in 1 bench/kneeler.

Best Wolf Garden hand pruners

Wolf Garden is a hand pruner that we highly recommend. We gave our mother her very own pair to hide so that others didn’t walk off with hers!

PLANT SUPPORTS

Video – PLANT SUPPORTS – CLICK HERE

POTTING SOILS & ORGANICS, RAISED BEDS, PEAT MOSS – LARGE SIZES

Video – POTTING SOILS, RAISED BEDS, PEAT MOSS – CLICK HERE

Bumper Crop ORGANIC potting soil

This is a fantastic organic product for planting up your new pots.

raised bed organic soil for growbox

Did you build a new growbox or raised bed? This is the soil you want.

SPECIALIZED POTTING SOILS

Video – SPECIALIZED POTTING SOILS – CLICK HERE

Potting soil specialized

A wide variety of specialized soils for specialized plants in pots.

 

SOIL AMENDMENTS

Video – SOIL AMENDMENTS – CLICK HERE

Video about our BEST – BUMPER CROP SOIL BUILDER – #1 Product for Utah soils  – CLICK HERE

Bumper Crop ORGANIC SOIL BUILDER FOR UTAH GARDEN SOILS

This is our most favorite and most popular product we sell. Find great success with Bumper Crop Soil Builder.

 

KIDS in the Garden

Video – FAIRY GARDENS – figurines, houses, stones, moss, and more.

We also have an array of children’s tools and toys to help them be part of your garden.

Garden kid starter kit for utah children

Get your kids involved with their own garden tools. Here is a perfect starter kit. Their little hands can actually help a lot.

children tools for garden work

Variety of children tools to teach them the miracle of a garden.

children yard fun with kites

Activities for in the yard or garden

 

For more instore products – CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO HOME PAGE

Filed Under: Container Gardening, Gardening, How To, Insects, Kids in the Garden, Lawn Care, Products, Seeds, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening, Yard Care Tagged With: animal repellent, bird supply, fertilizers, fungicides, garden containers, garden pest, garden products, garden tools, grass seed, grow box, herbicides, insecticides, kid friendly, kid garden tools, Lawn Care, organic, peat moss, pest control, raised beds, soil amendments

Turf Training – Train your Lawn

March 29, 2018 by Western Gardens

Welcome Friends! Glad you dropped in to learn about saving water and money by Turf Training.

Save Water and Money by training your lawn to grow deep roots

You can train your dog and train your lawn too!

You cannot teach a lawn to fetch the paper or to roll over. Even though some say that it can play dead, in the winter!  Now that your lawn is coming out of the dreary winter, it’s time for turf training. You can train your lawn to grow deep lawn roots, so that you can cut your water bill during the summer and your lawn can be happy during those hottest Utah summer weeks. Turf Training is more painful for the owner than the lawn itself, but by July, it is possible to be watering your lawn once every two weeks or less, depending on your soil type.  I know it works; I’ve lived it.  This plan is for established lawns; new turf requires other care.  Follow these steps and you too can have a well trained happy green lawn.

  1.  This month (April & into May), do not water your lawn!  Mother Nature is taking care of watering lawns for you.  DEEP INFREQUENT watering creates deep roots and thriving healthier plants.
  2. Aerate your lawn.  Perfect time is just before one of our spring rains.
  3.  Apply the proper spring fertilizer.  Follow the directions explicitly.  Again, the ideal time is just before a good rain to wash it into the turf.
  4. If you haven’t already, apply pre-emergent.
  5. Keep your finger OFF the automatic sprinkler system. Do NOT water your lawn.  You are in turf training mode.  I know it is painful because the sun is shining and spring is here, but don’t do it.  Your lawn is stretching its roots deep.  Let them go!
  6. In May, repeat #5 unless one of the following occurs…
    • Mother Nature hasn’t watered for 3 weeks. Time to water.
    • When you walk across your lawn, your footsteps don’t bounce back up.  Time to water.
    • When you look across your lawn, you notice a dull bluish green tone in spots.  Time to water.
  7. DEEP WATER – Put a good inch of water or so on your lawn.  Placing a tuna can on your grass will let you know when you’ve watered sufficiently.  All this water will soak down deep and you will train your lawn, by withholding watering cycle, to stretch deep for the water.  The roots will grow deeper and in the hot summer months of July & August, your lawn won’t get as stressed out.  Its roots will be cooler down deep.
  8. Repeat steps #6, #7 and #8.

As you can imagine, it will take time to train your lawn to grow deep roots.  That is why it is important to begin first thing in the spring.  For established Kentucky Blue grass, you may need to follow this method for two seasons, but it can be done. 

This method to train your lawn is not meant for flower beds, newly seeded lawns, newly placed sod, trees or shrubs.  Learn from our experts those proper watering techniques.

Watering Lawn Methods graphic by Texas Smartscape

http://www.txsmartscape.com/design_tools/water_conservation.asp

Watering your lawn in spring? Train your lawn to save water and money.

Article submitted by Wendy P

Filed Under: Lawn Care, Outdoors, Tips & How To's, Yard Care Tagged With: deep lawn roots, drought tolerant grass, spring lawn care, summer lawn, turf, turf training, turf watering, watering lawn, watering lawns, Western Gardens

Fall Pruning Your Utah Garden – Basics

October 5, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

Time to do your fall pruning in your Utah garden along the Wasatch Front.  Pruning your garden for winter is fairly simple. Follow two main basic pruning rules and then follow guidelines for various plants listed.

Follow these simple guidelines for fall pruning your garden and yard.

GENERAL Pruning Rules to Remember:

Rule #1 – Don’t prune plants until they are finished blooming.

Rule #2 – Prune dead or broken branches at any time of the season.

FALL Pruning Guidelines:

Fall Pruning of Flowering Shrubs

To keep with Rule #1, remember not to prune fall blooming shrubs until they are done blooming.  Examples of fall blooming shrubs include Rose of Sharon, Hydrangeas, etc. Spring blooming shrubs (forsythia, spirea, lilac, etc) should be pruned in the spring or summer after they are done blooming. Often, these shrubs bloom on new growth, so prune them early in the season to get some good growth for the next year’s blooms.

Before you get started pruning your flowering shrub, keep in mind to retain and enhance the shrub’s naturally graceful habit. Take care not to cut the shrub into a boxy or unnatural shape (unless you want to sacrifice flowers and make a hedge). Remove dead and crossing branches.  Cut ¼ of the oldest canes to the ground. This gives the plant renewed strength, letting light and air circulation into the center of the plant and provides growing space for new flowering stems.

fall pruning your evergreen shrubs

Fall Pruning of Upright Evergreen Shrubs

Lightly prune to shape.  Shrubs like Arborvitae may need wrapping or tying with twine to keep the snow from breaking off the branches.

Fall Pruning of Rose Bushes

Pruning depth depends on the type of rose.  If a hybrid tea or a floribunda type, prune down to 24” above ground.  Otherwise, prune to shape the bush. Prune out dead and broken branches. May mulch around the base of the bush in case of unexpected sub-zero winter temperatures.  In the spring, if there has been winter damage, you will be able to prune off the winter-kill.  Click here for a good article on how to prune your roses.  

fall pruning your vines in your utah garden

Fall Pruning of Vines

Pruning depends all upon the type of vine.  Some clematis need pruning, other clematis do not.  Follow the directions on the plant tag from a reputable local garden center, or ask the experts at the local nursery.

fall pruning your berry plants

Fall Pruning of Berry Plants

Again, pruning requirements drastically vary depending on type of berry and cultivar.   Ever-bearing plants require different pruning techniques than main crop berries.  And even then there are different needs.  You don’t want to trim back too far in the fall if you need to leave that newer growth for next year’s berries.  Again, consult the expert gardeners at your reputable garden center.  Be sure to know what variety of berry you have.

fall pruning your utah fruit trees

Fall Pruning of Fruit Trees

Do not prune fruit trees until winter when they are dormant, i.e. leaves have fallen and temperatures are in 30’s & 40’s.  In northern Utah, we recommend pruning during January and February.  Follow proper tree pruning techniques in the winter.  Winter Pruning video.  Remember that at any time, you can prune away dead or broken branches.

fall mowing your lawn for winter

Fall Mowing “Pruning” of Lawn/Turf

Mowing your lawn is actually a type of “pruning”.  Your last mowing of the season should be shorter than during the summer months when you want the shade of the blades to help retain moisture in the soil and more green for healthier roots.  When you are ready to put your lawnmower away, set your lawn mower to 1½” setting and give your lawn a good pruning!  WARNING:  Don’t be overly ambitious and “scalp” the lawn.  A nice short cut is desired, but you don’t want to injure the base of the plant.  

Additional Fall Lawn Note:  Now is a time to spread your fall fertilizer.  If you have had issues with fungus, now is the time to apply a fungicide treatment.  Also, weed control is still viable when daily high temperatures are higher than 55-60 degrees. Weeds love the forgotten fall lawn.

fall pruning your utah perennials

Fall Pruning of Perennials

Be sure to remember Rules #1 and #2 above.  Not pruning until the plant finishes blooming also applies to dividing and transplanting in the fall.  Don’t transplant until the plant is done blooming.  This means that your fall bloomers like Autumn Joy Sedum, chrysanthemums, etc., need to finish blooming before you divide and transplant or prune.  Be patient! You have plenty of other pruning and garden work to do.  These are the last ones to prune before the beds are done for the winter.  

Two Additional General Fall Pruning Rules for Most Perennials: 

  1. Prune when the plants begin to die back, leaving their greenery to continue feeding the roots as long as possible. 
  2. Cut them down to 3-4 inches above the soil. This is because most perennials die down to the ground in the winter.  Leaving 3 inches will mark the plants during winter.  Also in the spring the 3-4 inches is low enough you won’t need to go back and prune as the plant emerges.  

EXCEPTIONS to Pruning Perennial Rules:  Woody perennials like lavender need only light pruning to shape and evergreen perennials like candytuft should also only be lightly pruned.  If you question what to prune or how much, follow the guidance from your master gardener at the independent garden center like Western Gardens.  We would love to help you have a successful garden.

How to prune ground cover in the fall

Fall Pruning of Ground Covers –

Simply trim lightly.

How to prune your ornamental grasses in the fall

Fall Pruning of Ornamental Grasses

If you enjoy the silhouette of your grasses, leave them to admire throughout late fall.  Later trim to 6-8 inches above ground.

Fall Pruning Questions:

If you have any questions about fall pruning for winter, please feel free to stop by our Western Garden Centers and visit with one of our expert gardeners. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

Fall Reminder:

While you are pruning and cleaning up, breathe deep the fresh autumn crisp air and admire the changes taking place in your garden.

What fall pruning do you enjoy doing in your yard?

 

The beginner basics of fall pruning your utah garden for winter.

Photo credit: Pixabay

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Filed Under: Gardening, How To, Lawn Care, Tips & How To's, Utah Gardening, Yard Care Tagged With: berries, berry plants, evergreen shrubs, fall pruning, flowering shrubs, fruit trees, ground cover, ornamental grasses, Perennials, perennials pruning, pruning, pruning roses, rose bushes, roses, shrubs

May Gardening To-Do List

May 2, 2017 by Western Gardens

May Gardening To-Do List for all the things you don't want to forget (but don't have time to remember!)

Hello Gardening Friends, thanks for stopping by!

If you’re excited to work in your yard or garden, but not sure where to begin, then you’ve come to the right place!  We’ve put together a list of things to do throughout the month.

May Gardening To-Do List for all the things you don't want to forget (but don't have time to remember!)

You may not need to do everything on this list.  For example, if you don’t have bare patches to reseed or Spring bulb foliage to cut back, skip over those items on the list.  Just pick what applies to your home and yard and plan out when you will do it all throughout the month!

May Gardening To-Do List for all the things you don't want to forget (but don't have time to remember!)

May Gardening To-Do List

➺Train your Lawn – Turn Sprinklers On only when needed – Let the lawn tell you when it needs watering. Click here for more details.

➺Lawn Watering – Use a “moisture meter” probe to determine adequate moisture.

➺Water Conservation – Conserve water by watering before 10:00 am or after 6:00 pm.

➺Lawn Aeration – Its not too late if you haven’t already.

➺Set Lawnmower Height to 2½-3 inches. This allows the lawn to “shade” its soil making for a healthier lawn.

➺Lawn Broadleaf Weed Control (Liquid application) – for Dandelions, violets, etc. Weed-A-Lawn is a great product.  Spot treat or apply to big areas of lawn where needed. Follow manufacturer’s instructions.

➺Lawn Crabgrass and Spurge – Second application of pre-emergent granular (6 weeks after the first application).

➺Fertilize Lawn with a weed-killing post-emergent granular fertilizer —do NOT water in—apply it to a moist lawn and let it sit for a day

➺Seed Bare Patches in Your Lawn unless you’ve already used a pre-emergent, in which case, wait until September to seed bare patches.  Click here for more.

➺Weed, Thin Out & Mulch newly planted seedlings

➺Plant Your Favorite Annuals for beautiful color—most can be safely planted after frost danger has passed (some are hardy enough to be planted earlier, check with your local nursery)

➺Spring Bulbs – Remove Spent Flower Heads (aka dead-heading) and AFTER foliage fades and turns brown, cut back leaves.

➺Summer Blooming Bulbs – Plant dahlias, day lilies, and gladiolus.  Click here for instructions.

➺Plant Trees, Shrubs, and Perennials – Early spring or late fall are great times to do this.  Click here for tips.

➺Divide and/or Transplant Perennials – Summer bloomers: early in the month.  Spring bloomers: after blooming is done.

➺Flowering Shrubs  – Prune after they finish blooming.

➺Pest Control – Boxelder bugs are a nuisance.  Grasshoppers are best controlled when they first hatch.  Watch for Leaf roller on boxelder trees. Try to stay ahead of those slimy slugs and snails.  Closely follow directions on labels when using insecticides as not to harm bees.

➺Plant Outside
Kohlrabi, parsley, parsnips, potatoes,
Until May 15th: onions & peas
After last frost until June 1st: dry beans, snap beans, eggplant, peppers
After last frost until June 10th: watermelon & winter squash
Until July 1st: cauliflower, parsley, swiss chard
Until July 15th: beets & broccoli
After last frost until July 20th: cucumbers and summer squash
Until Sept 1st: radishes

and so much more….

If you liked learning these tips from the experts, here is another good tip – come in and visit us!

Be sure to check out our June Gardening To-Do List too!

*This is not an exhaustive list.  If we’ve overlooked something, feel free to let us know in a comment below!

May Gardening To-Do List for all the things you don't want to forget (but don't have time to remember!)

Filed Under: Gardening, How To, Lawn Care, To-Do List, Utah Gardening, Yard Care Tagged With: Gardening, how to's, may gardening, Monthly To-Do List

Snow Mold on Your Lawn – 8 Simple Ways to Solve

March 11, 2017 by Wendy Pettit

Welcome Gardening Friends! Thanks for stopping by.

When the snow finally melted off our back lawn, my grass looked like it was dying. If yours does too, it could be a lawn fungus called SNOW MOLD. Don’t worry too much, snow mold seldom destroys the lawn; your lawn will recover.  This annoying disease can appear when the snow melts off the lawn in the spring.  Your turf will have circular type patches of matted straw-colored grass and can have a top layer of stringy mold.  (It reminded me of a salad mold that once grew in my refrigerator.) 

Here are 8 simple ways to solve SNOW MOLD on your lawn, and better yet, prevent it from happening.

8 ways solve snow mold on lawn

Current Problem Solutions to Snow Mold –

  • In the spring when you discover the mold, take action by gently raking the area.  This will help the air circulate through the lawn to dry it out and stop the mold from growing further.  Be careful not to rip up the grass.  The disease usually affects only the blade, so the crown of the plant is still good and will recover.  Throw away the grass you have raked up.rake grass to stop snow mold from growingbefore-and-after photos of raked lawn for snow mold
  • According to the proper schedule, regular fertilizing and mowing will help your lawn outgrow the fungus.  The lawn will green up and the damaged blades will eventually be cut off.
  • If your lawn has extreme snow mold, and you have tried the above solutions, a disease control product may need to be applied to the affected area.  See your local garden center, like the experts at Western Gardens, to obtain the correct product.  It’s always a good idea to take to the garden shop samples of the diseased plant and a photo of the area.

discard snow mold contaminated grass

Snow Mold Preventative Actions –

  • In the fall, be sure to rake leaves off the lawn. This can be annoying if you have trees that take all winter to lose their leaves, like a Sycamore.
  • In the fall, be careful not to use excessive nitrogen fertilizer. This will help slow down the growth of the grass before winter arrives.
  • In the fall, be sure to continue mowing until the lawn’s growth slows down.  Make sure your last mowing is a shorter cut.  The taller the blades of grass when winter hits, the more snow mold is encouraged to develop.  (I believe this was the culprit for our problems this spring. We put the lawnmower away and then had a mild fall.)bicycle lawn mower
  • If each year you have this problem in certain areas, apply a fungicide to the grass in the fall.  Be sure to talk with your local garden expert for the correct preventative product.
  • In the winter, if piles of snow build up where you or the street plows have worked, be sure to disperse the snow.  Where the snow is too deep on your lawn, it can take much longer in the spring to melt, inviting snow mold to grow with the warm spring temperatures. riding snow plow in cold winter
snow mold close up on lawn

SNOW MOLD on my Utah lawn

This warm weather signals time to dig in the dirt; but first, I’m going to walk barefoot through my recently raked and drying lawn.

barefoot in grass

Filed Under: Gardening, Lawn Care, Tips & How To's, Yard Care Tagged With: fall lawn care, how to's, Lawn Care, lawn disease, lawn fungus, snow mold, spring lawn care

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