March 1, 2023

Four Steps to a Great Lawn

grow your best lawn yet

lawn care tips for Northeast Ohio

Having a great lawn in Northeast Ohio comes down to a few things: proper mowing, proper watering, and proper fertilizing. This article focuses mainly on good fertilizing habits – the kind made easy with the purchase and application of a 4-step, DIY program like Scotts® 4 Step®. We also touch on pro tips for mowing and watering.

Here at Petitti’s, we recommend following a 4-step lawn fertilizer program because it saves guesswork. Each step in the process is specially formulated to deliver the specific balance of nutrients your grass needs at certain points in the season. It’s also easy to remember when to apply each step because the perfect timing is marked by major holidays: Easter (Step 1), Memorial Day (Step 2), Independence Day (Step 3), and Labor Day (Step 4).

step 1

Crabgrass preventer + lawn food

Step 1 is formulated to feed and green up a winter-weary lawn just as it begins to wake up in early spring. This step also works to to prevent crabgrass seeds from sprouting and having the opportunity to take hold. If you plan to patch, repair, or over-seed your lawn this spring, be sure to choose the Step 1 for Seeding, which feeds grass and prevents weeds while remaining safe and supportive of any new grass seed you’re putting down. Timing of application is usually around Easter time.

step 2

Weed control + lawn food

Step 2 is designed to nourish the lawn and also kill many broadleaf weeds like dandelions (and, actually, any plant growing in the lawn that is not grass). Because of the broad effectiveness, you’ll want to make sure the granules stay on the lawn and that they don’t mix in with your flower beds or shrubs. If you do accidentally get some on your garden plants, rinse them off right away with water. Timing of application is usually around Memorial Day.

step 3

lawn food with 2% iron

Step 3 is formulated to give your lawn a mid-season boost that strengthens it against heat and drought of summer. It also contains a dose of iron to enhance the green color of the grass. Timing of application is usually around 4th of July.

step 4

strength & winter protection

Step 4 is designed to green the lawn after a long summer, strengthen it, and provide protection during the cold weather months ahead, so that it wakes up even better next spring.

programs available

four steps to success

Petitti Garden Centers offers two complete programs to meet your needs and preferences. Scotts® 4 Step® is available throughout the season and can be purchased as individual bags or as a complete program (buying early spring as a full program saves money). Supplemental and special-purpose fertilizers are available to address specific needs or issues.

a general rule on

watering after fertilization

Generally, fertilizers should be spread on the lawn when the grass is dry. Once spread, it should be watered (or be subject to a good rain) within the following twenty-four hours. The one exception to the ‘dry grass’ rule is any application of a product specifically labeled as “Weed & Feed“, which offers a particularly powerful formula for controlling dandelion, clover, and many other types of weeds. In the case of “Weed & Feed”, you’ll want to apply the fertilizer to wet grass so that the weed killer can easily stick to the weeds and begin to dissolve them. You’ll also want to avoid any watering or exposure to rain for up to twenty-four hours so that the active ingredients don’t wash off. After the time period has passed, go ahead and water in your weed-and-feed application for the fertilizing purpose (the ‘feed’ part of the weed-and-feed equation).

Prevent Grubs With

Scotts® GrubEx®

Prevent grubs and other lawn pests by applying Scotts® GrubEx® at the same time you apply Step 1 (or anytime until early August). Grubs enjoy a healthy lawn, and this product kills grubs as they hatch from their eggs before they damage the lawn.

more pro tips

for the best lawn on the block

  • Add a fifth feeding of fertilizer (repeat of Step 4 or Fall Winterizer) right around Halloween for even better results. Additional nutrients provided to the roots at this time will be stored and used the following spring for a better, greener start.
  • Mow the lawn often enough that you are never removing more than one-third of the blade at a time. During summer, mow at the highest setting so that roots stay cool and shaded. Leave clippings on the lawn to replenish nutrients in the soil.
  • Lawns need one inch of water per week. Make up for any shortfall in rain by sprinkling in the morning. Avoid mid-afternoon when evaporation is highest. Avoid evening when the grass will stay wet all night, as it can promote lawn disease and related issues. Water slowly, let it soak deeply, and then let the ground dry out before watering again to encourage deeper roots.

follow the steps

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Following the 4 steps of a proper feeding program plus proper watering and mowing is all it takes to achieve a well-fed lawn that looks great and stays healthy. Fortunately, you can also save a lot of money by applying lawn fertilizer yourself, as opposed to hiring a service. For the price of a single application from a commercial service (and remember there are four applications), you can purchase an entire year’s program and easily apply it yourself. And, when you buy a four-part lawn fertilizer program, you save the guesswork. Done!

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