Q. Help! There's fungus on my mulch, and it's attacking my house, what is it and what should I do?

A.

Fungus is a normal part of the decomposing process of wood mulch, and it is usually harmless to plants. Fungus most commonly appears between April and November, after it has rained. Those unsightly clumps, clusters or slimy patches you see on your mulch may be orange, yellow, brown or some other color, depending on what variety you have. Since there are so many different types of fungus, it is best to contact your local county agency to learn about the best way to get rid of the particular variety you have in your yard.
 

Q. What's the best height to mow my grass in the summer?

A.

One of the highest blade settings on your lawn mower is usually best for summertime mowing. You only want to cut the grass back to about three inches in height. Cutting the grass at a longer length will help protect it from damage during the scorching summer months--especially in areas that receive little or no shade. As the temperatures cool down in autumn, you can begin to cut the grass at a lower setting again.

Here are a few additional lawn mowing tips:

You should only mow when it is necessary, and not as a general routine. Lawns that are mowed more frequently are not necessarily the thickest. During arid summer weather (and especially during droughts), following this rule will help prevent stressing your turf. During such extreme conditions, it is just fine to just skip a few weeks of mowing when you see no growth in your lawn at all.

Make sure the blades on your mower are always sharp. This way, they make nice, clean cuts on the grass.

Using a mulching mower is good way to naturally fertilize your grass as you mow. This requires that you not let the lawn grow too long between cuttings, however.

 

Q.How often should I water my lawn?

A.

For newly seeded areas, you should keep the area moist, but not saturated, for about two or three weeks, which is usually as long as it takes for the seeds to germinate and get established. Newly sodded lawns also need to be watered consistently and regularly in the first few weeks after installation.

Once your lawn has been allowed to establish itself for a month or so (when the grass is up to about 1-to-1.5 inches tall), you should start to water for longer periods of time. The ideal amount of water per sprinkler is no less than ¼ inch on established turf. You should allow the lawn to dry out lightly between waterings.

The more you water properly, the faster and stronger the grass will grow. With that in mind, here are some additional advice:

• Try not to over-water your lawn at any time. Runoff and heavy puddles are not good for the lawn at any stage of it's growth.
• Do not water on heavily overcast or rainy days.
• The best time to water is right after the morning dew lifts, until the hot peak of the day. The exact hours of the day for this time period will vary throughout the year.
• You can water in the late afternoon after the heat has peaked and temperatures start to decrease. Just be sure to allow time for the grass to dry out before the night falls.
• Your lawn should be dry overnight, if possible, to help prevent blight. Therefore, if you decide to water in the afternoon or early evening, you should stop the sprinklers at least two hours before sunset.