How do we improve lawn soil health by adjusting mower deck height? Can adjusting your lawnmower deck from three inches to four or more inches save you time and energy? Is genetically modified turfgrass in the future of your lawn?

Extension Turfgrass Specialist Dr. Mike Goatley of Virginia Tech (Dr. Turf) talks with Jeff Ishee and Eric Bendfeldt about emerging and applied research in turfgrass and lawn management including developments in turfgrass breeding. For overall lawn care and health, Dr. Goatley recommends adjusting the lawnmower deck height upwards starting on Memorial Day and until Labor Day to encourage root growth and prevent weed seed from getting established, particularly for less drought-tolerant cool season grasses. Testing your soil is a critical first step for improving and building soil health. Mike also emphasizes how an annual application of a quarter inch of compost as part of a maintenance regimen can help with lawn health by adding organic matter and being a slow-release source of needed nutrients.

For additional information on turfgrass and lawn management, please visit the Virginia Tech Turfgrass website at https://turf.spes.vt.edu/ The National Turfgrass Evaluation Progam and database on the performance of different turfgrass species can be accessed at https://www.ntep.org/. Information about 2023 - 2024 Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendations can be found at https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/SPES/spes-518/spes-518.html

Learn more about the Virginia Soil Health Coalition and pledge your support for soil health at https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/ and https://4thesoil/take-the-pledge