Mulching mower is the way to go for you and your lawn
Maintaining a healthy and attractive lawn requires the right equipment and practices. I recommend using a mulching mower that leaves the grass clippings on the lawn. This means less work for you, and it recycles nutrients back to your lawn.
Regardless of which mower you choose, you need to mow more frequently during spring due to rapid grass growth. Remember that mulching mowers do not work well on tall, wet grass. So, rake out any wet clumps of grass that remain on the lawn.
Another tip: Keep the blades on your mower sharpened for a better cut. I recommend sharpening them after every eight hours of use.
Tall grass is better
I have found that most lawns are cut too short. Maintaining them at a taller height promotes a strong root system and helps choke out weeds. In hot weather, short lawns can quickly turn brown, and weeds are more likely to move in. I recommend that you mow grass at 3 to 3½ inches in height, and mow frequently, so that no more than one-third of the total height is cut each time.
Moving plants outdoors
Let’s talk about moving plants outdoors. It’s best to gradually move tropical plants outside to protected areas when temperatures begin staying above 50 degrees.
Prevent any damage to the plants by gradually acclimating them to the sun and outside growing conditions. You can start by putting them in a shaded location outside on warmer days and bring them inside when nights are predicted to be cold. Increase the time outside and exposure to sun over a period of 10 days or so.
Large houseplants in plastic pots should be slipped into larger heavier pots to prevent them from falling over in the wind.
Be careful. There still may be cold nights (temperatures in the low forties) that can damage or set back more sensitive tropical plants, especially those that have just come out of a greenhouse.
Don’t forget the shrubs
And of course, don’t neglect shrubs, which are growing quickly now and may need a trim. Prune back any unshapely growth on shrubs to improve their appearance and encourage the development of a fuller plant.
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.