Grass Roots Truths: Separating Lawn Lies from Facts | Steve Kolongowski

📅 March 31, 2025 ⏱️ 35:37 🎤 Steve Kolongowski, Evan, Greg

Chapters

Click to jump to section

0:00

Introduction & Guest Welcome

Greg and Evan introduce Steve Kolongowski, Rhino Seed's manager, as their first returning guest, highlighting his past popular episode on seed and his 30 years of turf experience.
0:47

First/Last Cut Scalping Myth

Steve debunks the myth that scalping the lawn on the first or last cut of the season promotes better growth, emphasizing the 1/3 rule and the benefits of a slightly shorter last cut to prevent mold.
1:08

Optimal Watering Times

Steve confirms that early morning is the best time to water lawns to minimize evaporation and disease, dispelling the myth that midday watering burns the grass unless prolonged and causing puddles.
1:40

Thatch: Good vs. Bad

Steve explains that a little thatch can be beneficial for insulation and moisture retention, but excessive thatch is detrimental, comparing aeration to a form of dethatching that also improves soil health.
2:10

Bagging Grass Clippings

Steve advises against bagging grass clippings for most home lawns as they return nutrients to the soil, noting that it's only problematic if there's an excessive amount of clippings or if the grass is wet.
2:30

Spring Seeding & Crabgrass

Steve discusses spring seeding, confirming it's the second-best time after fall, and reveals new starter fertilizers with pre-emergent crabgrass control that are safe for new seeds.
2:50

Dull Mower Blades & Lawn Health

Steve emphasizes the importance of sharp mower blades, stating that dull blades rip grass, making it susceptible to disease and causing stress on the mower, a lesson from his golf course background.
3:00

Over-fertilization Dangers

Steve warns against over-fertilizing, explaining it can burn the lawn, lead to excessive growth, and cause salt buildup, recommending 3-4 applications per year for homeowners.
4:20

Fertilization Timing & Frequency

Steve details optimal fertilization schedules, suggesting late spring and fall as key times, and advises against fertilizing before mowing to prevent damaging the lawn.
5:00

Aerator Shoes Efficacy

Steve discusses aerator shoes, acknowledging that while they can help loosen soil and improve air circulation, they are likely not as effective as mechanical aerators in pulling plugs and removing thatch.

Speakers

Steve Kolongowski

Manager at Rhino Seed

Evan

Host

Greg

Host

Key Takeaways

✦

Advise clients against scalping their lawn at the start of the season; instead, follow the 1/3 rule for healthy growth. A slightly shorter cut in late fall can prevent mold and thatch buildup.

✦

Educate clients that the best time to water their lawns is early morning to maximize absorption and minimize disease risk, avoiding prolonged midday watering that can scorch the grass.

✦

Explain that while some thatch is beneficial, excessive thatch can hinder nutrient and water penetration; aeration is a good practice as it acts as a form of dethatching while improving soil health.

✦

Encourage clients to leave grass clippings on the lawn as they return valuable nutrients to the soil, only bagging if clippings are excessively heavy or wet to prevent mold.

✦

For spring seeding, inform clients about specialized starter fertilizers that contain crabgrass control safe for new seeds, offering a solution when fall seeding isn't feasible.

✦

Regularly sharpen mower blades; dull blades tear grass, making it susceptible to disease and causing irregular growth, a critical practice for turf health.

Want the full experience?

Join the Inner Circle for full access to every episode, AI-powered insights, personalized coaching, and a network of industry leaders.

Join Inner Circle →

← Mowing Through Dust & Debris: Eye Docs Spill the Fix!

Beyond the Blades: Lawn Fertilizing 101 | Jason Creel →