- 1. Be Sure You Know Your Grass<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Water the Right Way<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Consider Mulching<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Look Into Testing the Soil<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Mow the Right Way<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Start the Process of Weeding<\/a><\/li>
- 7. Remove Thatch<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Aeration Can Help<\/a><\/li>
- 9. Fertilize, No Matter the Type of Grass<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Consider Overseeding<\/a><\/li>
- 11. Be on the Lookout for Pests<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Be Sure You Know Your Grass<\/h2>
![\"Cool](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_1ls-cool-season-growth-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> Cool-season grasses are regularly used on lawns in Sacramento, with tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass the most common choices.<\/p>
The cool-season grasses<\/a> are especially important in the spring, a prime growing season for them:<\/p>
- Two growing seasons<\/strong>, in the spring and fall.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Dormant in summer<\/strong>. If it gets too hot or the drought conditions rise too high, cool-season grasses can go dormant, which enables them to survive until fall.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Green in winter. <\/strong>Unlike warm-season grasses, that will go dormant after the first frost.<\/li> <\/ul>
![\"Warm](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-warm-season-growth.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> Warm-season grasses are the choice of many in Sacramento, with homeowners especially turning to St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, and buffalograss.<\/p>
Warm-season grasses<\/a> will start to grow in late spring, but their growth comes primarily during the summer:<\/p>
Warm-season grasses are a common choice in Sacramento because:<\/p>
- Heat <\/strong>is something in which they thrive.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Drought: <\/strong>They handle drought<\/a> better than cool-season grasses.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Maintenance: <\/strong>They need less fertilizer, making them easier to maintain<\/li> <\/ul>
For more information: <\/strong>If you\u2019d love more information on how to care for your Sacramento lawn in summer or fall, check out our other guides below:<\/p>
- 10 Fall Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a>
<\/li>- 8 Summer Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
2. Water the Right Way<\/h2>
![\"water](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Watering-the-Lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> To deal with the drought conditions that have become prevalent, the city of Sacramento created an ordinance on water use and a watering schedule<\/a>. <\/p>
Something to remember as you make decisions for your lawn: There are alternate ways to provide water, and they are more efficient:<\/p>
- Drip irrigation <\/strong>is one of the most efficient ways to water your ornamentals. There are even subsurface irrigation systems<\/a> that help maximize water use for your lawn.<\/li> <\/ul>
- A hose with a spray nozzle<\/strong> can be used at any time under current drought rules.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Smart controllers<\/strong> can help use water more efficiently and can be used at any time (as of this writing) if approved by the city.<\/li> <\/ul>
In Sacramento, it makes even more sense to consider other types of gardening: <\/p>
- Potted plants. <\/strong>Growing plants in pots<\/a> rather than in soil is so encouraged by Sacramento that the water ordinances allow them to be watered at any time.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Edible gardens. <\/strong>Grow things you like to put in your salad, with the support of the city.<\/li> <\/ul>
- New landscaping<\/strong>. To encourage you to try alternate approaches, Sacramento will allow daily watering for the first 30 days. (Tip: If you\u2019re interested in removing part of your lawn, sheet mulching<\/a> is an inexpensive and chemical-free way to do this.)<\/li> <\/ul>
3. Consider Mulching<\/h2>
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Add-Mulch.jpeg\")
Photo Credit: Dvortygirl<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> Mulch can be a simple thing to do to improve your lawn<\/a>. A few of the many benefits include:<\/p>
- Moisture<\/strong>: Mulch keeps water in the soil longer, something especially helpful in this era of drought.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Nutrition<\/strong>: Mulch from grass clippings<\/a> can account for one-quarter of a lawn\u2019s yearly nitrogen requirements.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Insulation<\/strong>: Mulch can keep the ground cool as the weather turns hot.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Protection<\/strong>: Mulch<\/a> in flower beds can keep weeds from getting the sun and space they need to grow.<\/li> <\/ul>
4. Look Into Testing the Soil<\/h2>
![\"Soil](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update.jpg\")
<\/figure> Spring is a good time to test the soil<\/a>. It will tell you if there are nutrients missing. It will also give you the soil\u2019s pH (\u201cpotential of hydrogen,\u201d which will tell you the level of acidity).<\/p>
5. Mow the Right Way<\/h2>
![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-one-third-rule-illustration-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> Once winter has turned into spring, it is time to mow your lawn:<\/p>
- Mow after the temperatures are consistently above 40 degrees<\/strong>.
<\/li>- The best time to mow your lawn<\/a> is between 8 and 10 a.m.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Wait until the grass is at least 2 inches tall<\/strong>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Follow the One-Third Rule <\/strong>(see illustration above).<\/li> <\/ul>
- Sharpen your mower blades<\/a>. Among other things, the grass clippings will be cut sharper and have a cleaner look.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Don\u2019t mow<\/strong> wet grass.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Alter your lawn mowing pattern<\/strong> each week.<\/li> <\/ul>
![\"Mowing](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-mowing-patterns-646x363.jpg\")
<\/figure> Here are the suggested mowing heights for the 6 best grass types for Sacramento<\/a>:<\/p>
- Alter your lawn mowing pattern<\/strong> each week.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Don\u2019t mow<\/strong> wet grass.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Sharpen your mower blades<\/a>. Among other things, the grass clippings will be cut sharper and have a cleaner look.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Follow the One-Third Rule <\/strong>(see illustration above).<\/li> <\/ul>
- The best time to mow your lawn<\/a> is between 8 and 10 a.m.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow after the temperatures are consistently above 40 degrees<\/strong>.
- Protection<\/strong>: Mulch<\/a> in flower beds can keep weeds from getting the sun and space they need to grow.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Insulation<\/strong>: Mulch can keep the ground cool as the weather turns hot.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Nutrition<\/strong>: Mulch from grass clippings<\/a> can account for one-quarter of a lawn\u2019s yearly nitrogen requirements.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Moisture<\/strong>: Mulch keeps water in the soil longer, something especially helpful in this era of drought.<\/li> <\/ul>
- New landscaping<\/strong>. To encourage you to try alternate approaches, Sacramento will allow daily watering for the first 30 days. (Tip: If you\u2019re interested in removing part of your lawn, sheet mulching<\/a> is an inexpensive and chemical-free way to do this.)<\/li> <\/ul>
- Edible gardens. <\/strong>Grow things you like to put in your salad, with the support of the city.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Potted plants. <\/strong>Growing plants in pots<\/a> rather than in soil is so encouraged by Sacramento that the water ordinances allow them to be watered at any time.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Smart controllers<\/strong> can help use water more efficiently and can be used at any time (as of this writing) if approved by the city.<\/li> <\/ul>
- A hose with a spray nozzle<\/strong> can be used at any time under current drought rules.<\/li> <\/ul>
- 8 Summer Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- 10 Fall Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a>
- Maintenance: <\/strong>They need less fertilizer, making them easier to maintain<\/li> <\/ul>
- Drought: <\/strong>They handle drought<\/a> better than cool-season grasses.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Heat <\/strong>is something in which they thrive.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Green in winter. <\/strong>Unlike warm-season grasses, that will go dormant after the first frost.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Dormant in summer<\/strong>. If it gets too hot or the drought conditions rise too high, cool-season grasses can go dormant, which enables them to survive until fall.<\/li> <\/ul>
- 2. Water the Right Way<\/a><\/li>
![\"crabgrass\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/rsz_1024px-crabgrass.jpg\")
![\"Thatch-illustration\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Thatch-illustration-update-1.png\")
<\/figure> ![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/aeration.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Fertilizing-Lawn.jpg\")
![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/rsz_shutterstock_136965278.jpg\")
![\"Fire](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_3137874781_00889e2031_c_1-3.jpg\")