As a homeowner passionate about lawn care, I decided this year to take my yard to the next level. Inspired by the renowned Toby Tobin Lawn Care Program, and utilizing products from Hummert and DynaGreen available at Porters, I embarked on a journey to transform my lackluster lawn. Having heard excellent reviews about the Toby Tobin endorsed products, and even recommending them to customers myself, I wanted to personally document my experience and share the results. Last year, neglecting any specific lawn care regimen, my lawn was far from impressive, a sight I was eager to change.
Before diving into product specifics, establishing good lawn care practices is paramount. These fundamental steps set the stage for any successful lawn care program. Let’s address some common questions homeowners have as spring approaches:
Essential Lawn Mowing Practices for a Healthy Lawn
Q. How Frequently Should I Sharpen My Mower Blade?
A. For optimal lawn health, sharpen your mower blade approximately every 10 hours of use. A dull blade tears grass blades rather than cleanly cutting them. This ragged cut stresses the grass, making it vulnerable to diseases. Maintaining a sharp blade is a simple yet crucial step in healthy lawn maintenance, as advocated by the Toby Tobin lawn care program.
Q. What’s the Best Way to Change My Lawn Mower Oil?
A. Typically, changing your lawn mower oil once a year is sufficient. Most mowers utilize standard 30W oil. The process is generally straightforward: drain the old oil and refill with fresh oil. Consult your mower’s manual for specific recommendations, especially if you anticipate mowing in unusually cold conditions, which is unlikely for most lawn care seasons.
Q. How High Should I Set My Mower for Optimal Lawn Growth?
A. Setting your mower to a higher setting, ideally around 3 ½ inches, is generally recommended, particularly during hotter months. This taller grass height helps shade the soil, keeping it cooler and reducing weed germination by blocking sunlight. While a slightly shorter initial mow in early spring can encourage new growth and aid in dethatching or aerating, maintaining a higher cut throughout the season is a key principle in the Toby Tobin lawn care approach for weed prevention and soil health.
Q. Should I Bag My Lawn Clippings or Leave Them?
A. For regular lawn maintenance, leaving grass clippings on the lawn is actually beneficial! When mowing frequently, the small clippings decompose rapidly, acting as a natural fertilizer and returning valuable nutrients to the soil. This natural recycling process is a cornerstone of sustainable lawn care. However, if you allow the grass to grow excessively long and end up cutting off more than a couple of inches at once, these larger clippings will take longer to decompose and may thatch your lawn. In such cases, bagging is advisable.
Implementing the Toby Tobin Lawn Care Program: Spring Application
Early spring is the ideal period for soil enhancement and pre-emergent weed control, critical steps within the Toby Tobin lawn care program. While practices like over-seeding, aerating, and dethatching can be beneficial, I opted to focus on soil conditioning using Earth Right Super Stuff. This locally produced product is specifically designed to improve clay-heavy soils, common in our region, transforming them into nutrient-rich, well-draining, and healthy soil. Toby Tobin emphasizes soil health as the foundation for a thriving lawn, and Earth Right Super Stuff is an excellent solution for clay soil improvement. Whether you choose to aerate or dethatch, applying this soil conditioner afterward is highly recommended. Remember to water it in thoroughly, using a double application rate for the initial treatment as per Toby Tobin’s guidance.
Following the soil conditioning, I applied Dyna Green Step 1 Dimension fertilizer with Crabgrass Preventer (Yellow Bag). A key advantage of Step 1, as highlighted in the Toby Tobin program, is its extended application window. Unlike many pre-emergents, it remains effective even when applied into mid-April, providing crucial crabgrass prevention.
These initial steps, focusing on soil health and pre-emergent weed control as part of the Toby Tobin lawn care program, set the stage for visible lawn improvement.
Summer Lawn Care with Toby Tobin’s Program: Sustaining Growth
Building upon the impressive spring results achieved through the Toby Tobin lawn care program, I eagerly anticipated summer lawn maintenance. For the summer application, I used DynaGreen Step 2 – Long Lasting with Umaxx. Step 2 offers a choice between “Long Lasting” and “with Viper.” The “Viper” option includes a broadleaf weed killer, essentially making it a commercial-grade “weed & feed” product. Toby Tobin recommends “Viper” if weeds constitute over 25% of your lawn. If your lawn has fewer weeds, the fertilization provided by Step 2, combined with spot spraying individual weeds as needed, should effectively manage weed control while promoting healthy growth.
In addition to Step 2, I also applied a modest amount of Pelletized Gypsum. Gypsum aids in soil aeration and composting, further enhancing soil structure. Given this was my first year utilizing Earth Right Super Stuff, I incorporated gypsum to accelerate soil loosening. As Toby Tobin advises, gypsum is beneficial even in small quantities, and while the bag instructions might suggest a large application, even a lesser amount contributes to soil improvement within the Toby Tobin lawn care program.
By following the Toby Tobin lawn care program and utilizing DynaGreen and Earth Right products, you too can achieve a healthier, more vibrant lawn. Consistent practices and quality products are the keys to unlocking your lawn’s full potential.
