The Grass Station Podcast

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 2: The DandelionThe early warmup around the country has most of us pumped for spring and summer, but with higher temperatures comes the flush of dreaded dandelions! Let’s chat about this wicked monster, and offer a few solutions to improve our defenses against other springtime weeds along with it.For those who like to eat them, or use them holistically - I applaud you. My tolerance is lacking in that area! We discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the plant, so the...

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 1: First Mow 2024First day of spring - we're usually under some snow still in March up here in the Midwest, but we got a little jump start to the season with unseasonably warm temperatures across the country. Early spring is the perfect time to identify your problem areas, and prepare for the season ahead by creating a plan. Get your product, clean off the mower, and get ready to lay down some wicked stripes. We will chat about our spring program, pre-emerge...

Welcome to Season 3, Episode 1: Suspension SystemWe are back in the saddle! Excited to return to the podcast to discuss our recent purchase for the homestead: The 60" Toro Titan with the My Ride Suspension System! Fall is my favorite season by far, and there is so much to do in a short period of time. Don't waste this good weather on sitting around instead of getting out in the yard. Go repair some problem areas, throw down some fert, and get that seed before it’s too late! Visit o...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 8: Fall Lawncare Hopefully by now our lawn renovations are in the rear-view mirror, and you may be wondering what's next? Halloween is right around the corner so it's the final push for neighborhood domination! Keep those sprinklers active, and monitor the weather for drops in temperature. Fall is all about maintaining our fundamental strategies while managing the changing variables around us. We will navigate questions like - When should I back off my renovation ...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 7: Late Summer StrategyIt's GO TIME for lawn care renovations happening around the country, and we need to prepare our equipment, product, and mindset for renovation season! If you have areas of your lawn that need repair, this is the time to take action. If you have been battling tough weeds and have bare spots in the lawn, listen in for your strategies on what to do, when to do it, and how to achieve Total Domination by Halloween. We will navigate questions like...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 6: Analysis Paralysis.Ever have so much to do you can't get around to doing anything at all? Summertime drought, weeds, and disease pressure can really stunt our enthusiasm about the lawn here in August. Stay the course - fall is right around the corner! Let’s break the cycle and get back in the saddle by prioritizing long term goals through achieving small wins along the way. We will navigate questions like - How much should I be irrigating in the heat of summer?...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 5 discussing The Weather.Whether it's been in your favor or not this season, it's crucial to utilize weather as a tool in our lawncare program. While we can't control outside variables, we can control our approach to circumstances brought on by the weather. Allow nature to pick up some of the slack by applying certain products before a light rain, or avoiding certain equipment when the ground is going to be wet. Learn from the variables we can't control to improve...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 4 - a bonus road trip episode!In this episode, I am taking you along for a ride to Bettendorf Iowa to pick up a lawn mower I traded for Big Red, my 30" Toro Timemaster. As favorable weather starts to roll in, it is crucial that we have prepared our equipment and overall gameplan for the season. On this drive, I go through my plan for this season in effort to help you think about your program in the same way. Since the weather has bought us a few extra ...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 3 discussing Crabgrass Prevention.Early spring is a frustrating transition back into the lawn after a cold and dark winter season. Many of us have been cooped up for months waiting for warmer temperatures to melt the snow and reveal our tampered down, distressed, and struggling lawn. The difficult nature of springtime is the fluctuation of temperatures and conditions. Some days are warm enough for shorts and sandles while some days drop down into the 30s. Ju...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 2 discussing Renovation Preparations.The number one question to be answered while planning a lawn care program is whether or not a renovation will take place any time this year. The entire season depends on this decision, and will dictate time spent, products to purchase, and overall strategy from mowing frequency to irrigation. Join the discussion with our guest Vince @rootedlawnco to help identify specific benefits and drawbacks of a lawn renovation so you...

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 discussing New Beginnings.Happy New Year, and blessings from our family to yours as we approach the 2022 lawncare season from a new property with a new perspective. Whether you are a veteran managing your program, brand new to lawncare, or renovating and starting from scratch, we are all stuck inside waiting for our return to glory! Now is the time to get your goals in place, and your product purchased early to avoid supply chain delays. We wi...

Welcome to Episode 14 focused on Finishing Strong. Fall renovations are behind us, and soon the the lawn will go dormant. Finish your lawn care program strong this season by making a few final acts of due diligence. Preparations start now for the spring with a few end of season practices to help you get a leg up on your program.We will navigate questions like How do we prepare our equipment for winter? When should the final fertilizer application go down? What should my fina...

Welcome to Episode 13 on Halloween Domination! Fall renovations are coming to an end, and soon the neighborhood families will all be trick-or-treating checking out our lawns in real time! It's important to showcase our properties, and give them the best foot forward going into cooler temperatures. Catch up on what's happening in our lawns, and piece together your strategy for the rest of the season. Also, stay tuned to the episode for some exciting news! We will navigate questions like ...

Welcome to Episode 12 on Fall Repairs.Fall renovation season continues! Catch up on what's happening in our lawns from aeration and dethatching, to over-seeding and top dressing. This is a lawn enthusiast's favorite time of year when we get to bust out the heavy equipment, roll up our sleeves, and prepare for Halloween Domination. Also, please welcome our first guest, Dan Peterson from Pocasset Golf Club in Massachusetts. We discuss some exciting things happening around the Cape Cod gol...

Welcome to Episode 11 on Fall Preparations.Fall renovation season is here, and there has never been a better time to jump in on your lawn care program! Get your lawn in order this fall by focusing on your specific challenges, and targeting a few processes to execute while temperatures begin to drop. We will navigate questions like when and why should I aerate and over seed? What is the difference between dethatching and scarifying? What if my lawn is thick and healthy going into the fal...

Welcome to Episode 10 on Grass Seed. Fall renovations are just around the corner, and an often overlooked step in our process is the specific type of grass we are looking to maintain for our family to enjoy. This is a critical step that our entire lawn program revolves around. We will navigate questions like What is our vision for the lawn? How long does grass seed take to establish? Which grass types do best in shady conditions? Do certain grass types offer improved protection ag...

Welcome to Episode 9 on New Construction Soil.Summer heat and humidity have settled in, and our lawns have started to show signs of stress. If you are dealing with new construction soil on top of regular summer stress, you may be experiencing some of the same challenges I am this summer. We will navigate questions like what do we do when we get a fungus issue? When and how should I repair damaged areas? Should I aerate before top dressing? Should I add topsoil, compost, or sand to...

Welcome to Episode 8 on Summer Preparation.Summer is a challenging time that requires dedicated attention, and crucial decision making to set up our entire program for how the lawn will look all next season. Learn how to identify heat stress, and adjust your strategy as the season progresses. We will navigate questions like should I let my yard go dormant? Do I adjust my mowing schedule for the heat? Do I need to adjust my irrigation schedule? How can I avoid fungus and dise...

Welcome to Episode 7 on Herbicides.Consistent horticultural practices such as frequent mowing, irrigation, and fertilization will eliminate 90% of your weeds right off the bat, but if you still struggle with hard to kill invaders like Clover, Wild Violet, and Creeping Charlie, etc., you may need to turn to herbicides to protect your stand of turf. I will walk you through a few potential strategies depending on what weeds you may be battling, and answer questions like When can my kids/dogs ret...

Welcome to Episode 6 on Fertilizer.Soil health is the key to a healthy lawn. Understanding what it needs - and when - is a critical piece of the overall health of our turf. Learn how to approach your soil test results with patience and preparation. This is the start of a journey that cannot be solved in a singular application, but with a focused individualized approach to your fertilizer program based on what your soil needs. In analyzing my soil test results, I walk you through p...