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Green thoughts: Keeping your lawn healthy during a mild summer

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Many lawns across the Twin Cities metro and greater Minnesota are greener and thicker due to a wet spring/early summer. So how do we keep them thriving?

ST PAUL, Minn. — With Minnesota summers being relatively short and residents determined to make every day count, sun and hot temps are the choice of many. 

But if your lawn had a vote, it would opt for more seasons like the summer of 2024. 

Moisture has been plentiful starting in late spring and continuing through the early part of summer, easing drought conditions that have taken a savage toll on residential turf for the past three years. We thought it would be a good time to check in with a lawn expert, and U of M Turfgrass Extension Educator Dr. Jon Trappe certainly qualifies. 

Where are lawns at (in general) after the nice wet spring/early summer we had?

Dr. Trappe: Lawns this year have been getting a much-needed break compared to the previous three summers. The above-average and timely rains have helped lawns make up ground on some of the common weeds that have moved in during past weather stresses. Because of excessive heat, drought and even some winter stresses, lawns have taken a beating the last few years. Weeds like crabgrass, knotweed, oxalis, birdsfoot trefoil and creeping Charlie have filled in many of the voids (dirt areas) created by these stresses. 

The weather has been great for lawns to recover from these stresses, and homeowners have probably noticed their lawns needing to be mowed a little more frequently because of it.

What height should we be mowing at with conditions right now to keep lawns healthy and help grass fend off weed intrusion?

We generally recommend using a higher setting that is at least 3-3.5 inches (in grass height). Mowing at higher a height will allow the lawn to be more resistant to weeds like crabgrass, be more drought tolerant and it will need to be mown less often when following the 1/3 rule. We recommend not mowing more than 1/3 of the grass’s height in a single mowing event, so when maintained at a higher height you can go longer between mowings.

Should we be doing some watering now that the moisture cycle has slowed down, and warmer temps appear on the horizon?

Regardless if you have an irrigation system or not, we recommend you only water as needed. And if you are going to water, mimic mother nature and water deeply and infrequently. That means, water less often, but with higher amounts of water to allow moisture to soak deeper into the soil where you want to train roots to grow. You know when to water by just observing the grass. Early signs of drought stress will be when the leaves curl or roll up and the lawn will appear dull-green or grey. Footprints or wheel tracks left on the lawn several minutes after use are also great indications of wilting or early drought stress. 

At that point, some water could be applied to prevent further stress. However, most lawns are capable of handling some drought stress, and can even enter dormancy to avoid drought conditions. If you choose to not water and let your lawn go dormant, we recommend not mowing, fertilizing, or using the lawn for recreation to reduce stress. 

With temps a touch more mild this summer, is overseeding OK now or should we wait until fall?

Overseeding is a great way of improving your lawn. There are two times of the year that are great for doing this – early fall and early winter. Early fall, generally around the first two weeks of September, is a GREAT time to overseed. These seedlings may need to be watered as they germinate and emerge. 

Dormant seeding, which takes place in early November, does not need to be watered and is a strategy of taking advantage of winter rain and snow to work the seed into the soil (so it will emerge) next spring.

What is the most important thing to maintain the improved quality of turf?

Having a healthy and functional lawn begins in the fall. It is the best time of year for fertilizing, controlling broadleaf weeds, aerating, and overseeding. Check out the University of Minnesota Extension’s Lawn Care Calendar for more information on best lawn care practices and when to do them.



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Minneapolis shooting prompts City Council to request audit

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Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.

MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak. 

Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.

Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:

“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow.  The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.” 



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‘Love is Blind’ Season 8 makes itself at home in Minneapolis

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“This Valentine’s Day, 2025, will mark the five-year anniversary of the premiere of ‘Love is Blind,” Vanessa said on the Season 7 finale. “And, it is gonna be the launch of Season 8, which takes place in Minneapolis.”

The episode also revealed three of the new cast members, one of whom, “Alex,” told Lachey Minneapolis is “not like a major city, but it’s also not a small town,” which he said is just one of the obstacles in his way of finding the one.

“I just never found the right person that clicked for me,” he said.

 Meantime, you can bone up on Seasons 1-7 streaming now on Netflix. 



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Preview: ‘The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands’

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MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing? 

“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions. 

KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have. 



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