Mow high, plant smart: Tips for spring lawn maintenance and vegetable gardens

I like to mow my lawn at 3 to 3½ inches in height, and frequently enough so I cut less than one-third of the total height each time. Most lawns are cut too short. Maintaining lawns at a taller height promotes a strong root system and helps choke out weeds. In hot weather, short lawns can turn brown more quickly and weeds are more likely to move in.

Consider using a mulching mower that leaves behind the grass clippings. This means less work for you, and it recycles those extra nutrients back into your lawn. Regardless of which mower you choose, you’ll need to mow more frequently during spring due to rapid grass growth.

Keep in mind that mulching mowers tend to struggle in tall, wet grass. When my lawn is tall and/or too wet, I make a narrower pass with the mower and double back as needed to mow sections a second time. Rake out any wet clumps of grass that remain on the lawn and keep the blades on your mower sharpened for a better cut. A good general rule to follow is to sharpen them after every eight hours of use.

It’s also a great time to plant warm season vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Rotate the crops in your vegetable garden to control pest problems. This is the easiest way to practice organic, integrated pest management gardening. Many insects and diseases attack vegetables within the same plant family. By planting vegetables from a different family in a problem area, you minimize the chances for a repeat infection.

The basic families include the cabbage family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, and turnips); cucumber family (gourds, melons, squashes, and cucumbers); nightshade family (eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers); goosefoot family (spinach and beets); onion family (leeks, garlic, and onions); legume family (all peas and beans); and the carrot, celery, and parsnip group.

Gradually move houseplants outside to protected areas when temperatures rise above 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Prevent any damage to the plants by gradually acclimating them to the sun and outside growing conditions. Start by putting them in a shaded location outside on warmer days and bring them inside when nights are predicted to be cold. Increase the time outside and exposure to sun over a period of 10 days or so. Large houseplants in plastic pots should be slipped into larger heavier pots to prevent them from falling over in the wind.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.