Category: lg-tip

Here are the latest seasonal Lawn care tips for all the Do-it-yourselfers in Greenridge:

Great time to lay down new sod if needed
Adjust your PPH levels in your lawn – IDEAL pH RANGE: 5.5- 6.5
Still a good time to overseed with ryegrass
It’s always a good time to spot spray to kill broad-leafed plants like chickweed, wild violet, dandelion, wild onion, etc

REMINDER: Mark your calendars to apply your spring pre-emergent in Late February and/or the month of March to prevent crabgrass, goosegrass, and other summer weed seeds from sprouting.

Most people apply a dose of lawn fertilizer in the spring, followed by one or two more applications during the growing season. If you are going to fertilize your lawn, do not do it too early in the season. The best time for that first application is late spring, just as the green grass is growing eagerly. In early spring, the grass is putting energy into root development. If you apply fertilizer too early, it will divert the plant’s energy into leaf development too soon.

When mowing your lawn or if using a lawn service, bag your clippings until the grass is green. This will aid in clearing up as many weeds and weed seeds as you can. After the grass is green, start mulching your lawn. Experts say that throughout the season, this technique provides a lawn with as much nitrogen as one complete application of lawn fertilizer. This will help your lawn to stay healthy and green.

Two weeks after your first lawn feeding (fertilization), aerate your lawn with a core or a good spike aerator.

Two important things you need to do to your lawn within the next 3 weeks.

1. Check and adjust your lawn’s pH level. (Ideal pH Range: 5.5 – 6.5)
   Use soil Doctor lime per soil test recommendation. Lime really can be applied at any
   time.
   
   Spring is a great time to test your soil, and you can apply lime between fall and early spring. Many gardeners prefer to lime just before the first frost in fall because the soil has all winter to absorb the lime. Don’t spread lime on a dry, wilted lawn or a soggy, wet lawn.
   
2. Apply pre-emergent. Early Spring and Fall are the most effective times to apply pre–emergent herbicides. They can be applied throughout the year and will prevent new weeds that sprout; however, most weeds sprout during spring and fall.
   
   Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to control germinating weed seeds. As its name suggests, pre-emergent is targeted towards weeds that have not yet emerged from the soil.

While your lawn may not require as much care in the winter as it does in spring, summer, and fall, you don’t want to ignore it completely. To ensure it will be in good shape come springtime, you’ll want to take the following steps.

Aerate & Fertilize

Just before your area’s first expected frost date, head out to your lawn and aerate. If you’ve never aerated before or need a little reminder, check out How to Aerate Your Lawn. Aerating gives your lawn a chance to breathe before the grass goes dormant, and helps relieve any compaction that has built up during the warmer months.

After you’ve opened up your lawn, it’s a good time to fertilize with Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Food. Fertilizing your lawn gives your grass the essential nutrients it needs as it prepares for winter. The grass roots absorb and store the nutrients during the winter months. Then, in the spring, your lawn taps into those stored nutrients giving it a head start, making it green and lush. By having a properly cared-for lawn, you’ll also help prevent weeds, pests, and diseases from moving in once it warms up. Scotts.com

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Now is also a good time to treat any stubborn weeds in your lawn.