SPRING TURF TIPS
Turfgrass lays dormant in the winter, waiting for springtime warmth to stir them into growth once again. After fertilizing your lawn in the fall, while soil temperatures are above fifty-five degrees, turf growth responds as early as February.
Spring Fertilization
• Apply a pre-emergent with weed control in early February. This will control almost all seed germination of weeds for a period of ninety days.
• If you are reseeding the lawn do not apply a pre-emergent as it will inhibit grass seed from germinating.
• Many pre-emergent products are combined with fertilizer. When used, this will serve as the first fertilizer application of the year for your lawn.
By mid March the grass should be actively growing and this will be the time to:
• Apply a fertilizer with a small percentage of nitrates in the nitrogen form.
• Most winterized or water soluble fertilizers containing either ammoniacal or nitrate-type Nitrogen on their label will release faster and produce more top growth (clippings) during mowing.
• Newer fertilizers that contain coated or slow release nitrogen will control its release over a longer period.
• The type of fertilizer one chooses should meet the needs of the turf.
• Please consult your local nursery for their recommendation of which brand to use.
• Any fertilizer used after this application should be a "balanced formulation" lawn fertilizer.
• This is a good time of year to consider renovating your lawn. Thatching, aeration and reseeding can add many years of life to your lawn.
Warming spring soil temperatures can bring other things to life in your lawn as well. Be on the watch for:
• Grubs that have been over wintered in the soil. They can start to move into the root zone and feed until their life cycle moves onto the adult stage.
• At this point, wait until you see damage from the larvae again before you treat your lawn. This often occurs in late May-early June.
Spring is also the right time to increase the mowing height of your lawn. Delta Bluegrass Company suggests the following:
• Fescues 2 inches to 2 1/2 inches
• Bluegrass 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches
Irrigation
• Check your sprinklers for proper coverage
• Cleaning nozzles, flushing line, adjusting heads, and replacing the clock batteries will all help "tune up" your system.
• Try a less frequent, deeper soak to encourage deeper roots
• Early morning watering helps prevent turf disease as the lawn dries out during the day and enters the evening dry.
• Stack up start times in the morning for a deeper soak, and prevent runoff on slopes on older, compacted lawns.
Mowing and Aeration
Proper mowing at recommended heights insures healthy turf and deeper roots.
The following are recommended mow heights.
• Blue-Rye 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches
• Fine Fescues 1 1/2 inches to 2 1/2 inches
• Tall Fescues 2 inches to 3 inches
• Dwarf Fescues 1 1/2 inches to 3 inches
Aeration opens up the soil and stimulates root growth, especially when followed by a balanced fertilization. Core aeration also relieves soil compaction in older lawns and high traffic areas. Multiple aerations (2 to 3 or more per year) can greatly benefit high use lawns and help ease compaction.
SUMMER TURF TIPS
Summer Fertilization
• Slow release nitrogen fertilizers should be the preferred choice during the summer season.These fertilizers release nutrients over a longer period of time and maintain a steady growth rate. Although they can be more expensive they are usually non-burning and cause less stress to your summer turf.
• They also do not produce "growth flushes" like the traditional fertilizers that contain quick release forms of nitrogen.
Summer Irrigation
• Deep irrigations are recommended during the heat of the summer. Remember, the deeper the soak, the deeper the roots.
• For best results irrigate between 12 am (midnight) and 5 am in the morning.
Summer Mowing
Mowing height in the summer should be raised to reduce added stress to the turf. It will drive your root system deeper therefore improving drought tolerance. Listed below are recommended mowing heights for Delta Bluegrass Company products.
• Blue/Rye High of 2 inches and Low of 1 inch
• Tall Fescue High of 3inches and Low of 2 inches
• Dwarf Fescue High of 3 inches and Low of 1 1/2 inches
• Mow regularly and never cut off more than 1/3 of the blade length for best results.
• Keep mower blades well sharpened for the best cut and a great looking turf.
