Alex_in_FL – posted 21 March 2009 08:40
Spring has officially arrived. Here are a few things you can do now to make your lawn look its best all year.
1. Check your sprinklers. – Repair or replace heads. – Clean or replace clogged ones (soak in vinegar to remove calcium). – Adjust spray coverage – Put out several pans, run sprinklers until pans have 1/2 – 3/4 inch of water. Set timer based upon time measured above. – set to run 2 x per week (maybe 3 but try using 2 x per week first).
2. Apply pre-emergent. This is the very best weed control action you can take!
3. Fertilize…MAYBE! – Is lawn fully green? No? Then hold off and do not fertilize.- Lawn is fully green with lots of weeds. Apply weed killer (not a weed and feed!) then in 7-10 days you can fertilize.- Lawn is green few/no weeds. Spot spray weeds. Apply a slow release fertilizer like Lesco 16-4-8 at about 1/3 – 1/2 the listed rate. (why? see FAQ #1)
4. Monitor the lawn and watch for chinchbugs or other diseases. Watch your neighbor’s lawn too.
5. Lawn has been green for several weeks. Apply fertilize per the label. You could use the weed and feed now if you have already bought it.
FAQ;1. Why not speed up greening with fertilizer? A – It primarily benefits the weeds since they usually grow earliest. Most fertilizers are full of nitrogen (have a high first number like 29-3-4). Nitrogen causes lush top growth – but its at the expense of the root growth. Good deep roots are essential for low maintenance lawns. They help speed recover if turf is damaged, increase drought and insect tolerance too.So early fertilization should have a high last number since the potassium promotes strong roots.2. Why not use weed and feed?A. You are helping the weed fight off the herbicide by fertilizing it. Why attack and heal the weed simultaneously? Weed and feed can be used – especially atrazine ones as atrazine also has pre-emergent ability – but its not the best product for every application.
3. I want my lawn green right now. What can I do?A. Apply iron. The iron will help turn your turf dark green while avoiding the problems associated with fertilizing this early in the year. A2. I have to green the lawn NOW, RIGHT NOW!!! Okay, if having a green lawn right is an absolute must then apply 1/4 the recommended rate of 16-4-8 Lesco and apply full does of iron (3% iron-rite or similar). Water lawn ~ 3/4 inch two days in a row then return to your proper watering schedule. I don’t recommend pursuing the instant gradification since you get to enjoy the lawn all year long.
Best of luck (and go apply that pre-emergent. Especially if you had crab grass problems last year!!).
Alex
[This message has been edited by Alex_in_FL (edited 21 March 2009).]