Since the many years of drought we have experienced, lawns are losing their popularity. At one time they were the symbol of a prestigious landscape, but now it is changing to a more drought tolerant and modern design. Still, I believe lawns will always be a part of the landscape and to
many of our realtor friends the most important selling feature in the landscape.
If you have a lawn or know someone with a lawn and you want it to look its best, then the tips we are going to provide will help you maintain a beautiful, green, and healthy lawn without needing to spend all your water on it.
Here are some of the things that are implemented on all of the landscapes we manage and have already seen wonderful results.
1. Spring Care
Spring is a critical time to perform some important tasks. Spring is when the ground is still moist but also beginning to warm up so that seeds begin to germinate and the blades begin to grow more aggressively. Here is what should be performed in spring:
AERATE THE LAWN
This is easily done using a commercial aerator or any device that places holes throughout the lawn at a depth of 2-3” to improve airflow and reduce compaction to the roots.
RESEED
Apply seeds to the lawn to thicken up the density and fill the bare places. Use a shade blend for shade areas and sun blend for sunny spots. Place a thin layer of compost or peat moss over the entire lawn or where seeds are placed.
FERTILIZE
Apply a complete fertilizer to the lawn to encourage new green growth. Lawns can be fertilized 3-4 times per year. Spring, summer, and fall are best.
2. Weed Abatement
Removing weeds is important to maintaining healthy lawns. Some weeds or invasive grasses will overtake lawns if left unattended. They will spread by rhizomes or seeds if not controlled.
During the drought many of the lawns that survived ended up being mostly invasive grasses such as Crab or Bermuda. They can be controlled by the following methods:
MECHANICAL
Either remove the weeds by the root by hand digging, or remove large sections of the lawn entirely. Some lawns may need to be completely removed and redone if the majority are weeds.
SELECTIVE HERBICIDES
Selective Herbicides are those that only target weeds or invasive grasses. They can be applied by liquid spray or in a granular form. Applying this throughout the year will reduce or prevent the weeds within the lawn. Some products are also mixed with a fertilizer and can be applied at the same time.
3. Grub Treatments
Your lawn can look its best and you can be doing everything right, when a crow, racoon, or wild boar will come through your yard to dig around looking for grubs to eat. Treating the grubs before they become an issue that attracts these animals is the best approach. Here are some ways this can be done:
ORGANIC GRUB TREATMENTS
Nematodes can be applied to the lawn to attack the grubs. Its best to apply these before the grubs become an issue. Applications can begin in June and then throughout the summer thereafter. The grubs start to become a problem in the summer and fall.
INSECTICIDE APPLICATIONS
An insecticide can be applied to the lawn to target the nematodes. This provides the most success with fewer applications. For lawns heavily infested this may be the best route. It does come with a price however, the other insects in the lawn may die as well. 1-2 applications in the summer should control the grubs for the season.
4. Proper Watering
Watering may be the most important component of any lawn or plant within the landscape. No chemical or fertilizer can supplement the lack of water. The following are the best tips to maintain a healthy lawn by proper watering:
COMPONENTS
The best sprinkler heads for efficiency are the MP rotors. These provide less drift and run off. They use larger droplets and can be on longer than the conventional spray nozzles. The important factor is to ensure the sprinklers of whatever type are adjusted properly and reach all areas of the lawn.
FREQUENCY
To ensure a healthy lawn it is important that it is not over or under-watered. Overwatering can create fungus and root rot. The soil should be moist the day after a watering but not soaking wet. We have found that the best watering schedules range between 3-4 days per week and 10-20 minutes per session. If your lawn is on a slope, then it would be best to break up the watering between two sessions each day. Morning and night. Overall, avoid watering in the heat of the day but do it in the early morning or evening.
We hope this information is able to provide you with helpful tools to maintain your lawn this spring and summer. If all of these tips are implemented then your lawn should look great year around. If you are a part of our landscape management program, then we will be taking care of all these items for you. If you are not and need help then don’t hesitate to get in touch and we would be happy to help.