Weekend-in and weekend-out, we’ve spent our summer keeping up with lawn care. No wonder most of us let it fall by the wayside come the change of season!
The fact is, neglecting your lawn in fall can undo all of that hard work from summer. Fall, according to Bryan Ostlund, executive director of Grass Seed USA, is when grass fortifies its reserves for winter, making maintenance during this time essential.
“Lawn care begins to change in the fall as your lawn tries to take in as much nutrients and moisture as it can in preparation for the dormant winter months ahead,” explains Ostlund. “Simple lawn care chores such as reseeding, weeding, aerating and fertilizing help a lawn immensely and show nearly immediate results come spring.”
These to-dos, Ostlund says, come from seven subject matter experts:
1. “Fall is a great time to seed! Lawns with poor density or bare areas will become infested with weeds if you do not add more turf grass. I would suggest a mixture containing perennial ryegrass for quick germination.” – Oregon State University Assistant Professor and Turf Specialist Alec Kowalewski
2. “It is important to purchase quality grass seed. Make sure the seed was tested in the last six months and check that the germination rate is 85 percent or better.” – University of Arkansas Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science Douglas Karcher
3. “Soil temperatures need to be greater than 60 degrees for good germination, so it is generally better to seed a bit early than later.” – North Carolina State University Professor of Turfgrass Sceience Grady Miller
4. “Have your soil tested. A soil analysis is inexpensive and provides important information about nutrient levels and soil type. Liming, fertilizing and seed selection may all depend on the results of a soil analysis.” – University of Tennessee Assistant Dean for College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources John C. Stier
5. “Start fertilizing grass to promote recovery and growth. Approximately 75 percent of the annual fertilization of the grass should be applied throughout the fall to extend the green color period and reduce dormancy of the grass.” – Texas Tech University Assistant Professor Joseph Young
For more from these experts and others, visit http://www.WeSeedAmerica.com/Lawn-Winterization-Tips.
Source: Grass Seed USA (WeSeedAmerica.com)
