Between the
hail, allergies and strange horticultural growth…I’ll be glad when summer
finally arrives.
*MOW HIGH!
3” minimum and 3.5 is better!
*Watch for
moths flying out of the lawn when walking in or mowing. These are Sod Web Worms
and can hurt the lawn. You should apply an insecticide in either spray form
(hose ends for small yards) or in granules (large yards). You may have to do
this twice about 3 weeks apart.
*Consider
applying organic forms of fertilizer towards the end of the month. Milorganite®
and other 100% organic fertilizers at 10#/1000 ft. sq is a good way to prepare
the lawn for summer.
*Consider
starting your preventative fungicide applications. These are expensive and HAVE
to be repeated on 25 day cycles so be sure you are doing all of the other
cultural practices (mowing, fertilizing and watering) correctly before starting
this program. Fungicide products do nothing to kill the fungus in the soil.
*Start
watering when we stop getting rain. Usually, one or two days a week in May is
sufficient. June will be a whole other story, stay tuned.
*
Preventative grub treatments with Acelepryn® can be applied any time this
month. I really like this product because it’s the only insecticide that covers
all grub species, but doesn’t have an “indicator” word (caution, warning or
danger) on its label. It’s also very pet friendly. Read the label as with any
pesticide application.
*Continue
to spot spray the weeds as needed.
Warm
season grass things to do in May:
*Go ahead
and schedule a power raking and or aeration if needed. We should be out of the
woods as far as anymore frost (I hope).
*Fertilize
immediately after doing this or not. If you do some type of aerating or power
raking, you will want to fertilize with some crabgrass preventer combination
product. You will wake up crabgrass seeds this time of year. You should try to
put out a pound of nitrogen per 1000 ft. sq.
*Apply
insecticides if you have any dead spots in the lawn. We have seen a lot of
damage from surface feeding insects in the last 30 days and expect bugs be very
aggressive this year.
*Consider
using “plugs” or sod to repair damage as needed in the next 3-4 weeks. I don’t
like to have people buy zoysia sod until it’s good and hot. Wait a few weeks
for the good zoysia weather to be here permanently.
*You may
spot spray weeds as needed, but be sure the zoysia is 100% green before using
any spray herbicides!
*Mow at
1-2” for best results
Let me know
if you have any questions?
Glennon Kraemer/Owner
GR Robinson Seed & Service Co
314-432-0300
PS How are doing Mary Ann?
