At The Mercy of May 2013

Between the high and low temperatures

, the clouds and sunshine, we have somehow squandered Spring.  Now with threats of hitting a one day heat wave, I thought we best touch base and make sure everyone is on schedule.  Be sure to water lawns, gardens and containers today.  If anything is near dry, tomorrow's promised heat might be hardest on any plants, turf or otherwise with new soft growth. I thought I would be glad to see and feel Summer, when she  finally arrives, now, not so sure!

Cool season grass things to do in May:

*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