MARCH LAWN CARE…MAYBE

March is coming in like a lion…let’s hope it goes out soon. Between wind, snow, sleet and colder then normal temperatures, I have had it.

Once spring does arrive, folks are going to be over zealous to apply their preemergent, spray their weed controls and spread grass seed. The bottom line is…NOTHING will happen until the soil temperatures get to where we need them to be. All the wishful thinking, prayers, fertilizer or pixie dust products out of the Parade Magazine won’t make the grass grow properly or consistently until God gives us 45-55 degree soil temperatures for 2 weeks, without a frost.

The message is: PATIENCE. Often spoken about in my home and business…rarely practiced as much as I would like it to be. So, do what I say, not what I do and you and your lawn will be fine. Once the ground warms and you can walk on it without causing foot prints that have water in them or you don’t hear the grass “crunching” underneath your feet, you can start working in the yard safely. Safely working, because you won’t be compacting the soil or causing dead spots in the lawn. That’s what happens when the ground is frozen and or saturated and we walk on it unnecessarily.

Once things warm up, you should do the following on your cool season and warm season lawns:

Cool season lawns:

*Rake or blow all of the leaf clutter that has accumulated over the winter. This helps your preemergent work more effectively!

*Mow at 2-2 ½ inches with a sharp blade. Bag if you can in order to help clean up the yard.

*Mow at least twice before you consider applying crab grass control.

*Mow at least once before putting down grass seed.

*Mow at least 2-3 times before applying Post emergent herbicides to Henbit, Clover etc. (remember to read the label!!!!)

*Second applications of Post emergent herbicides are usually the “One-two” punch stubborn weeds need to be killed!

Warm season lawns:

*Other then step one above…do nothing for another 45 days or so

Remember, zoysia is a “warm” season grass. It might feel warm to us, but until it’s growing…you should do almost nothing to these lawns!! Aprils letter will have details for warm season lawns you can follow. Please let me know if you have any questions or come visit us at our store @10747 Trenton Ave, St. Louis, 63132 (Warson & Page).