June is bringing insects, weeds and diseases!

We shouldn’t be surprised…the weather in June always brings the right weather conditions that incubates spores, grows a bunch of weeds and allows insects to finish their life cycles. I’m pretty sure it will happen again next year! Here a few things we can do to help keep our cool season lawns looking good:

Cool season tips:

*Keep mowing high. 3 ½ to 4 inches if you can stand it. Trust me when I tell you this. It is the most important cultural practice we can do to help grow a deep root system. When we have a deep root system we naturally have a more drought and disease resistant yard. We also choke out more weeds with tall grass too!

*Don’t worry about the seedlings growing in your yard (turf or beds). Keep mowing or sting trimming them and they will eventually tucker out and die.

*Start your fungicide program and continue on 25-30 day cycles. You are looking at 4 applications this year probably?! “Headway” is by far the best product to start with if you can.

*Spray weeds as needed (read the label!). Spray early in the AM, don’t mow for 2-3 days before or after and read the label. (sorry, can’t say that enough).

*Apply organic based fertilizers at this time. Good old Milorganite at 10#/1000 ft. sq is my suggestion.

*Apply “Acelepryn” for grubs now or consider “Merit” in 30 days as a “preventative” application.

*Don’t seed any more this summer. Sod should be used where grass is needed.

*Irrigate deeply if your soil allows. I’m watering 2 days in a row, taking 2 days off and then soaking again right now. That schedule will change monthly!!! Start early and finish by 8 am!

*Sharpen your lawnmower blade every 8-10 hours of mowing if you can.

Warm season grasses (zoysia and Bermuda) are coming into their own. One radio guy is telling you NOT to aerate or power rake your zoysia…he could not be more wrong! This is exactly when you should be doing those processes! You have to apply a weak amount of preemergent after you aerate and or power rake because you’ll be waking up weed seeds, but please go ahead with any aeration or power rake/dethatching plans you may have this month. It is the correct time to do so…trust me.

Warm season tips:

*Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer or Milorganite now and again in 30-45 days to help your zoysia.

*Apply Acelepryn and or Merit as needed for the “Hunting Bill Bug”. Most folks are doing two applications this year. One now and one in 45 days.

*Don’t apply fungicides any more this summer. September will be the next time you apply these.

*Spot spray weeds as needed (yep, read the label!).

*Mow at 2 inches if possible.

*Water maybe 1-2 days a week. It doesn’t matter when as long as you don’t overspray on your desirable plants.

I forgot to wish all our Mothers a Happy Mothers Day as well as wishes for a good Memorial Day. I will tell all our fathers a Happy Fathers Day. My family will be having brunch at The Road House in Webster this year. I love that place. Try it some time if you haven’t already.

A favorite prayer of mine is: “I pray I may welcome difficulties. I pray that they may test my strength and build my character”.  Maybe you can use this in a time of need?

Have a safe summer and remember folks…it’s just grass!