FALL FERTILIZATION AND OTHER IMPORTANT STUFF…

Thank God, it finally rained. We are drier then dry folks, so don’t turn those sprinkler systems off yet. Especially, if seeded or laid sod in the last couple of weeks. Zoysia lawns don’t need to be watered, but cool season lawns need to be watered for 20-30 days! It’s been a very strange September and early October.

Here is an action plan for October…

Warm Season Grasses;

*Try NOT to mow under 2 ½ inches. Let your zoysia get leggy going into winter

*No more fertilizer except high Potash (K) fertilizers

*Apply gypsum (50#/1000 ft. sq.) along your edges to help prevent salt damage this winter

*Carefully apply herbicides if needed. Read the label and use common sense

*Don’t water unless it’s part of a 50/50 yard

*Don’t aerate unless it’s part of a 50/50 yard

*Try to keep leaves from accumulating for more then 3-4 days

Cool Season Grasses:

*Still a good time to seed. Expectations might be lower, but it done!

*Continue with fall fertilizer schedule. A pound of nitrogen or 10# of Milorganite per 1000 ft. sq is what we suggest.

*Keep the leaves off your new seedlings every 3-4 days! A blower is best!

*Spot spray weeds as your new grass matures. Usually, you can spray weeds 4-6 weeks after seeding or 3 weeks after laying sod.

*Not too late aerate. It really is never too late. Best way to introduce organic matter and help the soil!

*Keep the top 1” moist into late October.

*Blow out your irrigation system towards the end of the month

*Keep mowing at 3” for the rest of the month. We’ll lower it towards the end of the month or next month depending on the weather???

Let’s keep all of our loved ones in our prayers and actions. I’m going through a rough time with my mother right now and I’m finding out how tough care giving really is. It makes all this grass growing business not seem very important. Let’s all remember… it’s just grass folks!