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What To Put On My Lawn Now

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Apply The Lime Onto Your Lawn

How To Transform a Neglected Lawn | Before and After Lawn Results

Now that you know how to put lime on your lawn and when to do it, the next step is to apply the lime. But what does applying lime really do? Lime acts as a fertilizer by providing nutrients that feed your plants. It also increases the acidity of soil, which helps kill other plants and insects that could harm your grass.

Soil pH levels can vary depending on the environment where you live, but most grasses thrive best in slightly acidic soils with a pH level of 6-7 . Most types of soil have some degree of aciditysoils with high alkaline levels are rare outside of arid regions like deserts or areas high in limestone rock formationsbut they usually range anywhere between 4 and 8 on the pH scale.

Fertiliser Is Not Lawn Food

There is a common misconception that the fertiliser itself is the food for your plant. We in the industry also commonly refer to feeding the grass or to fertiliser as lawn food. But in actual fact, grasses make their own food through the process of photosynthesis.

The issue for our lawns is there is usually a lack of the required nutrients it needs in the soil. This is due to the fact that our grasses are not originally from the exact same soil conditions we experience in our yards. As a result, we need to supplement the existing nutrient levels, so we can achieve a balance of all the nutrients your lawn needs to stay in top shape.

Lawn Fertilisers come in many varying types and blends. Just take a look down one of the aisles in some of the bigger nurseries and you can get confused as to what may be best for your lawn. Going back to basics, lets look at your lawn being like any ordinary plant. It takes in nutrients and air through the soil and sunlight through the leaves for photosynthesis where the conversions to sugars and energy takes place. With everything in balance this happens well and the plant will thrive and what we want to do is help keep this process at its optimum. So in keeping that optimum level of nutrient input for your lawn you can look out for a few tell-tale signs when its lacking:

Autumn Lawn Care Advice: September

The beginning of the autumn is a busy time for the serious lawn enthusiast. Your lawn care routine will change slightly. You will need to continue to mow the lawn as often as necessary. You will find that you need to do this less as temperatures begin to get cooler and the days start to become shorter. Now can be a good time to scarify your lawn. It will help reduce the build up of thatch that is likely to have accrued over the summer. You may also want to aerate your lawn as it can become compacted over the summer months with people and pets walking over it. Aerating the lawn lets the air get back to its roots. Have a look at our lawn aerator and scarifier range. If you have bare patches on your lawn, the early autumn can be a good time to add some lawn seed. The weather is still warm enough so that the seeds can bed in but not so warm that they dehydrate. Sticking to a thorough lawn care routine throughout the autumn can help your lawn survive the colder winter months. Applying an autumn fertiliser is a good idea and can help your lawn stay strong and healthy during the winter. Applying fertiliser and new seed can be done more easily with a spreader or sprayer.

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Weed Killer For Large Lawns

For larger patches you may need to mix up a larger volume of spray solution. Depending on how much you have to do, a large area may need a knapsack sprayer. This requires some pre planning. You need to assess the area that must be sprayed to be able to calculate the amount of spray-chemical mix that you will need.

Try to avoid preparing too much chemical solution because you may be tempted to go over parts which you have already sprayed, this is just bad practice. Its also unwise to have a surplus of spray-chemical solution left over in the knapsack sprayer.

What are you going to do with the surplus? You mustnt pour it down the drain and if you empty it into a container to store for next year you may forget about it when the time comes and mix up a fresh mix.

You will then have a container of spray-chemical hanging around which may or may not have a label on it. You wont know if it would be effective if you use it because it may deteriorate and there is the constant risk that it may fall into small inquiring hands.

My Take On Organic Fertilizers

T& C Landscaping

Organic fertilizers are becoming more popular with lawn owners because of the idea that they are more environmentally friendly. Quality organic fertilizers will contain meal-based nutrients or some may contain poultry litter. A complete natural organic lawn food will have low NPK numbers, most always below 10. Its best to apply these fertilizers during the warmer growing months, from May through September, depending where you live. Organics help feed your lawn by stimulating microbial activity in your soil, creating a healthier medium in which your grass can grow.

They are safer to use and will not harm your lawn like some conventional fertilizers will, especially during the hot summer months. They work a bit slower, however, so youll need to be patient.

Youll also discover they are much more expensive. All that said, give them a try!

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Lawn Care Calendar: Jobs For May

Gradually reduce the height of your mowing blades. For a utility lawn, aim for a height of about 2.5cm

Keep an eye out for weeds and treat with a selective herbicide if necessary. Personally, Im not a fan of chemicals and prefer to dig out any offenders but sometimes thats just not practical.

Dont forget to trim the edges of your lawn on a regularly.

Test The Soil Ph Level

Testing your soil pH level is the first step in preparing your lawn for lime application. Youll need a home-use test kit, which can be purchased at any hardware store. Follow these directions to take your soils pH reading:

  • Insert the probe of the probe into moistened soil and pull it out after five seconds.
  • Compare the color change on the card against those listed on that card to determine whether or not more than one drop of water will be needed, which would indicate that your lawns pH is too low and needs more calcium for healthy plant growth if so, apply lime at this time. If not, continue testing until two or three drops are needed .
  • For best results, take readings from several spots around your lawn so you get an idea of where it needs attention most urgentlyand then treat accordingly!

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Lawn Fungus Types: What To Look For

What is brown patch? How serious is root rot? The following are two of the most common diseases that are likely to develop on warm-weather lawns. Do keep in mind that there is a wide variety of fungal diseases that can affect your lawn. If you arent quite sure whats wrong with your lawn, call a lawn care company to help diagnose the problem.

When To Put Fertilizer On Lawns

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All lawns need fertilizer in early spring when the grass begins to green up. Your fertilization schedule for the rest of the season depends on the type of grass in your lawn, the type of fertilizer you use, and your climate. Most lawn seed is a mixture of several different types of grasses, and both spring and fall fertilization are appropriate.

The label on a bag of lawn fertilizer will recommend a schedule based on the type of fertilizer it contains. The label is your best guide to how often to apply the product and how much to use. As long as you dont overdo it and avoid fertilizing in the hottest part of summer, your lawn should thrive.

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Seasonal Plant Growth Cycle

In early spring, roots are long and full of nutrients stored from the fall. Shoots, the part of grass visible above ground, use this stored energy for growth.

In warm summer temperatures, leaf and root growth slow down. Plants rest during times of heat and drought. Roots can be damaged when soil temperatures are above 85°F.

In the fall months shoots start to grow again and nutrients are stored in the long roots for the winter. Optimal shoot growth occurs with air temperatures of 55 to 75°F.

Cool-season root growth is stimulated by soil temperatures above 32°F, and is optimal with soil temperatures between 50 and 65°F.

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How To Fertilize Your Lawn

Before you fertilize, check your local weather forecast. Plan to fertilize just before a day of light, steady rain. Youll save water and your grass will be well-fed. Using an aerator to make small holes in your lawn before you fertilize can make it easier for fertilizer and water to reach the roots of the grass.

Fertilizers are typically grouped as granular, water-soluble and organic, and you can choose from walk-behind, handheld, drop or liquid spreaders to apply fertilizer to your lawn.

When trying to determine how much fertilizer to use on your lawn, remember that every eight steps is roughly equal to 10 feet. For size reference, compare your lawn to the size of a tennis court, which is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide.

It helps to break up your lawn into easily measurable sections. Sketch out a rough drawing of your yard and break it into a few large squares, rectangles, circles and triangles.

  • For squares and rectangles, measure the length and the width, then multiply those two numbers to get your area.
  • For circles, measure half the distance across the center of the circle then multiply by 3.14.
  • For triangles, measure the base and the height, multiply the two numbers, then divide by two.
  • Once you have the areas determined for each shape, add up the areas to get the total area of your lawn.

Choose from broadcast, handheld and drop spreaders to apply fertilizer to your lawn. Find recommendations for the proper spreader settings on the label of most fertilizers.

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Lawn Aeration Before Spreading

Before you spread your compost it would help if you open up the lawn surface by using a lawn aerator. This involves making spike holes all over the lawn to open up the surface.

There are mechanical devices designed to make this a simple task using tools that range from powered aerators to boots with long spikes. Walking around on the lawn spiking the turf may turn out to be a useful form of exercise.

Spiking the surface is largely done to allow air to get into the roots. It depends on the type of soil you have but some heavy soils can become compacted over time forming a sealed surface layer. Often known as being capped.This inhibits air and liquid from getting into the ground. As a result the roots are starved of oxygen and water.

Can you use compost on your lawn? Yes, lots of it!

So opening up the surface in this way will allow some of the compost crumb to get into the root area beneath the grass surface. It will also allow rain-water to wash the dissolved nutrients of the compost into the soil. Its this that feeds the roots. Doing all of this is most of whats involved in a good lawn care program.

Spiking is also good practice for creating a lawn area that is permeable to rain water. An open surface allows the ground to soak up and retain rain water like a sponge. It will hold onto the water for a while before it eventually drains away.

Adding Lime During Spring

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So spring has arrived and it is time for you to start working on your lawn to make it lush and green for the summer ahead. When youre planning on adding lime to your lawn during the springtime you should resist doing it too early as you do want the lawn to have started growing again, you should never lime a lawn that is dormant.

Most people do prefer to lime their lawn during the springtime as there are some advantages to doing it during this time period, some advantages are:

  • You will see the advantages of correcting the pH balance of the soil in your lawn almost immediately during the summer growing period.
  • Having a healthy lawn during the hot summer months will mean it is more resistant to harmful long drought periods when it can become stressed.
  • Lime will make your grass absorb more nutrients when you fertilize it. Dont add lime and fertilizer together but lime will prepare your lawn for summer fertilizer use.

Its all down to preference really, that is some of the advantages you will see, and the reasons why many people choose to add lime during the spring.

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Determining The Best Times To Fertilize

Homeowners who prefer organic fertilizing methods might do a single turf-builder application in the early fall to build root systems. In the spring and summer, most may omit all fertilizers and rely on the nitrogen from mulched grass clippings to feed their lawn.

Homeowners using traditional fertilizer might want to apply two or three light applications per growing yearone in the spring, one at midsummer in regions where it is necessary, and one turf-builder application in the early fall.

The actual timing depends on your region and the type of turf grasses you have. For information on the best recommendations for your area, contact an expert at a local garden center or reach out to the nearest cooperative extension office.

Once you have figured out the best time, try to plan the fertilizer application with a short period of rainfall. If not, when you apply the fertilizer, you will need to supply your lawn with at least a quarter-inch of water. However, do not apply fertilizer before a massive storm. A rainstorm increases the risk of fertilizer nutrients flowing into storm drains and streams.

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Water The Lawn Properly

While it may be tempting to give your lawn a quick watering every day, any pro will tell you that a better plan is to water deeply and less frequently. Giving the grass a good long soak is another way to encourage roots to grow deeply into the soil, which strengthens the lawn and helps it survive during times of drought. When the grass has started to look a little grayish and the blades dont bounce back when you walk on them, its time to water. Run the sprinkler until you can easily push a ¼ inch diameter dowel or plant stake about 12 inches into the ground. You dont want the soil to be so saturated that if you squeeze a handful, it drips, but you do want the soil to be a little sticky.

Its worth noting, too, that grass uses less water in the spring and late fall than during the summer. In the spring you might only need to water once per week, while in the summer you might need to water 3 times per week. Of course, if you receive a long, soaking rain, theres no need to water that day. For more information on watering, read our Lawn Watering Tips.

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Lawn Care Month By Month

You can also view our Lawn Maintenance Guideline for more information.

Sharpen mower Cleanly cut grass is less susceptible to disease.Lime Pelletized lime is the easiest to use. Do not lime if ground is soggy. Now. OR

Clean up winter debris once the ground firms up.Start a new lawn Use a starter fertilizer. If you need to prevent crabgrass from seeding along with the grass, use an appropriate pre-emergent . Now through May.OR Wait until September.Mow weekly, 2½-3 high. Dont cut off more than 1/3 of the blade at any one mowing. Leave clippings if no disease is present and they wont smother the grass.Fertilize Use a maintenance fertilizer.OR Use a Step 1 product , before forsythia blooms drop, with a pre-emergent weed control if you need to control crabgrass and other annual weeds .

TROUBLESHOOTING Check for snow mold damage. Use a lawn fungicide if necessary.

Dethatch if more than ½ of thatch. Now.OR Wait until early October.Water 1 inch+ per week, including rainfall. Best time is from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. which allows blades to dry, minimizing disease potential. Watering once a week for a longer period is better than more frequently for short periods, enhancing drought tolerance by encouraging deeper roots.Fertilize Use a maintenance fertilizer.OR Use a Step 2 product in late May or by June 15 if broadleaf weeds are a problem.

Control broadleaf weeds. A liquid broadleaf herbicide is most effective.

GLOSSARY

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How To Prevent Weeds From Growing

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Annual grassy weeds, like crabgrass and foxtail, are easily stopped in spring, when the seeds and tiny seedlings are most vulnerable, so they dont become a problem in summer. Applying a crabgrass preventer, like Scotts® Turf Builder® Halts® Crabgrass Preventer with Lawn Food or Scotts® Halts® Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer , stops listed weeds before they start to grow. Be sure to follow all label directions.

Here are a few other tips for preventing weeds:

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