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After the
hot days of summer, many lawns
are in need of repair. Fall
is the perfect time to plant
a new lawn, renovate an existing
lawn or ensure the health of
your lawn next season. Fall’s
cooler air temperatures, warm
soil temperatures and consistent
rainfall are ideal for lawn
establishment or renovation.
And, by next spring your lawn
will be lush and healthy.
Grass seed
germinates quickly in early
fall and whether you are establishing
a new lawn or reseeding bare
patches, now is the time to
do it. First, make sure you
start with high quality grass
seed. Seed type will depend
on the amount of sun/shade and
foot traffic. When reseeding
bare patches, first remove all
dead or unhealthy grass from
within and around each spot.
With a spade, mix in a 2 to
3 inch layer of Scotts
Turf Builder Seeding Soil
(organic material) and some
Scotts Turf Builder
Starter Fertilizer.
Tamp down the soil so it is
level with the surrounding earth.
Sprinkle grass seed sparingly
over the spot and rake the seed
about 1/8" down. Tamp the
soil again, then water. Cover
the spot with a little straw
to retain moisture.
When starting
a new lawn, add Scott's
Starter Fertilizer
as above and mix or till into
the top 6" of soil. Rake
earth level and smooth. Seed
can be sown by hand, but a lawn
spreader does the job more evenly.
Lightly rake seed into surface
and cover with a thin layer
of straw. The first watering
should be thorough, thereafter
keep the area moist by watering
lightly and gently while seed
is germinating. Seed should
sprout within 2 to 3 weeks.
After germinating, lawns should
be watered infrequently but
deeply. Avoid daily watering
as this will encourage shallow
root development. When grass
is 3 - 4" tall, it is ready
for the first mowing.
Established
lawns should be fertilized twice
during the fall. The first application
should be early to late September
when the weather has started
to cool. Use a high nitrogen
fertilizer like Scotts
Lawn Pro ® Step 4 Lawn Fertilizer.
The second feeding with Scotts
Super Turf Winterguard Builder
with + 2 Weed Control should
be applied six to eight weeks
after the first. This time,
a fertilizer higher in phosphorus
and potassium is recommended.
Phosphorus promotes root growth
and potassium helps your lawn
with cold tolerance and disease
resistance. No fertilizer is
effective if the pH or acidity
of the soil is too high or too
low. Improper pH reduces the
availability of nutrients to
be taken up by the roots. Your
soil should have a pH range
of 6.0 - 7.0 for best results.
Adjust with lime
as needed.
MANHATTHAN
IV RYE
Turf type with good looks; tolerant
and durability with high traffic.
KENTUCKY
BLUE
Thin blade; excellent appearance.
BLUE/RYE
MIX
Good looks of blue; heat tolerant
and durability with high traffic.
MILLENIUM
FESCUE
Turf type; drought and humidity
resistant; durability with high
traffic.
KENTUCKY
31 FESCUE
Excellent for ditches and river
banks.
SPECIAL
BLEND
Blend of bluegrass, ryegrass
and fescue for sun/light shade.
SHADY
BLEND
Special blend for light/medium
shade. Remember that good germination
requires steady moisture. Water
often but lightly until seed
germinates.
Mowing is
a critical part of lawn care
which is often overlooked. The
biggest mistake is cutting the
grass too short. Mow at a height
of 2 1/2 - 3". Also, cut
your lawn frequently, never
removing more than 1/3 of the
grass blade. If you wait too
long between mowings you will
stress the grass and it will
thin out. Leave the clippings
on the lawn – ‘grass
cycling’ returns valuable
nutrients to the soil. Lastly,
keep your mower blade sharp.
A dull blade shreds the plants
instead of cutting them, leaving
open tissue, which can be infected
by disease.
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