September
Benefits of Fall Lawn Seeding
- Cooling soil temperatures in the fall promote deep roots and improve lateral top growth
- Turf will continue to develop until the ground freezes
- Grassy weeds such as crabgrass are less competitive in the fall. Crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds die with the frost providing a natural mulch. This mulch protects the new turf and insulates against temperature extremes as the temperatures decline throughout the fall growing season
- Broadleaf weed control products should be applied at least 3 weeks prior to seeding in the fall
- Fertilizer applied at the time of seeding and again no later than November 15th will promote turf development until the ground freezes and also stimulate early spring green up
- Fall seeding provides more time for turf to develop before having to endure summer stress.
Improve your lawn this fall
By The Old Guy with A Pony Tail
Fall is the time to repair and improve your lawn. Throughout the summer, dry weather and heat coupled with the potential for disease, insect and weed competition take a toll on turf quality. Cooling fall weather trends along with the potential for rain make early fall the best time of year for lawn repair or renovation. Changing fall weather trends stimulate lateral growth and root development for both established and newly seeded turf areas. Optimum soil conditions such as adequate oxygen, moisture and nutrient availability support fall turf development. The following is a list of beneficial fall lawn practices to insure turf development.
- Remove existing weed populations if populations warrant treatment.
- Treat lawn 2 to 3 weeks prior to seeding based on weed control product label recommendations.
- Test soil to determine nutrient levels and soil pH
- Core aerate to relieve compaction and increase air, water and nutrient availability
- Aggressive aeration would be considered holes on 2” centers 2” t0 3” depth
- Lime and fertilize based on soil test recommendations.
- Apply a cool season turf seed blend or mixture.
- Core aerate and slice seed if existing turf density is 50% or less
- Drag your lawn with mat after seeding to pulverize the soil cores and improve soil/seed contact
"By all these lovely tokens, September days are here. With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer."