Your Lawn Questions Answered

Perfect lawns don’t grow themselves. Here are some of the questions we hear frequently as we head into the cooler months.

When should I plant grass seed?

While you can seed in the spring and have some success, in the northern half of the country we use cool season grasses that germinate best with warm days, cool nights, and moisture for extended periods of time. In our neck of the woods, that means early fall.

I had bare patches in my lawn all summer – what is going on?

There are a number of reasons you may have dead or bald patches in your lawn. While it’s tough to diagnose the real problem without seeing it firsthand, here are a few issues we see regularly:

• Not enough sun. Most varieties of grass need about 6 hours of sun a day. Depending on your situation, you can trim trees to let in more light or plant dense shade varieties of grass.
• Fungus. Fungal issues tend to occur when a lawn is over-fertilized, too wet, shaded, and poorly aerated. It can be tricky to diagnose, but once we know the issue, we can match it to the proper disease treatment.
• Grubs. Not only do grubs kill your lawn, they also attract moles, skunks, and birds that leave holes in your turf. A special grub treatment can help get rid of them now and prevent damage throughout the year.

How do I get rid of crabgrass?

Surprisingly, the best defense against weeds like crabgrass isn’t a weed treatment, but a healthy lawn. After a long, hot summer, your grass may have started to thin out, giving crabgrass room to take over and establish itself for seasons to come. Your best bet is to continue to care for your lawn throughout the fall with regular fertilization, watering, and mowing. If you haven’t already considered a lawn program that includes seeding, fertilizing, and treatments for a lush lawn, this is a great time to do so. We offer several, including organic options.

 

Click here to return to newsletter homepage