Tag Archives: Fertilizer

Putting your yard “to bed” in the fall means less work next spring

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Taking good care of your lawn at the end of the season makes good sense

Our lawns and landscaping have taken a beating this summer. Extended high temperatures and no rain have done us no favors. Landscape designer Jeanne Baker has some tips for you to look ahead to next spring’s renewal.

While it may not be as rewarding up front as planting new spring flowers, getting your lawn and gardens ready for winter will be a real time saver come next year. Here are some tips to help you organize a fall cleanup.

  • Dead-head perennials. Remove spent annuals after the first frost, but resist the urge to prune perennials to the ground as this can invite insects and fungal infections. Always wait until spring when the first new growth appears before cutting perennials back.
  • Dig tender plants such as canna lily, dahlia and annual geraniums right after the first frost. Air dry plants and store in a cool dry location for the winter.
  • Don’t forget to water trees and shrubs, especially evergreens. The general rule is one inch of water per week. So check your rain gauge.
  • Collect soil samples from several locations in your lawn and around your trees. Have both samples tested. If lawn samples indicate a low pH apply lime now. Fertilize trees if soil samples indicate a deficiency.
  • If you are planning on reseeding or over seeding your lawn be sure to do it by mid-October.
  • Cool season grasses benefit from fall applications of fertilizer. Nurserymen recommend three applications during the fall months. Cool season grasses include bluegrass, fescue and rye grass. Warm season grasses include zoysia, buffalo and Bermuda grass.
  • Broadleaf herbicides can be applied now to control cool season weeds.
  • For those who garden organically and shy away from herbicides and petroleum based fertilizers, a lush lawn is attainable. Organic fertilizers are available. Bradfield Organics, a local company, produces organic fertilizers specifically designed for lawns. If you choose an organic use a 3-1-5 fertilizer in the fall.
  • Rake your lawn to help keep it healthy. Your grass can actually be smothered when covered by a deep layer of leaves.

Both you and your landscaping will feel much better next year.

Don’t go to extremes taking care of your lawn during long high heat spells

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This extended heat wave has most of us ragged around the edges, waiting for that dip in temperatures to the mid 70s¬–during the daytime, not at night!

High heat also affects our lawns and gardens, and is of particular concern if you have your home on the market this summer and want to maintain green, fresh curb appeal. The goal for summer lawn maintenance is not to stress your grass, but not just let it be either.

Summer is not the time to fertilize. Forcing grass to grow in extreme heat is counter- productive and will lead to burnout. Your grass shouldn’t be mowed too much either. Grass will lose valuable moisture through the tips and the shorter the grass is, the closer the sun is to the ground, resulting in hard packed soil. Mow your grass sparingly to 2 ½ to three inches.

Hold off on the chemicals too, such as herbicides. They burn your grass as well as the weeds, and really aren’t that effective during periods of intense heat.

Watering should be done in moderation too. A lawn needs about one inch of rain or watering a week early in the morning to allow the moisture to evaporate during the day. A good soaking is better than a few sprinkles; soaking the grass keeps the roots growing down while superficial watering brings the root system up to the soil surface.

Missouri Botanical Garden experts also point out that lawns may turn brown in mid-summer, but that is not necessarily something to worry about. The turf grasses we use in Missouri naturally go dormant in mid-summer with too much heat, as we have now, and little water. Your lawn is still alive and will green up again in the fall. Just think of it as your lawn taking a break. You should still water on a regular basis and do routine maintenance. Look for your results in September.

Just as you don’t want to stress your lawn, don’t stress yourself either. This has been an extraordinary summer, but the grass will be greener in a couple of months.