| Fall Watering Tips |
Fall is here and it's time to start modifying
lawn watering cycles. Lawns require less water in the fall and winter months as the days get shorter and the temperature drops. Over-watering can actually damage landscapes by preventing air from
reaching the roots.
Maintaining proper soil moisture is critical, however. The lawn
may be dormant during winter months, but needs moisture for survival. All turf needs supplemental watering especially if there is no rain or snow.
Watering before a hard freeze is helpful in reducing injury to the grass. It takes much colder air temperatures to lower the temperature of a moist soil than that of a dry soil. A dry freeze can damage, or kill, even established turf.
Autumn is a good time to do maintenance on your sprinkler system. Find and fix any leaks and repair broken sprinkler heads.
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Fall is the time to fertilize Bluegrass and Fescue. Three (3) applications (September, October, November) are perfect for a healthy lawn and good spring green up. Fertilize using a balanced product.
Do not fertilize Bermuda and Buffalograss in the Fall.
Time to apply:
(to all turf varieties)
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Pre-emergents
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Gypsum & Compost
Apply a Pre-emergent herbicide for dandelion and winter weed control.
Apply Gypsum and Compost when your grass no longer needs mowing.
An annual Fall application of gypsum will help your lawn stay healthy by lowering the pH, and making nutrients readily available. Gypsum can be broadcast spread and watered in at a rate of 50 lbs/1000 square feet.
Compost, like gypsum, is beneficial to your turfgrass, both warm and cool season varieties. Compost can be broadcast spread and watered in at a rate of 100 lbs/1000 square feet. |
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"Autumn is a second spring
where every leaf is a flower."
... Albert Camus
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Install in the Fall!
Best time to install cool season grass...
Did you know fall is the best time to install cool season grasses such as Frontier Fescue and Triple Crown Bluegrass? Turfgrass installed in the fall requires less water than turf installed in the spring or summer. Install turfgrass now and enjoy a beautiful green lawn next spring!
5 steps to prepare your soil...
The success of your lawn depends upon proper soil preparation. Provide a base in which grass roots can vigorously establish and grow.
- Remove rocks or other debris, control weeds and establish a rough grade. Take a soil sample if time permits.
- Install sprinklers - automatic sprinklers save time and water.
- Add 1-3 inches of compost or peat moss if possible. This reduces compaction and improves water and nutrient retention. Apply amendments such as high phosphorous fertilizer to stimulate root development.
- Apply gypsum at a rate of 50 lbs per 1000 square feet to help with PH levels and allow nutrients to be more available to your grass.
- Rototill to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Rake and smooth soil. Keep finished grade 1" below sidewalks or sprinkler heads. Before you begin to install your turfgrass make sure the grade is cool and slightly damp.
5 steps to install your turfgrass...
- Begin installing turf along the longest straight line. Push edges and ends tightly against each other without stretching. Stagger joints in each row, in a brick like pattern. Avoid gaps and overlapping. Turf may be cut with a knife to conform to curved boundaries.
- Never let installed turf lay for more than 30 minutes without watering. If you have a large area to install, water installed areas as you continue to lay turfgrass.
- After installation, water thoroughly to a depth of 6 inches. The turf needs to bond with the soil. After the initial watering you may need to roll your lawn to eliminate any air pockets and insure good soil contact.
- Water your new lawn daily applying enough moisture to soak through the turf and keep the soil below it wet to a minimum depth of 2 inches. Water several times each day if wind and heat conditions are extreme. When it becomes difficult to pick up a piece of turf (2 - 3 weeks) reduce watering frequency but soak your soil more thoroughly to encourage deep rooting.
- If you did not incorporate a high phosphorous starter fertilizer before installation, do so now. For cool season turfgrass, apply a balanced fertilizer at one month intervals during the months of September, October, and November.
For more information about the care and maintenance of your turfgrass be sure to visit our website www.hbarhturf.com. | |
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Everything you ever wanted to know about turfgrass... but didn't know who to ask!
I have dead patches in my lawn. What's going on?
 Did you notice several of the coppered colored June bugs this summer? If so, you could be dealing with grubs. Grubs cause irregular shaped patches of dead or dying grass. With a serious infestation, the turf can be lifted up from the soil and rolled back like a carpet. Lawns that are heavily damaged by grubs will have a yellowish tinge and will feel spongy when walked on. It is normal for all lawns to have some grubs present and small populations do not cause problems in a healthy lawn. If the grub damage is not too severe, the grass will recover with normal watering and fertilizing. An Exposed Grub
 Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, and chafers. These grubs are C-shaped, off-white in color with a dark head. They eat the roots of grass, causing irregularly shaped patches of wilted, dead or dying grass. They are most active in April and May, and again in August to mid-October.
We recommend Nematodes as an organic solution to control grubs and other destructive insects. Beneficial Nematodes, applied to your lawn in the fall, will safely and effectively control grubs. Nematodes are microscopic, non-segmented roundworms that occur naturally in soil throughout the world. Nematodes are available from Arbico Organics. For more information visit them online at www.arbico-organics.com or call them toll free at 800-827-2847. Nematodes will not harm earthworms, a major benefit to this type of grub control, and will only destroy nuisance or damaging insects such as grubs, fire ants, and flea larvae. Have a turfgrass question? Click here to email us...if we use your question in our newsletter we'll send you a gift! | |
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For more information about turfgrass be sure to visit our website HBarHTurf.com.
H Bar H Turf Farms
806.622.0861
877.424.8873 | |
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