| It pays to recycle!
Our 2008 refundable pallet charge is $6.00 per pallet...return H Bar H pallets, get $$ back. |
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"No matter how long the winter,
spring is sure to follow." |
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| It's Winter so my grass is dormant, right?
Winter Tips for your lawn...
 It's easy to forget about your lawn in the winter but there are steps you can take now to improve the quality of your turf. We've listed a few tips that will help you have beautiful green grass this spring.
The importance of watering during the winter months should not be forgotten, especially if the weather is dry. Keep in mind that the soil needs adequate moisture to maintain the root zone and prevent winterkill. Most turfgrass areas will be all or partly dormant and even though you may not see any visible leaf growth, the roots are active and need moisture. It is especially important to have adequate moisture in the root zone before a hard or extended freeze.
Thatch is a build-up of dead plant material between the soil surface and the leaf blade area. If you have thatch that is more than ½" thick, it should be removed. Remove thatch after the lawn has gone dormant, preferably in late winter before the lawn begins to actively grow.
Aeration opens up compacted soils and allows for easier movement of roots, nutrients, water and air. If you have compacted soils or your soil is clay or clay based, you may want to aerate your lawn. Core aeration, which removes plugs or cores of turf from your lawn is most effective. Late winter is the recommended time for this treatment but you can aerate any time the lawn is not actively growing. An application of gypsum after this treatment would be very beneficial to your lawn as well.
Buffalograss and Bermuda grass lawns that are completely dormant (no visible green leaf blades) can be spot treated with an application of Round Up to eliminate any winter weeds. This must be done on a warm and preferably still day. Follow the manufacturer's recommended rates. You can also use Vinegar as an herbicide on dormant Buffalograss or Bermuda grass. The acetic acid gives it herbicidal potential, the higher the percentage the better. Apply vinegar directly onto the weed. |
The Weed Patch
A weed is a plant that is not only in the wrong place, but intends to stay... - Sara Stein
No weed evokes more passion than the lowly dandelion. The name, Dandelion, comes from the French word Dent-de-lioun..."tooth of the lion"... referring to the sharply indented leaves of the plant. Its perky yellow head is a call to arms to those in pursuit of a dandelion free lawn.
You can control Dandelions...
At H Bar H Turf we are not proponents of using herbicides when an alternative exists but killing dandelions is a case where you might consider their use. You can try pulling the weed but if any of the taproot is left behind the dandelion will regenerate. Here are some possible herbicidal solutions:
- Pre-emergents...Early fall is the best time to kill dandelions using a pre-emergent. Pre-emergents are chemicals used to eliminate weeds BEFORE they germinate and become visible. Dacthal and Ronstar are two common pre-emergent products.
- Post-emergents...You can use a post-emergent herbicide after the weeds come up in the spring. Post-emergents are chemicals used to eliminate weeds AFTER germination. Weed-B-Gone is a selective post-emergent herbicide that won't harm your lawn. Remember to always use herbicides according to directions.
Promoting lawn health is the best method of dandelion control. Dandelions become a problem in lawns that are too thin or that are cut too short.
Or, you could just eat them...
Harvesting dandelion greens as a food source is another way to look at the problem. They're high in vitamins A and C, and iron. Avoid harvesting near roads, since road salt and/or toxins may be present. Likewise, you obviously shouldn't harvest from a lawn where herbicides have been used.
Dandelion greens taste like other salad greens such as chicory and escarole. How you go about harvesting and cooking them also plays a role in the taste. You should harvest dandelion greens in early spring, before the flowers appear. That's when they're the most tender and least bitter. |
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Everything you ever wanted to know about turfgrass... but didn't know who to ask!
I used salt on my sidewalks this winter and now I'm worried about my lawn. Is there anything I can do?
Gypsum, when applied to lawns subject to salt, effectively reduces the sodium level of the soil. Sodium ions, which tend to become trapped in soils, are toxic to plants in high concentrations and cause "cementing" of the soil. Gypsum, a traditional soil amendment and a low-cost natural conditioner, counteracts salt damage and helps loosen tight soil. Gypsum also promotes deep root growth, adds vital calcium and sulfur to the soil, and breaks up clay soils.
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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