As spring comes closer , gardeners are anxious to get alfresco . And for many of us , outpouring is the meter to start work on our lawns . There are a few tasks to do in March but do n’t get overly anxious , peculiarly not with plant food . Spring is a gross time to perform a soil test , including disjoined ones for your back and front lawn . This should be done about every 3 years — prior to adding any add-on for the season .
Seeding
leaping isnotthe ideal fourth dimension to institute cool - season grasses such as fescue because in spring , fescue has a minimum amount of time to develop an extensive theme arrangement before the warmth of summertime . However , there are fate that necessitate spring planting , such as new construction or stark patches . Optimize your chances of success by pick out a ejaculate variety that fit your berth , such as shade or sun . Plant when stain temperatures are 55 ° -65 ° F , and till to a four to six in depth in compacted domain . For success , be sure to have good filth preparation and sufficient watering . For a complete give-and-take , go tohttp://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426-718/. Lawn reseeding will be hash out further in the spill newssheet because downfall is the optimal time of the twelvemonth for renovating your lawn .
Weeds
Dr. Shawn Askew , Virginia Tech ’s Extension Turfgrass Weed Specialist , state the absolute BEST Mary Jane control in the lawnISthe lawn . In other parole , if we care our lawn appropriately , the weeds will be reduced . Weeds are often an denotation of problem in the smoke surroundings . If we can determine the underlying problem , we may be more successful . For example , knotweed usually indicates compacted grease . Thus to figure out the problem or at least bring down it , aeration of the lawn is needed .
Classification of Weeds
Lawn weeds can be separate into 2 class — underweight grassessuch as crabgrass and quackgrass , andbroadleaf weedssuch as blowball , trefoil , knotweed and plantain tree . These two classes are further subdivided according to the length of their life . Perennial widow’s weeds have a lifespan of over 2 twelvemonth . yearly weeds shoot from semen , grow , flush , and produce seed in less than 1 class . Summer annual germinate in the give and mature in the fall . Winter annual germinate in the pin or late winter and senesce in the spring . Knowing this , you could see whytimingofmechanical removal and remedy is essential for obliteration .
Cultural practices
The University of Maryland Extension federal agency has suggested the following cultural practice for a salubrious turfgrass .
•Maintain right soil pH – A land test should be taken every 3 years to determine pH. Soil pH should be in the 6.0 to 6.8 chain for optimal turf ontogenesis . Apply lime according to soil test results to achieve the desire pH.
•Fertilize at the proper time – tumble fertilisation is recommended to boost root exploitation . If turf lacks dingy green colour and is faint and thin , a light former - spring practical program of plant food is also beneficial . Fertilizer should not be apply in the summertime when turf is dormant and mayhap under tenseness from hot , dry conditions . Do not bag green goddess clippings . Clippings that disintegrate on the lawn will not induce thatched roof to develop , but will recycle nutrients . Less plant food will need to be apply to your lawn .
•Irrigate only if necessary – Watering lawns is unremarkably prohibited during a draw out drought . Allow established tall fescue lawn to go dormant during hot , dry weather in the summertime . The lawn will recover when rainfall and cooler temperatures return . Only fresh seeded areas and lawns less than two years old should be irrigate .
•Mow at right height – unaired pout weakens turf by removing too much foliage surface . strain to mow oftentimes enough that you take out no more than 1/3 of the blade at one mowing .
•Amend poor soil conditionsby aerating compacted dirt , add constituent matter to short dirt , and correcting drainage on ill - drained sites . Aeration is best done in the fall . Spring is a bedwetter time and disturbing wet soil result in more compaction . Spring aeration opens up the filth for sens seeds to germinate .
•Use the right semen for your site conditions – For sunny sites , plant turf - type tall fescue . In subtlety , plant o.k. Festuca elatior such as chewings fescue , crawl red fescue , or toilsome fescue .
•Buy quality germ – When buying seed , choose cultivar recommended by the Maryland - Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendation Work Group . Virginia and Maryland influence together each spring evaluating which seed is the best for our area.http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/CSES/CSES-17/CSES-17.html . Check the grass come recording label for the percentage of green goddess come . Percentage by free weight ofweed semen should be less than 0.1 % . Higher percentages indicate a poor timber grass cum . Avoid buying seed that contains any portion of noxious Mary Jane such asCirsium arvenseL. ( Canada thistle),Poa annua L.(Annual blue grass ) , orDactyllis glomerata L(Orchardgrass . )
•Overseed to fill in thin or au naturel spots – Overseed in late August through other fall . The next best time is in other spring .
•Remove thatch – Edward Teach prevent water , aura , and nutrients from reaching the soil . Teach buildup tends to be more of a job on Kentucky blue grass and okay fescue lawns . If thatch is present , you will note a brown stratum of non - decomposed organic subject between the dirt and the grass . If this layer is deep than 1⁄2 in , Edward Thatch remotion is recommend . Thatch should be removed in the fall , while the turf is actively raise . Rent a vertical lawn mower or center aerator for this task .
Identification of Mary Jane
I ’ve been asked by many what springtime weeds calculate like . For exposure of common leaping sens go to “ Spring Weeds,”https://extension.umd.edu / hgic / grass / leap - smoke .
Ready the Mower
Lastly , March is a perfect prison term to get your lawn mower ready for summer . Hopefully , it has been put forth with the fuel emptied but if not … .
Insect Control
Most insects ’ life cycle have not yet started in March , as the weather is still relatively irregular , and is often simply too cold for insects to survive . The vast legal age of dirt ball controller labor can wait until a act later , until April and May .
In sum-up :
root :
Gussack , Eva and Rossi , Frank . Turfgrass Problems , Picture Clues and Management Options . Natural Resource , Agriculture and Engineering Services , June 2001 .
“ Spring Postemergent Lawn Weed Control , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication athttp://www.ext.vt.edu/topics/lawn-garden/turfgrass/turfandgardentips/tips/spring-postemergent-Lawn-weed-cont.html(this is a podcast that you could mind to ; you could also read the transcript )
“ Soil Sampling for the Home Gardener,”Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication No . 452 - 129,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/452 - 129/
“ establish Lawns , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication No . 426 - 718,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426 - 718/
“ Preemergent Hericides for Crabgrass Prevention in Lawns , ” PlantTalk , University of Colorado State Cooperative Extension , http://www.ext.colostate.edu / ptlk/1541.html
“ sens control in lawns and other turf,”University of Minnesota Extension , http://www.extension.umn.edu / garden / yard - garden / lawn / weed - control - in - lawns/
“ Spring Weeds , ” University of Maryland Extension , Home and Garden Information Center , https://extension.umd.edu / hgic / weeds / springtime - weeds
“ Control Options : An Environmentally Responsible Approach to Weed Control , ” University of Maryland Extension , https://extension.umd.edu / hgic / lawn / ascendancy - alternative
“ Guide to check Weeds in Cool Season Turf , ” University of Maryland Extension , Home and Garden Information Center , Publication HG 101,http://extension.umd.edu / sites / default / files/_images / programs / hgic / Publications / HG101%20Guide%20to%20Controlling%20Weeds%20in%20Cool%20Season%20Turf.pdf
“ 2014 - 2015 Virginia Turfgrass Variety Recommendations , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension , http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu / CSES / CSES-17 / CSES-17.html
