With the warmer weather now in full effect, take a moment to familiarize yourself with these helpful tips to keep your lawn looking its best.
- Check your lawn for diseases and insects. Look for spots of dead grass and check for thatch accumulation.
- Mow your lawn as soon as the grass begins to grow again. Leave grass clippings on your lawn to decompose and add nutrients.
- Treat your lawn with pre-emergent weed killer. Treat it before weeds have a chance to grow.
- Fertilize your lawn using a slow-release fertilizer.
- Test your soil for proper nutrient uptake and balance. Buy a soil test kit or have it tested professionally. Healthy soil is essential to a healthy plant.
- Check shrubs and woody plants for pruning needs.
- Lay down mulch. Mulching is one of the simplest and most beneficial practices you can use in your beds. Mulch helps deter weeds, protects the soil from erosion, reduces compaction from the impact of heavy rains and provides a “finished” look to your lawn.
- Plant your spring garden. Plant early-season vegetables, like root vegetables and leafy greens and herbs, as soon as possible after the last frost.
- All about brown spots. Brown spots in your lawn may not be from a lack of water. It could be suffering from a disease called Brown Patch. True brown patch spots are small to begin with, but in warm weather they can expand rapidly. If you are absolutely sure you have brown patch, the disease can be controlled with fungicides. Several are labeled for brown patch control.
- And don’t forget. The best watering time for your lawn is the early morning, just before the sun comes up. It allows the water time to saturate the ground without the sun evaporating most of it, like it would in the afternoon. Watering in the evening is not a good option because the water just rests on top of the ground without drying out properly which can often lead to fungus growth.
As always, don’t hesitate to contact me at our office if you have any questions at (865) 981-4270.
