Gardening Q&As –
From the Horticulture Desk at
Cornell Cooperative Extension, Warren County
Question: What can I do this fall to get my lawn off to a good start next spring?
Answer: Good question, and asked at a good time of year! There
are many things you can do in the fall in the Northeast that will help your
lawn get off to a good start next spring. The aim is to create a healthy lawn
with good strong roots and robust grass growth.
In early September, the first step is to identify any problem areas. The next step is to find out the pH of your soil. One general area soil sample (which can be a combined sample from two or three locations) plus one or two samples from any problem areas can be brought into your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for pH testing.
To get a good soil sample, dig down under the turf about 4 inches and put 1/2 to 2/3 cup of soil from each area into a separate small plastic zip-lock sandwich bag. Try to get just the soil with no grass or roots. Label the bag with your name and phone number and be sure to label the sample with the name of the sampled area, such as, ‘front yard,’ or ‘shady area,’ etc. If the soil is wet, air dry it naturally by leaving the plastic bag open for a few days then closing it and bringing it in. The ideal pH for lawns is around 6.5 to 7.0, however a range from 6.0 to slightly above 7.5 is also acceptable.
The end of August to early September is a good time to establish or renovate cool-season grass lawns in most of New York. For any problem areas of your lawn, you can give a good raking to the area and reseed bare or weed-infested spots. For small areas, you can mix 1 part seed with 3 parts of soil in a container and evenly spread the mix over the area to be reseeded. The ideal amount of seed is 15 to 20 seeds per square inch.
Rake the seed and soil lightly so that the seed is lightly covered by the soil. Pat down or use a roller to get the seed in good contact with the soil. Lay down a cover over the seeded area such as, weed-free straw or marsh hay to conserve moisture and help prevent erosion. Keep seeded areas moist at all times until the seeds emerge. Gradually reduce watering after emergence to encourage deeper rooting.
About 2 to 3 weeks after emergence, apply about 1 lb. N (Nitrogen)/1000 square feet (this is an area of approximately 30 x 30 feet). Mow the grass once the grass has grown to at least 3 inches. The mowing encourages lateral shoot development, increases stand density and helps the turf out compete weeds.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure your mower blade is sharp. Dull blades will tear young seedlings from the soil.
The cool-season lawn grasses include, Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue. For more information about these grasses, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 518-623-3291.
TURF PESTS
Regarding turf pest problems, the best way to minimize damage is to keep turf
healthy through proper mowing, watering and fertilizing.
If you have a grub problem, and you have
more than 10 grubs per square foot under your lawn, and you choose to use a
pesticide, it is important that you use the pesticide when the particular pest
is most vulnerable. For grubs, the best time to treat is late summer to early
fall. Because grubs feed below ground, insecticides need to be watered into
the soil.
TURF DISEASES
Preventing disease problems is your best option since once the symptoms are
visible chemical rescue treatments are not recommended for home lawns. Over-fertilizing
can also stress lawns and leave them vulnerable to disease. The best way to
prevent turf diseases is to maintain a healthy lawn.
WEED CONTROL
The best strategy to prevent invasions of weeds is to maintain a healthy lawn.
This way, the healthy grasses can out-compete the weeds.
TIPS:
- Test your soil for pH and nutrient levels (such as Nitrogen-Phosphate-Potassium
(N-P-K)) in the fall.
- For an average home lawn, one application of fertilizer is usually sufficient
for good lawn care and it should be applied in the fall.
- Reseed bare or problem spots in the fall.
- If you have more than 10 grubs per square foot under your turf, and you choose
to use a pesticide, the best time to apply the pesticide (watered into the soil)
is in the fall.
SMART LAWN CARE:
- Keep your mower blades sharp.
- Set your lawn mower to the highest setting for grass cutting.
- Return the grass clippings to your lawn.
- Water in the morning.
Sources: Department of Horticulture, Cornell University; The New York State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program.