Spring Landscape Tips

From the Fairwood Community Association

Fertilize & Control Weeds: Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost and mulching mowers. But for those who prefer chemical fertilizers, Scotts provides one example of a lawn fertilizing schedule. In April or May, apply a fertilizer called “Scotts Turf Builder With Halts Crabgrass Preventer.” Fertilizing lawns goes hand in hand with weed control. In June, apply “Scotts Turf Builder With PLUS 2 Weed Control.” This fertilizer fills the need for additional weed control, as the herbicide component fights everything from ground ivy to purslane to white clover. In July or August, apply “Scotts Super Turf Builder with SummerGuard.” This fertilizer is billed by Scotts as a product that “strengthens and summer-proofs" your grass while "combating a spectrum of harsh seasonal threats like insects, heat and drought.” Finally, Scotts winterizing fertilizer should be applied in fall. Fertilizing lawns with this product will not only prepare grass for winter, but also give you a head start towards achieving a beautiful lawn next spring. 

Mow regularly: To improve the appearance of your lawn, mow when your grass is dry and 3 to 3-1/2 inches tall. Never cut it shorter than 2 inches. This will allow your lawn to have a larger and deeper root system—a stronger defense against weeds, diseases and drought.

Mulch lawn clippings, i.e. leave them behind on the lawn: The recycled nutrients could save about 20 percent of your annual fertilizer costs. A ton of fresh grass clippings contains about 15 pounds of nitrogen, 2 pounds of phosphorous and 10 pounds of potassium—major sources of nutrients for your lawn. Clippings also increase the organic content of the soil and earthworm activity, and improve soil aeration and water movement through the soil. And, clippings have a high moisture content, which helps provide additional water to your lawn.

Overseed: The best time to overseed lawns is in the fall, when the new grass won't have to compete with crabgrass, which is killed off by autumn frosts. However, if your lawn is riddled with bare patches due to dog spots, heavy traffic or neglect, you may need to apply grass seed to fill in those bare patches. If you must overseed, first treat the lawn for weeds, and wait two weeks before planting seeds. Aerate the turf with a core aerator, and then use a Turf Type Tall Fescue seed and broadcast over the site. Drag or rake the site to incorporate the seed into the soil. Apply a higher phosphorus-based fertilizer to encourage seed germination, and then five weeks after the grass germinates, apply a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer. Water the new seeds briefly but daily for two weeks or until the seeds germinate. Dry seeds are dead seeds. Be careful not to mow too early, it will cause damage to the seedlings.

Water: Water several times a week during drought periods in the early morning or evening, not in the heat of midday.

Eliminate mulch “volcanoes” around trees: A tall mulch mound at a tree’s base retains moisture too high. This results in the development of shallow root systems, not the deep root systems that will help trees survive drought and thrive.

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