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What does it take to have
a green lawn?
One of the most popular questions that we are asked is "How do I make
my lawn look better?" The conversation that ensues is often
very long winded and hard to remember. However, improving your
lawn's health is very straight forward. Listed below is an outline
that can be followed to greatly improve the look of your lawn.
However, please remember: 1:
You must be committed to an annual lawn routine. If you just follow
this outline for one year, or pick and choose certain items, the results
will not be rewarding. 2:
There are many brands of products to choose from. The saying
"you get what you paid for" holds true with this issue.
Just buy a high quality product and apply it at the maximum recommended
application rate listed on that product's directions.
(Click below to expand)
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February/March
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April/May
Aerate (optional)
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Allows air and water to penetrate
our clay soils.
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Will not improve the
health of grass on it's own, but allows nutrients to penetrate
the surface more effectively
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Core aerate, not
spike. Core aerators will pull a plug of soil out of the
ground. Spike aerators just compact the soil by forcing a spike
into the ground
Apply broadleaf
control
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Effective on
weeds with broad leafs (not on wire grass or nut sedge)
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Must be applied
when weeds are present. It may not be applied before weeds
are seen.
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May take two
applications throughout the season as needed
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July/August
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September/October
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Aerate
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Allows air and water to penetrate
our clay soils.
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Will not improve the
health of grass on it's own, but allows nutrients to penetrate
the surface more effectively
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Core aerate, not
spike. Core aerators will pull a plug of soil out of the
ground. Spike aerators just compact the soil by forcing a spike
into the ground
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Apply lime
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One of the least
expensive, most beneficial applications available for lawns in
our area
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Lime increases
the pH of our acidic clay soils
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Allows grass to
utilize available nutrients more efficiently
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Aim for about
650lbs per acre, but a soil sample will give more specifics
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Apply fertilizer
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Applying fertilizer in the
fall will increase root growth and sustain it's health through
the winter
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Apply a
fertilizer with a higher Potash ratio (the second number in the
composition) We like 25-10-10
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Look for a
fertilizer with slow release nitrogen. Less
expensive fertilizer is water soluble and will burn your lawn
and will not be effective later in the year
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Apply seed
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Seeding in the fall will
increase competition so that the grass will "choke"
weeds out the following year
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High quality,
tall fescue
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Look at seed analysis
and make sure there is low (or none) rye and weed content
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Seed every fall,
even if your lawn looks good
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On well
established lawns, apply at half the recommended application
rate for new lawns
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Insects
and Diseases
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Insect and disease
problems are very sporadic. It is impossible to list a
schedule which can be followed to treat these problems.
Instead, insects and diseases are treated as they are
diagnosed. To find out more information on insect and disease
problems in your lawn, please click
here.
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Irrigation
* For best results, contact
the Virginia Cooperative Extension for information on soil tests. The
results from these test will tell you exactly how much, and what kind of
nutrients to apply to your lawn. For more information,
click
here.
Follow
the links above for more information.
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