Lawns - May 2008

Please Note: All recommendations are for central Maryland.  Time frames shift two weeks earlier in Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore and two weeks later for Western Maryland.  Check publications for further information.

Culture

The best time to re-seed your lawn is late August through October.  However, you can repair small bare spots now.  Remove dead grass; loosen up the top 1 -2 inches of soil.  Sprinkle the seed over the area, being careful not to seed too heavily.  It is not necessary to cover the seed with soil.  Tamp the area down with the back of a steel rake.  Straw mulch can be lightly applied.  Water with fine mist spray.  Keep these areas moist at all times until the seed germinates; this may mean twice a day watering. 

Cut cool season grasses, like tall fescue and bluegrass, at a height of 2 ½-3 ½  inches.   Mow zoysia grass and Bermuda grass to a height of ¾ inch to 1 ½ inches and fertilize them in July, not in the fall.  During periods of rapid growth in the spring you may need to mow your lawn twice each week.  Try not to remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade at each mowing.  Dry white colored grass blade tips are an indication that the blade is dull.  Dull blades tear turfgrass and can lead to disease problems.  Keep your blade sharp and leave the grass clippings where they lay.  Grasscycling eliminates bagging labor and costs, adds organic matter and nitrogen to your soil and does not contribute to thatch build-up.

It is not a good idea to fertilize cool season turf in the spring unless your turf is weak and thin or if you did not fertilize this past fall.    Apply no more than one half pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet in the spring.  Fertilizing in the spring encourages rapid succulent growth that is more susceptible to attack by insects and disease.  This is a good time to have your soil tested.  Keeping the soil pH in the 5.8 - 7.0 range is very important in maintaining healthy turf.  Agricultural limestone can be applied to raise soil pH.  Pelletized lime is slightly more expensive than ground limestone but is easier to apply.  Amount and application rate of lime will be indicated by the soil test results.

Ground ivy, clover, dandelion and other broadleaf weeds are growing at this time.  They can be controlled now with an application of a broadleaf herbicide.  However, fall herbicide applications often produce better control, especially for difficult to control weeds like wild garlic.  Read herbicide labels carefully.  Make sure product is labeled to control target weeds.  Apply according to rates on label.

Small patches of crabgrass can be controlled during the growing season by pulling it out by hand or applying a post-emergent herbicide as a spot treatment. 

Pick up and discard dog droppings from turf areas.  The droppings will burn grass plants if left for an extended period of time.

Mushrooms are an eyesore but do not damage the lawn.  You may also see slime molds develop on lawns and mulches.  These can be knocked or kicked apart to help dry them out.  They will disappear with a return to dry conditions.

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