KATHY'S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – SUMMER LAWN CARE
With a few
simple hints you can have a green and lush lawn all summer long.
These tips are for mainly in the Chicago and Midwest. Check local
Garden Centers for Warmer Climate lawns.
Proper
Watering—this is one of the most important things for your lawn
health. Watering too frequently causes short grass roots and
encourages crab
and quack
grass. These weeds naturally
have roots that grow barely under the soil surface. Deep watering
once a week will deprive weeds of the constant moisture they thrive
on. Lawns need about an inch of water a week. Supplement rainfall
with long deep watering using a pulsator
sprinkler. These are the
ones that are attached to a spike that you sink in the ground. The
best types are made of metal. They also can be set to do narrow to
wide areas and also can go long and short. Set out a can, when water
reaches an inch you are done.
Fertilize—it’s
usually only necessary to fertilize four times a year. Spring time is
pre-emergent time. This fertilizer prevents crabgrass from starting.
There are many brands, but all will say “crabgrass” or
“pre-emergent”. This must be applied before forsythia
bushes bloom. This is
usually around mid April. Also make sure you do all your cleanup and
de-thatching
first. Once you put this down it cannot be disturbed. Grass seeding
should be done in the early fall; pre-emergent prevents grass from
growing too. After that do a regular feed every six weeks until
September. It you have a lot of dandelions use a weed and feed
fertilizer. If not, just use all purpose lawn fertilizer and spot
kill any dandelions.
September is also when we seed, that is if temps are generally
cooler. Winterize fertilizer is last near the end of October, weather
permitting.
Grass needs
frequent cuttings! Never cut off more than a third of the length.
Grass should be kept around three inches high. This discourages weed
growth and keeps moisture in. When you cut grass too short it does
not grow long roots, watering too often also discourages root
development.
Follow these
steps for a lawn that will be the envy of the block.
KATHLEEN
WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
