Lawn Care for Late Winter and Early Spring
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for spring lawn treatment.
AERATE, AERATE, AERATE. This is one of the most important steps to a healthy lawn. Aeration permits oxygen, nutrients and water to enter the soil, which speeds up the microbial activity that breaks down food. Earthworms and ants will aerate the soil, or you can use mechanical aeration that actually punches holes into the ground to help the conditioning process. Medina Plus is an excellent liquid product that will loosen the compacted soil and also add trace minerals.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION. Use a slow release Garden-Ville fertilizer such as
Soil Food 5-3-2 in late winter. Apply Sports Turf Plus, Lawn Dressing or Alamo Gro Compost at ½” as a soil amendment. The grass will store nutrients over the winter, thus making them available in the spring. In spring apply Soil Food 7-2-2 for a quick green up. For a complete mineral feed spread Volcanite and Texas Greensand at the rate of 10 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
BALANCE YOUR SOIL. Take a soil sample and do a pH test. Test kits can be picked up at your local nursery or send your own sample to Texas Plant and Soil Lab in Edinburg, Tx 78539, 956-383-0739. The more natural fertilizers you use, the more balanced your soil will become.
PROPER WATERING. Water your lawn until it begins to run off or until you have applied ¾ to 1 inch. Repeat the process in 5-7 days. Morning is the best time to water. Avoid night watering as this encourages mold and disease. Remember that thorough watering promotes deep root systems and more drought tolerant turf. Add seed to bare spots if needed.
REMOVE WEEDS BY HAND. Cut your grass often during the growing season and always mow down weeds before they produce seed!! When hand pulling weeds, remove the entire root. For easier removal use a dandelion fork, or wait until after it rains. Remember that weeds will be choked out by healthy grass. Weeds only grow where the soil health is poor. For weeds that are already are up, spot spray with Natural Weed Control. This organic herbicide includes 20% Vinegar and Orange Oil. It kills weeds and grasses in cool or warm weather.
USE CORN GLUTEN MEAL. Corn gluten meal is a great, natural pre-emergent weed killer. Remember that corn gluten meal is effective only prior to seed germination and will do nothing to kill weeds that already exist. Apply 10-20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft., fall and spring. It’s a mild fertilizer as well.
