Colonial Acres

Dan West's Lawn Care Help

Lawn Care Program for Bermuda & Zoysia Lawns

Jan, Feb - Apply IMAGE® herbicide for control of winter weeds such as wild onions, annual bluegrass, chickweed, henbit and fescue in warm season grasses. Check you pH to see if lime is needed.

Mar 1 - Apply a pre-emerge herbicide such as TEAM®, BARRICADE® or DIMENSION® for control of crabgrass and other spring germinating weeds. If reseeding is in your plan, check label restrictions before applying.

Mar 15 - Apply a broadleaf herbicide containing CARFENTRAZONE® and/or TRIMEC® for control of dandelions, wild onions, chickweed or other broadleaf weeds. Granular formulations are available and should be applied to damp foliage. A second application may be necessary, check label recommendations and restrictions.

Apr 1 - Mow the lawn low, about 1”, to remove last year’s dead foliage. De-thatch if thatch is greater than ½’ deep. Apply a lawn fertilizer like Fertilome Classic Slow Release that has both quick and slow release nitrogen. As grass begins to grow, set your mower height to 1 ½” and raise as summer temperatures increase.

May 1 - Sow Bermuda seed when night time temperatures remain above 60°. Bermuda germinates in 14 to 21 days, during which time you should keep the seed and soil moist. Apply MSMA on established lawns for control of wild grasses such as crabgrass, goosegrass and dallasgrass when daytime temperatures are 85° or higher. If TEAM® or DIMENSION® was applied in March; reapply now for late germinating wild grasses.
Use IMAGE® or BASAGAN® for control of nutsedge and many summer broadleaf weeds.

Jun 1 – Apply a second application of Fertilome Classic Slow Release fertilizer.

Aug 1 – Apply a third application of Fertilome Classic Slow Release fertilizer.

Sept 1 – Apply pre-emerge for winter weed control. This application prevents annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed and other late winter weeds. Apply your second application of the year if you are using BARRICADE® or your third application of the year if you used TEAM® or DIMENSION®.

Oct 1 – Apply Fertilome Winterizer to harden off your grass and protect it from winter damage.

Lawn Care Program for Fescue (Shady) Lawns

Sep 1 – This is the best time of year to establish a fescue or shady area lawn. Proper soil preparation is essential for a good fescue lawn. Till to a depth of 3 – 4 inches and incorporate organic matter into the soil such as leaves, grass clippings, compost or finely ground bark with a non-burning starter fertilizer. We also recommend using Natural Guard Soil Activator when seeding. This supplies important humates and greatly enhances your turf quality. Sow a turf type fescue seed at 10 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. We recommend 5 Star Fescue. Each year, 5 of the top rated fescues are blended together for disease resistance and their shade, drought and traffic tolerance. Fescue germinates in 7 – 10 days and it is imperative that the soil and seed not dry during that time. Keep it muddy. Check your pH. Fescue prefers a pH of 6.5 so apply lime if needed. A 40 lb. bag of pelletized lime should be applied per 1000 sq. ft. to raise the pH ½ point. Re-check your pH 30 days after applying to see if additional lime is needed.

Oct 15 – Apply a slow release lawn fertilizer to new and/or existing fescue. We recommend Fertilome Classic Slow Release. Keep the leaves off fescue by mulching with the mower, bagging or raking.

Mar 1 – Overseed new fescue lawns or thin established lawns at 5 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.
If reseeding is not needed, then apply a pre-emerge herbicide such as TEAM® to prevent summer germinating wild grasses and weeds. Apply Fertilome Classic Slow Release fertilizer.

Mar 15 – Spot treat broadleaf weeds with a broadleaf herbicide containing CARFENTRAZONE® and/or TRIMEC®. Fescue is very tolerant of these herbicides but caution must be used in the root zone of trees. Do not apply these products to newly seeded areas or apply seed into areas recently treated.

Apr 15 – Apply Fertilome Classic Slow Release Fertilizer.

Summer – Fescue growth slows when soil temperatures rise into the 70’s. Mow as infrequently as possible to avoid stimulating growth. Mow as high as possible to leave the most leaf blade for light absorption without allowing the grass to lay over on itself. You should not fertilize during the summer months, however you can apply Ironite to improve the color and a very light dose of Milorganite appears to enhance photosynthetic activity to help fescue tolerate more shade. Water twice a week during periods of heat or drought stress. Fescue should have the equivalent of 2 inches of rain per week.

Helpful Hints for a Beautiful Lawn

Lime - Liming is the most important thing you can do for your lawn. Try to keep your pH at 6.5 to produce a quality turf. Check your pH yearly and if needed add a 40 lb. bag of pelletized lime per 1000 sq. ft. That will raise your pH 1/2 point. After 30 days, check your pH again to see if additional lime is needed.

Watering - Water thoroughly, when you water. Deep watering encourages deep root growth and helps protect the grass during periods of drought.

Pre-emerge herbicides - This is the most effective weed control. After completing a year long program, you will only have to eliminate the perennial weeds. Remember that pre-emerge herbicides prevent seed from germinating, so you cannot sow new lawn seed until after the waiting period that will be listed on the label.

Broadleaf weed killers work best on actively growing weeds. You can enhance your results by mowing your weeds, letting them re-sprout for 3 days and then spraying the tender new growth.

Always read and follow all instructions on herbicides. Many have temperature or time of year restrictions that need to be followed to prevent damage to your lawn or surrounding plants. Use particular caution in and around the root zone of trees and other desirable plants. Spot applications are safer than broadcast applications around trees.

Fertilizer – Avoid agricultural grade fertilizers such as 6-12-12, 13-13-13 or ammonium
nitrate. These products stimulate excessive growth that you cut off when you next mow. This removes too much green tissue, exposes stems and allows the sun to dry the surface. Use controlled release fertilizers for a healthier lawn. For a greener summer lawn, apply Ironite in May and August.

Seeding - September is the best time to seed. You are entering its growing season and have 6 months to establish the grass before the stress of the summer. Temperatures are right to overseed in March, but there isn’t much time before it slows due to the heat.
Turf type fescues like 5 Star have proven to be the most successful cool season grass. You may see other types of grass such as Kentucky bluegrass, Creeping Red Fescue or Perennial Ryegrass, but these have not proven to be dependably hardy in home lawns.

Organic Options - Corn gluten as a pre-emergent, Milorganite in place of Fertilome Classic Slow Release.

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4763 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38117 901-767-6743
12061 Hwy 64 Eads, TN 38028 901-867-2283