Lawn care now
Amy Jordan, Special to the Gazette
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Whether you are striving for a lawn that is the envy of the neighborhood, or simply a lawn that is healthy with few weeds, these simple chores will help to get you there.
Cool-season turfgrass plants like tall fescue are still using sunlight to make food energy (photosynthesis). Because there is little demand for growth, any food produced is moved to roots and crowns where it can be stored for the winter to sustain plant metabolic activity. It will also provide an immediate and plentiful food source when plants begin to grow in spring, so turfgrasses thrive through March and April without any extra nitrogen.
Early spring nitrogen fertilization can promote excessive shoot growth and weaken the plant going into summer. November-applied nitrogen can help with winter hardiness, root growth, and shoot density, leading to a great start next spring.
There are many formulations of lawn fertilizer available and it is often difficult to decide which one is best, when in fact they are probably very similar.
“Winterizer” products typically have a higher percentage of potassium (third number on the bag) than other lawn fertilizers. Potassium is an element associated with stress tolerance. Most Kansas soils contain sufficient levels of potassium, so additional applications of this element are not usually necessary.
Nitrogen (the first number on the bag) is the element most needed by turfgrass. An important consideration when choosing fertilizers is the availability of the nitrogen source. At this time of year a quick release form of nitrogen is important so that the turfgrass plants can metabolize the fertilizer before they go dormant. Read the label on the bag of fertilizer to determine how much of the nitrogen source is released quickly or slowly.
Winter-annual weeds, such as henbit and chickweed, are usually most noticeable in spring when they are fully mature. Winter-annual means they germinate in the fall (usually October through early November), live throughout the winter and spring, then complete their lifecycle in late spring as the weather warms. It is difficult to control them in spring, but they are easily controlled this time of the year with a broadleaf weedkiller. If these weeds are growing in a flower bed, they can be lightly cultivated for control.
Dandelions may have sent out a flush of new plants in September. These weeds are storing food reserves for growth next year. Because they are translocating food reserves to the roots, herbicides are very effective by also going directly to the roots. Fall application of herbicide to dandelions is typically much more successful than spring applications for this reason. In the spring, energy is spent on top growth instead of root growth.
Carfentrazone is a herbicide that is used in combination with other broadleaf weedkillers such as 2, 4-D, MCPP and Dicamba. It is a good choice for application when temperatures are below 50 degrees. Carfentrazone is found in products such as Weed Free Zone and Speed Zone. With all broadleaf herbicides, use caution where seedling grass is present.
Effort spent now improving the condition of your lawn will pay off with fewer weed problems, earlier green-up and thicker growth next spring.
F Amy Jordan is a horticulturist with K-State Research and Extension in Lyon County.