Right along with fall being the best time to plant trees and shrubs, it is also the best time to renovate your lawn or establish a new one. This is as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4 when you follow these basics.

1. Pick the right time of the year, which you are doing if you are now getting ready to core aerate, slice seed and fertilize your existing lawn or if you are starting from scratch. If you have more weeds than good bluegrass or fescue, you might want to spray the area with Round Up and simply start over. Since Round Up needs time to work, get it on right away so you can begin preparation and seeding by early September. Try to get your seeding completed by mid-September for best results.
2. Ground preparation is the next most important factor. If it is possible to roto-till to a depth of four to six inches, this is ideal. Inadequate rains will make it necessary to irrigate before you start or it becomes very difficult to loosen the soil enough for a satisfactory seed bed. You can begin to see why it is necessary to start early so there is time to get all the steps accomplished to produce a great turf.
3. Choose the best seed; don’t buy cheap. Check the germination % of the seed and the expiration date on the package….fresh seed is a must. There are two choices of seed for sunny areas. Either one of the better blue grasses or a tall fescue. The fescues are more drought resistant and do not require as much fertilizer as do the blue grass types.
4. Be sure you have a ready source of water and a good sprinkler so you can keep the area moist once the seed is planted. After the grass seed is sprouted, it is critical not to let it dry out. A light straw cover will help you maintain consistent moisture.

Now see - it isn’t that difficult, is it? There is more to it, but these are the basics.

The question now is WHY is late summer and fall the best time to try and establish a lawn? There are several reasons: The major problem that is eliminated is weed competition. There just aren’t that many weeds. Most weeds sprout and grow in the spring and summer. The second reason is that the soil temps are warm and the seed will germinate well and quickly. The third reason is the temperatures are typically cooler in the fall which is what the grasses that grow in this area favor. And fourthly, we normally get regular rains that reduce the need to run sprinklers.

Best of the season to you! We’ll all be looking for nice, green yards with lush turf in the future.

MVG - Growing sustainably since 1984