lawn - Knowledgebase Question

houston, Te
Avatar for shabbirkara
Question by shabbirkara
February 20, 2009
1)Best time for fertilizer,2)and how often water it, 3days a week or once a week,3) what kind of fertilizer i should be used if I have weeds.4) what should be done for dry spots.


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Answer from NGA
February 20, 2009
Here's a general maintenance calendar for your lawn:

January/February; Prune trees if shade is a problem.

February 1; Pre-emergent weed preventer for grassy weeds; fungicide for Brown Patch prevention (not often required).

February/March; Post-emergent weed killer for broadleaf weeds (apply when daytime temperature is above 70 degrees).

April 1; Sharpen lawn mower blade, mow lawn short (1 and 1/2 to 2 inches) the first time ONLY, and ONLY while the lawn is dormant before spring greenup; catch clippings; apply second application of pre-emergent weed preventer.

April 15; Fertilize with fast release 15-5-10 fertilizer (1 pound N per 1000 sq. ft.) after second mowing (if lawn is very shady, decrease fertilizer amount by one half; or wait until fall to fertilize); mow at 5 to 7 day intervals at a height of 3? (use a mulching blade, and drop clippings); begin watering 1 inch per week, April through June.

May 15; Fertilize with slow release 2 1-7-14 fertilizer (2 pounds N per 1000 sq. ft.)

May/June/July; Sod or plug St. Augustine grass; water daily for first week, then twice weekly.

May/June/July; De-thatch and core-aerate if required, while grass is actively growing; apply 1/4? of compost.

June/July/Aug./ Sept.; Monitor for Chinch Bugs.

June/July/August
Monitor for Grub Worms and treat while still in the larval stage (usually in July and August); water no more than twice weekly (1? with each application)

Sept. 15-Oct. 1; Pre-emergent weed preventer for broad leaf weeds; decrease watering to 1 inch per week throughout the fall; monitor for sod web worms.

October 1; Apply fungicide for Brown Patch control when first cold front passes through (may be as early as August).

October 15; Over-seed in sunny areas with Ryegrass, Tall Fescue seed in shady areas only.

November 1; Apply a ?winterizer? fertilizer (a fast-release nitrogen can also be appropriate at this time); apply second application of fungicide for Brown Patch control; fertilize shady lawns if they have not been fertilized this year.

December 1; Second application of pre-emergent weed preventer.

December-January; Use post-emergent weed killer on actively growing broadleaf winter weeds before they begin to flower; do not apply any weed killer to the lawn at the time it begins to green up in the spring.

December-March; Water every 2 weeks if there is no rainfall (usually not required).

Best wishes with your lawn!

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