Consider these tips when making lawncare purchases
Published 8:00 am Wednesday, September 23, 2009
What should the months of September and March mean to a homeowner concerning lawn care? Before you decide to make a purchase, the following are a few things for you to consider.
Which product is advisable to apply and to which lawngrasses? Have you taken a soil sample for a NPK analysis lately? Should I apply a “Weed and Feed” product which contains fertilizer to my lawn or may it be potentially detrimental? Which type of grass is in your lawn? Does your variety of lawn grass actually require fertilizing during the winter months? Applying fertilizer to grasses that are dormant isn’t cost effective and only promotes the growth of winter weeds!
To identify your type of turf grass click on: www.walterreeves.com. Unless you have a total fescue lawn, a pre-emergent to control the growth of winter weeds which does not contain fertilizer is acceptable. However, for those who do not have a fescue lawn, most experts agree: Applying “Weed and Feed” products are NOT conducive to healthy lawns or our environment and are not recommended for warm season grasses such as Centipede, St. Augustine or Bermuda after Sept. 1 or before the lawn is at 75 percent green up in the Spring when the ground temperature reaches 65 degrees, which usually doesn’t occur until late May in USDA Hardiness Zone 7.
For more information, contact your local County Extension Office by calling 1-800-ASK-UGA1, 1-800-275-8421.