| Winterizing Grass |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-103 |
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Q: I've given up on my lawn for this year, but would like to do some things now to help me get a better, greener lawn next year. Jessie, what's the secret? A: (Jesse Mack Burns, Ask DIY Gardening expert) Autumn is a great time to get your lawn ready for the spring, because in the cooler climates you're going to help your lawn grow -- particularly if you use a cool season grass seed, such as Kentucky Fescue (figure A), which grows best in cool weather. Here are some other ways to prepare your lawn in the fall for the next season. Materials: Fertilizer and grass seed spreader
Cool season grass seed, such as Kentucky fescue
Aerator
Rake
Hose
- Apply fertilizer with a spreader, available at home stores. A walk-behind or motorized spreader is more accurate than a hand-held version. As you move the machine back and forth over the grass, you grip the handle like a trigger and it releases pellets when you "shoot."
Nobody's Perfect: Follow the instructions on the fertilizer package. Apply only the recommended amount of fertilizer to your lawn. This is not a case of "If a little is good, even more is better" -- too much fertilizer can burn your grass. - Provide some extra air for grass roots by aerating your lawn -- taking out spikes of soil across your lawn to make holes for planting seed. Aerating is low-cost maintenance and even if it's the only thing you do for your yard, you should see improvement. There are motorized aerators you can rent, or manual versions that work like pogo sticks, pushing out two plugs of soil at a time (figure B). The pogo-stick versions are good exercise, but beware: the motorized versions can require substantial upper body strength to use.
- Purchase grass seed that says "cool season" or "cool weather" on the package, such as most fescues. Scatter it over the lawn with the same spreader you used for the fertilizer, or use a hand-held spreader for less fuss (figure C). Try to get the seed evenly distributed so you won't have clumps of grass later.
- Drag a rake over the lawn to break up soil clumps and cover the seeds a bit.
- Water the lawn with the garden hose, using a nice gentle spray like rain(figure D). After that, keep the soil moist but don't overwater it or let it dry out. You may have to mow your lawn a few more times before the cold weather sets in, and you can also fertilize another time in a few weeks to help the grass grow. During the cooler months, you should see a lot of growth as a result of your labors.
Web Extra: Q & A Q: Will taking these steps get rid of brown spots in my lawn? A: Maybe. If it doesn't, you may have a problem with insects or other pests in your yard. Consult a local garden center for advice if this is happening in your yard. Or, just spray paint the grass green! Q: Do you use the same process for warm season grasses? A: Yes. The only difference is the type of seed -- for the warm season you want warm season grass seed. You may also need to water your lawn more often if you seed in the warmer months.
Web Site Resources for Winterizing Grass: Winterizing your Yard from Today's Homeowner Protecting Perennials from Today's Home Owner Winterizing Fertilizers from The Old House Winterizing the Garden Easy Fall Lawn Care from Lowes Winterizing Your Landscape Tip Sheets Winterizing Chores Book: Lawn Care for DummiesBy Lance Walheim & editors of National Gardening Association
IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.
919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Suite 400
Customer Service Phone: 800-762-2974
Web site: www.oxmoorhouse.com/
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