May 2010 Lawn care

Rocky Mountain Lawn Care Schedule

Over the years on radio and television, I’m often asked for a lawn maintenance schedule to ensure a healthy and beautiful lawn in our region. With a busy schedule, here’s an easy way to remember when to fertilize. Just make a note to follow the holidays. This schedule keeps you on track with the variability in our climate fluctuations.

”Gardening with an Altitude Radio” Lawn Care Schedule: 

May Day: First application of fertilizer; 
Flag Day: Second application; 
July 4th: Third application;
Labor Day: Fourth application;
Halloween: The last and most important feeding of the season.

Control Weeds on Warm Season Lawns 

Weed control is another important part of lawn care. Now is the time to control the emerging broadleaf lawn weeds such as bindweed. If you have a lawn of warm-season buffalo grass that's still dormant, control any invading cool season weedy grasses and broadleaf weeds by spraying with a non-selective herbicide. Since the buffalo grass has not started to green up yet, the spray will not harm the grass but effectively rid the lawn of invading weeds.

Control Weeds on Cool-Season Lawns 

If you see broadleaf weeds popping up in your cool season lawns such as bluegrass, fescue, and perennial ryegrass, apply a selective weed control product that will not harm the lawn grasses. As always, read and follow label directions when applying weed killers. Please, don't spray on a windy day as the drift will definitely harm nearby flowers and shrubs.

Control Crabgrass

If crabgrass was a problem last year, you'll want to apply a pre-emergence herbicide that will stop the overwintering weed seeds from growing this spring. Don't waste your money on fertilizers that contain pre-emergence weed controls as the ones I’ve tried don't have enough herbicide to last through the growing season. Instead, use a separate product and invest in a quality lawn fertilizer. Perhaps give corn gluten meal a try; it’s an organic alternative to weed prevention. 

Lawn Fertilizers

Like the story of the tortoise and the hare, encourage your lawn to grow slowly and steadily. Rather than using a quick-release fertilizer that's gone in a week, apply a controlled- release formulation that is specific to our region. These will provide nutrients to the lawn gradually over a longer period throughout the growing seasons.

Let the Lawn Breathe

If you plan to core-aerate your lawn do so before you apply pre-emergence weed controls. Otherwise, aerating after a pre-emergence has been applied will break the weed control barrier and some of the weed seeds may successfully germinate.