Preseason pro football and deer hunting season have arrived. Fall is coming! The light hours are getting shorter, so hopefully, we are going to cool off a bit. The fall / winter transition is upon us.
Winter annual weeds are going to begin to germinate. Control them with a preemergent herbicide now in your turf and beds before it is too late. Annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed, Carolina geranium and other winter annual weeds do not have to be part of your spring landscape.
Any nitrogen containing fertilizers for your lawn, trees, and shrubs should be applied now. Look for a fertilizer that is at least 50% slow release for better utilization by the plants (grass, trees, or shrubs). If your turf is diseased (gray leaf spot, large patch), lay off the fertilizer until you control the disease. 17-00-09 would be great for your acid-loving plants right now.
Army worms and sod web worms are munching on grass throughout the Lowcountry. These worms can damage an area very quickly. If you are going out of town or just do not spend much time in your yard, it is a very good idea to treat these guys preventively.
EcoEXEMPT G, EcoPCO WP X, and Bt containing products are good organic options. Tirade, Bug Blaster, and Sevin granular will also do a good job controlling these worms.
If your lawn is getting thick with thatch, reducing the thatch will be easiest if done before the grass goes dormant. Aerating before your August preemergent application should work good for you. Applying Bio Grounds Keeper will provide microorganisms that will eat thatch. Topdressing with Cotton Burr Compost while the grass is actively growing, will help reduce the thatch. SeaHume G is another product that helps control thatch. Controlling thatch is very important in lowering damage caused by winter kill, disease, and insects.
With the rain and super high tides we have had, the mosquitoes are out in full force. My fig tree is in a bed that had so many mosquitoes that in years past I did not even pick my figs. This year I used this organic product called Mosquito Repelling Granulars, and I got my share of figs, of course the birds and squirrels got some. I had used this product in the past with great results around my grill and fire pit and heard many success stories from customers that had used it camping, for parties, and even for funerals; however, until this year, I never thought about putting it around the fig tree.
Ryegrass? Fleas?
Always read, understand and follow product label. The product label is a Federal Law.
