Today’s article is not as much of a “to do list” as a have
you done it list.
Aerating the lawn and landscape is always a good cultural
practice, especially after all the rain and saturated soils we have had. Aerating
does several good things for your lawn, shrubs, and trees. Try to use an
aerator that pulls up a plug with a hollow tine instead of a spike type aerator
that is just a solid tine going into the ground. By removing cores of soil from
your lawn and laying them on top of the ground, all kinds of good things happen
(microorganisms). This cultural practice is one of the best for your landscape
as a whole. If you can aerate in beds and under trees, that will benefit plants
as well.
Aerating reduces compaction, reduces thatch, increases
oxygen movement to the roots, brings beneficial microorganisms to the surface
(some microorganisms decompose thatch which helps with many other situations),
cuts runners in turf, and allows better penetration of water, fertilizers, or
control products into the soil.
You can aerate anytime the grass is actively growing. On our
programs, I usually recommend in April before your second application of
preemergent, just in case any weed seeds are surfaced and try to germinate.
When you aerate, be sure to mark all your irrigation heads,
propane lines, cable lines, night lighting lines and any other wire or pipe you
might have running through your lawn, so you do not accidentally add to you
work load.
If you have been waiting for the weather to warm up, here is
a brief checklist of things that should have been completed around the yard:
- Test soil. All the rain leached out very valuable nutrients out of the soil. There are many properties I have taken soil test on every year for over 20 years. In every case, there are certain nutrients that all the rain has leached out of the soil. From the soil test taken December of 2014 to the soil test taken December of 2015 there are many obvious decreases in nutrients. I was looking at soil tests a few years ago and I had 2 tests for palm trees that 2 different people had put out way, way, way too much Magnesium. Just because people say that palms like Epsom Salt which is Magnesium sulfate, take a soil test first. You might be wasting your money. This could be true throughout your landscape. Soil test provide valuable information!
- Have you applied SeaHume G to lawn and beds for a healthy start?
- Have you applied a preemergent to lawn and beds (this late use Dimension if it is your first application)? Remember it is never too late to start a preemerge program. With our mild climate weeds germinate almost every day of the year.
- Have you drench Dominion around plants with a history of insect problems?
- Have you applied a preventive fungicide to turf if you have a history of fungus (Cleary’s, Fame)?
- Mole Crickets overwinter as adults and do their mating flights right now. Have you killed them now before they can make babies? Be sure your lawn and beds are free of fire ants, and if you have pets, fleas and ticks should be controlled. If you live near the woods, chiggers may be an issue. (Granular Sevin will work on these pests. If you prefer organic, check with a Possum’s near you to find a product or products that will work in your situation.)
- Have you gone through your irrigation system to be sure everything is operating correctly? In my travels through the Lowcountry, I have noticed many broken heads and heads that are spraying into the street.
- The little fury terrorist of the yard is mating now. Have you killed a mole recently or at least repelled one out of your yard?
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
