There are many pro-active steps you can take this month that will improve the overall heath of your lawn grass. Start with some basics like removing fallen leaves and debris since your grass can not grow if the sun is literally blocking out the sunshine. Now sit back and decide which direction you need to go with your grass – do you have a few bare spots here and there? Some larger areas that need to be addressed that may not encompass the whole lawn? Or maybe it’s time for an overall renovation! Whichever is the case, October and early November are the best time of year to get started and the EJC experts will guide you every step of the way with free expert advice and the right products for each job.
To repair or enhance select areas of your lawn grass – or if you just want to thicken it up – put a little time into preparing the soil. It will go a long way toward getting you the great results you want! So lightly cultivate the surface of the soil to remove any dead grass and weeds. Lightly cultivating the soil involves literally scratching the surface of the soil where you sprinkle the seed. This can be done with a hard garden or bow rake – not a easy chore but one that will greatly increase the germination of the grass seed. By loosening up the soil this way, you are prepping it for the steps that follow.
For a total renovation, your next step is to apply TLC grass seed to the area/areas you are treating. (If the area is mostly shaded, then choose the Emerald Park Deep Shade mix.) TLC is the perfect blend of hybrid fescue grass seed – one that our professionals even use on their own lawns! After spreading the grass seed, apply some Fertilome New Lawn Starter fertilizer and lime as well. Once this is done, IF the area is heavily exposed, cover it with some wheat straw or an organic soil media like bagged topsoil or cow manure or – best of all – Foxfarm Soil Conditioner.
Aerating the soil is also of tremendous benefit to your lawn. Also known as Core Cultivating, it is achieved by walking behind an aerating machine that punctures and removes cores from the top 2-3″ of the soil. By loosening the soil in this manner, it improves oxygen content and improves water and nutrient flow into the soil. It also reduces runoff during rainfalls or irrigating procedures. Another benefit of coring the lawn this way is that it provides bacteria to assist in breaking down thatch and organic debris that gather at the surface. By aerating before adding the seed, you are allowing more seeds make direct contact with the soil and germinate better. Aerating should be done at least once a year and at best, twice a year – once in the fall and again in the spring when the moisture content of the soil is higher!
For smaller spot treatments, try the Encap Fast-Acting New Lawn Kit. It is an all-in-one solution containing the mulch, seed and fertilizer, all ready to be applied. Then just water it wait for it to do its magic!
Want more instant gratification? Now is a great time to lay down sod! You get the benefit of instant mature grass! You can purchase sod at Evergreen of Johnson City – we sell as little as one piece up to full pallets.
A final and very important reminder/recap: Never apply weed killer or weed preventer products when you are seeding – they will keep the seeds from germinating. Water often to maintain the young seed’s development. And again, apply fertilizer along with the seed and, if the area is largely exposed, cover it with the top-dressing of your choice.
