Tip of the week
Lawn mower blades should be sharpened at least two times a year, April 1 and
September 1. A sharp blade will make a clean cut, decreasing stress on the plants.
If you use your mower to mulch leaves, sharpen the blade again in late October.
Some gardeners sharpen their blades after every mowing
Is your yard like mine, with the creeping Charlie and nimblewill always threatening
to take over? For some of us, anything green is welcome at the end of an especially
hot August. But the brown grass can be deceiving: the late summer is the best
time to seed a new lawn or overseed an existing one
Over the next few weeks, the days should remain warm while the nights will
cool down. There will be fewer competing weeds, and fall grass seedlings can
develop a good root system before the onset of cold weather.
The success or failure of a new lawn begins with timing, soil and site preparation,
and seed selection. Shortcuts in laying the proper groundwork can lead to future
problems.
A pH test will help to determine the amount of nutrients already in your soil,
such as phosphorus and potassium. For a good stand of turf growth, a pH of 6
to 6.5 is best. Two local soil-testing labs are Ingrams in Athens (636-7500)
and Sparks in Lincoln (735-4233). The right time to modify the soil is prior
to seeding.
Select turfgrass species based on your use of the lawn, sunlight and moisture
conditions, desired appearance, pest resistance, and how much maintenance you’re
willing to put in. Kentucky bluegrass prefers full sun to light shade, has medium
tolerance to wear, and readily recovers from damage, whereas fine-leaf fescue
does well in light to moderate shade, has moderate tolerance to wear, and recovers
poorly when damaged.
Planting different varieties of grass will allow for greater resistance to
diseases. Two terms to consider: blend and mixture. A blend is a combination
of different types–or cultivars–of the same species of grass. A mixture is a
combination of two or more species of grass, such as Kentucky bluegrass and
Perennial ryegrass. Some garden centers and farm-supply stores will allow you
to make your own blend or mixture.
Selecting a high-quality seed is a must. Read the label. Find a brand with
at least 80 percent viability (the amount of seed expected to germinate) and
90 to 95 percent purity (the amount of pure seed of an identified species).
Be sure to check for all the types of grass included. Avoid seed mixes with
annual ryegrass or with a weed percentage greater than 0.3 percent. Last but
not least: check the test date; it should be within the last 9 to 12 months.
Preparing a seedbed is the most time-consuming step. First, remove the weeds
by hand, or use a nonselective herbicide, such as Roundup or Kleenup. Remove
debris and amend the soil with a two- to three-inch layer of compost, rotted
manure, peat, or additional topsoil. If your soil test showed you need to add
nutrients, do it now. Incorporate amendments with a rototiller. The soil bed
should be loosened to a depth of six to eight inches. Rake the area smooth and
then lightly incorporate fertilizer.
Apply grass seed at the recommended rate. Excess seeding will result in weak,
spindly seedlings. Seed to soil contact is important: use the backside of a
rake to incorporate the seed into the soil.
Newly seeded areas must be kept moist to assure germination. This may mean
watering once or twice a day over one to two weeks. While not essential, a light
layer of straw can help prevent rapid drying of the soil and keep the seeds
in place.
Don’t mow the grass until it grows three- to four-inches tall, and don’t cut
off more than a third of the blade.
For more information on lawn care, visit the University of Illinois Extension’s
“Lawn Talk” Web site at http://www.urbanext.uiuc.
edu/lawntalk/index.html.
Fall garden seminars
The U. of I. ExtensionÕs Sangamon-Menard Unit joins forces with the Springfield
Civic Garden Club to sponsor a series of five seminars on ÒGarden Basics.Ó
Seminars will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday beginning September
2. Topics include: Turfgrass (September 2); Vegetables and Herbs (September
16); Trees (September 30); Composting (October 14); and Houseplants (October
28). The $25 registration fee covers the cost of all five sessions as well as
a workbook. Seminars will be held at the Extension Building on the Illinois
State Fairgrounds.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register by August 29. Send the fee to:
Sangamon-Menard Extension Unit, P.O. Box 8467, Springfield, IL 62791. For more
info, call 782-4617.
SpringfieldÕs Green View Companies, 3000 W. Jefferson, will host a free series
of gardening seminars on select Saturdays at 10 a.m. Topics include; ÒGroovy
Grasses and Other Low Maintenance Fall PerennialsÓ (August 30); ÒFrom the Table
to the Front Door,Ó fall decorating ideas (September 6); ÒHot New Plants for
Cool Season ColorÓ (September 13); and ÒFlaming Fall Color with ShrubsÓ (September
27). For more information, call 787-4700.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2003.
