Year-Round Lawn Maintenance Tips

Published: November 18, 2015

As you know, weeds can invade and thrive in all types of environments. The first step in controlling these weed pests is to correctly identify the weed and then determine a proper control strategy.

Herbicides are available that will control most common lawn weeds but they must be used correctly for successful weed control. Check with your local nursery for best results. When possible, take a weed sample with you to ensure that you are purchasing the correct product for your weed problem.

FERTILIZER SCHEDULE:

Late February-Early March - apply a simple 15-5-10 fertilizer for an early green-up.

February-March – use a pre-emergent for grassy weeds to prevent such weeds are Crabgrass, Goose grass and Dallisgrass from popping up late in the spring and summer. Use a grassy pre-emergent like Amaze, Betasan, Balan or Treflan.

Late March-Early April - apply slow-released 3-1-2 ratio fertilizers.

May-Early June – one more application of a grassy pre-emergent will keep fall weeds from invading from August on.

Late June-Early July – apply slow-released 3-1-2 ration fertilizers.

October-November – apply winterizer formulas for winter hardiness.

Late October-Early November – use two different pre-emergent herbicides to prevent the weeds that we experience in February and March. First is a pre-emergent with Portrait or Gallery for board leaf weeds like clover. Second use a pre-emergent with Amaze, Betasan, Balan or Treflan for grassy weeds. There is also Barricade, Dimension or Pendimethlin as a 2-in-1 control.

IRRIGATION:

Water – the best time to water is between 3am and 8am. Watering longer and less frequently is better for your yard than watering daily for short periods of time. You want the water to settle in and saturate the grass. You also want the root system of the grass to go deep. Your yard needs around an inch of water each time you water. Depending on the irrigation system you have, the time can range from 15-45 minutes per zone.