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Annual Aerating and Over-seeding Proper root development
depends on loose soil, especially when it comes to turf grass. Thorough
aeration of compacted soils is the only way to loosen soils without disturbing
existing turf plants. Fertilizers and pH correcting lime also reach
root zones easier when soils are loosened. It could take years to
correct the pH of compacted soil.
We depend on our aeration efforts to give us the results we deliver.
Fescue plants have a life span of 3-5 years so introducing a new generation
each fall is sound practice. Annual care in the form of heavy aeration
and light over-seeding will help keep your fescue lawn healthy and vigorous.
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Basic Lawn Care Service Includes: Early Spring: Slow-release balanced fertilizer, pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control Late Spring: Slow-release balanced fertilizer, pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control Mid-Summer: Insect inspection and post-emergent weed control, soil sample taken to check pH level, lawn evaluation, aerating and over-seeding recommendations Early Fall: Slow-release balanced fertilizer or seed starter fertilizer and post-emergent weed control Late Fall: Quick-release nitrogen fertilizer Additional Lawn Care Services: Brown Patch Control: This service controls ugly brown patch disease. This is recommended beginning in late spring until mid-summer while brown patch is a threat. Lime: Proper amount necessary is determined by the annual soil test provided with the lawn care program. Grubworm Control: Late summer service to control grubs after they hatch and are actively feeding on grass roots near the soil surface. |
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Dethatching Removing excessive
thatch caused by mulching or side discharge mowers is a cultural practice
that will help control lawn diseases such as brown patch and help oxygen
reach the soil level. This service is commonly performed
prior to aerating and seeding and is only necessary for extreme situations
in fescue lawns. Weeds and moss can also be removed
while dethatching to improve seeding conditions.
Watering Fescue
Fescue needs approximately 1 inch of irrigation per week to perform its best. Keeping mind that many factors and site situations will make that figure fluctuate. The only way to determine how much you lawn needs is to evaluate its performance and log irrigation efforts. I strongly recommend watering “days consecutive” instead of “ days alternate”. By giving your lawn water on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then off the remainder of the week you will force water deep into the top soil. Alternate days schedule only dampens the top layer of soil and allows a dry out period between cycles. A good watering plan must start here. Newly seeded fescue needs a sprits of water everyday, twice a day is even better, but only for a short period of maybe 5 minutes or less. All you want is just enough to dampen the soil. This is critical yet simple with the Rainbird ESP LX. Continue this process until you feel that all the seeds have germinated and reduce all irrigation by 50%. The number of possible configurations are many ie:
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 Killing Bermuda grass Almost all good landscape horror stories seem to have Bermuda grass in a starring role. It creeps in to shrub beds, grows across pavement and pathways, it creates yellow patches in fescue lawns in the winter. It even degrades the integrity of asphalt by growing in it and under it. So, what do you do? Kill it! This grass has it’s place, but it doesn’t belong in the average home lawn. Eradication can be a lengthy process, some times taking several years to complete. Here are some control strategies that can be considered:
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