Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

July 30, 2004

August is the month to prepare for lawn renovation in September.  September is the prime month to fertilize and reseed fescue or cool season lawns in Rowan County, but there are some preparations that need to be made in early August.

Now is the time to have your soil tested. This service eliminates the guesswork in determining the amount of lime and other nutrients needed for maximum growth. An overwhelming majority of those with lawn problems never test their soil to determine the correct fertilization.

 The North Carolina Department of Agriculture tests soil as a free service to residents of North Carolina.  The sample kits are available from Cooperative Extension and some garden centers in Rowan County. Results arrive in a few weeks to provide homeowners with detailed information to correct soils with nutritional problems.

Residents don't bring their soil to the Extension Office, but send the samples via mail or UPS to NCDA in Raleigh for analysis.  Home lawns and other crops should be tested every 2 to 3 years.

In late summer, weeds seem to be a major problem in fescue lawns. In some instances its best to kill the entire lawn and start over if the lawn is predominantly weeds.  Herbicides containing glyphosate such as Roundup kill unwanted grasses and weeds to the root.

     Bermuda grass is a major weed and a difficult perennial grass to eliminate, but it is possible. Bermuda grass should be sprayed in mid-August, since it is the best growing condition for berumda grass. Glyphosate translocates best when the plant is actively growing during hot temperatures. As the weather cools in late September, glyphosate looses its effectiveness.

     An early August application allows the homeowner a second chance to reapply to areas missed by the first spray. Lawns that are completely killed are easy to till or core-aerate providing a better seedbed for emerging grass seed. Blocking off rectangular sections works best for renovation projects because it facilitates correct measurement.  

Lawn renovation time is just a few weeks away.  The seeding window for fescue and other cool season grasses is fairly narrow so those that plan to renovate this fall need to prepare this month. Time has a way of slipping up on each fall.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu