A healthy lawn needs 3 things: proper moisture, good nutrition, and proper cultural practices.
To start off, many areas have seen abnormally dry conditions.
But it depends on where you stand…literally. Some areas west of Toledo have received a good amount of moisture. In addition, from around Columbus south, storm fronts have delivered some good rain. But in our area, around Sandusky, it seems like many of these summer storms have missed us. Surprisingly, I drove through Norwalk, south of Sandusky, on July 22nd. They were getting a fair amount of rain, but as soon as I entered Sandusky, nothing! So, your lawn may be suffering drought stress.
Most lawns in our region are a mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and a type of Fescue. Since these combinations are cool season grasses, they tend to go dormant in mid-summer, and can look brown and dry, even though the crowns are still alive. But as soon as nights become cooler and moisture becomes more plentiful, they tend to green back up.
Remember, golf courses are watered, fertilized, and mowed much more frequently than our lawns, so don’t try to manage your turf like a golf course.
We are entering a time of year which is excellent for lawn renovation.
Late August to early September is a great time to plant grass seed and start a new lawn or to overseed a lawn that is thinning. Soil temperatures are high which promote germination of new seed, soil moisture tends to be higher as we get more frequent rainfall, and nights are cooler which can help to preserve that moisture in the soil.
If your lawn has a number of weeds, fall is a good time to control broadleaf perennial weeds like dandelions
and clover.
These weeds are storing up carbohydrates for the winter in their roots so spraying a herbicide will help take the chemical to the roots. Picking the right weed control to target the right weeds is very important. Following the label is crucial. In addition, spraying these products in temperature above 80 degrees Fahrenheit can potentially burn your lawn. Again, read and follow the label.
Late Summer and Fall are great times to fertilize your lawn. With what formulation? A soil test is the only way to really know what your lawn needs. These are available for sale at many of The Ohio State University – Extension Offices located in your county. You will collect soil from your yard and mail that to a laboratory for analysis.
Two labs that do soil testing are:
Penn State:
Spectrum Analytical:
I am frequently asked, “What is fall fertilizer anyway?” Most will have slow-release nitrogen formulation as opposed to quick release nitrogen. These are typically applied to actively growing lawns.
The formulation on the bag of fertilizer has 3 numbers. These stand for N-P-K, Nitrogen (the first number) Phosphorus (the middle number) and Potassium (the last number). For example, an 18-24-12 fertilizer is 18% Nitrogen, 24% Phosphorus, and 12% Potassium.
How high should I be mowing my lawn. Your last mowing of your lawn should be shorter than summer mowing heights. It is recommended in summer that you mow 3 to 3 ½ inches.
As we approach winter, mowing at a height of 2 to 2 ½ inches. But don’t scalp your lawn. You may have to drop the blade a ½ inch at each mowing.
Late Summer-Fall is a great time to aerate your turf.
You can hire a contractor or rent the machine.
This provides air and moisture to penetrate into the roots.
What about leaves? If heavy leaf cover is there (greater than 2”) then it is recommended removal or at least heavy mulching (repeated efforts) otherwise they will rot on top of canopy.
A good video featuring a turf team member is available at:
https://extension.osu.edu/today/fall-lawn-care
In Summary, the end of August provides a great time to renovate:
- Consider Soil Testing
- Control weeds
- Plant Grass seed
- Aerate your lawn
- Mow to the proper height for the time of year
The Ohio State University Extension offices are here to help. Call if you have questions.
