For Your Lawn: What's The Best Medicine?
The spring and early summer time frame can set the tone for the looks and health of your lawn.
Weeds:
Control of broadleaf weeds (dandelions, clover, etc) is effectively done at this time of the year. If you have had issues in the past, this is the time to apply the turf medicine you might need to correct the problem. Weed control is best accomplished by maintaining a thick lawn. By having thick grass at a height of three inches, you inhibit weed growth by shading the weed seeds. You also improve the conditions for photosynthesis, improving the health of your lawn. Mowing with a sharp mower blade will help fight disease with clean cuts, minimizing the chance of infection of your grass. Fall aeration will help get water and air to your roots when little or no weed seed is around, prepping your lawn for great growth the following spring.
Insects:
Insect control must begin once the early signs of injury or significant numbers of insects are observed. Some insects can only be controlled at certain times during their life cycles and may best be treated on a preventive basis. Examples of this are:
? Sod Webworm—the damage will show early in the summer, so the control activity must occur in April, May and June when the worms are near the surface and feeding on the crown and blades of your grass.
? White Grubs—are the larval stage of Japanese Beetles. They can be double trouble because adult beetles will skeletonize leaves of healthy plants (so only the veins remain) and the grubs will eat the roots of your grass, destroying large areas if not treated. Additionally, raccoons and skunks will dig your lawn up to eat them. A professional lawn care operator will be able to diagnose which type of grub you may have and how to control it.
? Chinch Bug—thrives in dry, hot weather. In the dog days of summer, they literally suck juices (like mosquitoes) from you grass, accelerating the dryness your lawn. They live above ground and can be controlled.
Rodents:
Holes and trails that run throughout your lawn along hedges, sidewalks and walls may be caused by rodents called moles. During early spring and autumn, moles build an extensive network of both deep and surface tunnels. Controlling moles begins with mowing your lawn in a different direction each time, encouraging your grass to stand up and preventing it from lying down, creating a perfect habitat for moles. Trapping is a common method for short-term control; however, it is not permanent. Areas will quickly be re-infested because of the wandering habits of moles. There is a new product that is used by turf professionals that can be placed in the runs and controls the mole activity quite well.
"With this review, we are only scratching the surface. These are very common situations in our area, but your lawn care professional is trained to identify and control these and other detrimental factors. To get the most out of your lawn, its important to ensure conditions exist for healthy growth." Terry Kurth, President, Weed Man in Madison.
