Fall Lawn Maintenance
Summer may be quickly winding down, but that doesn't mean you have to allow your lawn to surrender to that dull off-season appearance.
According to the lawn care experts at Southern States, over seeding with a cool-season turf grass variety will enable you to enjoy an attractive lawn well into the fall and early winter months.
September is the month for most climates to begin preparing your lawn for fall and winter weather, says Steve Williams, Southern States product manager for specialty turf care products.
He advises starting two to three weeks before over-seeding by closely inspecting your lawn. If you have a lot of weeds, you can spray them with an herbicide to eliminate weed competition. Be sure to read and follow the herbicide label directions describing when it is safe to over-seed. After waiting for the herbicide to work on an established lawn, cut the grass as low as possible and aerate or dethatch the lawn before over-seeding.
Southern States' Premium Turf Type Tall Fescue™ is the mix Williams recommends for over-seeding your lawn. Fall is also the ideal time if you're establishing a new lawn, according to Williams. And Southern States Premium Lawn Starter is the best fertilizer for this, too.
"Our Premium Lawn Starter is formulated with the right amount of phosphorus for increased root development on new seedlings," Williams says. "It's also high in potassium, which assists grass in disease resistance and cold hardiness."
The co-op's complete line of turf seed is 99.9% weed-free, with germination guarantee rates above 92%, notes Keith Reed, seed manager of Southern States.
Once the seed is planted and October has arrived, Williams recommends using Carpetmaker™ Professional All Season Premium Fertilizer. "It's like a vitamin shot for your grass," he says. "This fertilizer promotes early spring green-up and is formulated to improve winter hardiness, without the excessive leaf growth in the fall."
Of course, no general blanket seed or fertility recommendation best suits every lawn. That's why, unlike products available from the big box retailers, each lawn care product from Southern States comes with advice from experts at your local Southern States retailer.
Once your new or overseeded lawn is established, your Southern States retailer will be standing by with products and advice to help keep your yard in top condition. You can depend on Southern States products for your specific lawn care needs.
Southern States lawn care guide, "Grow Like a Pro!" offers a wealth of information on how to establish and maintain a lush, healthy lawn. For your free copy, visit your local Southern States store or download online!