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FALL LAWN CARE
TIPS FOR A HEALTHY FALL LAWN
Fall is a great season to
get your lawn in shape! Warm days and cool nights with
frequent rainfall make fall a perfect time to sow grass
seed, control weeds and fight lawn insects.
Identify the
Problem
Survey your lawn to
determine the jobs that need to be tackled. If white
grubs or other lawn insects have riddled sections of
your lawn, start with insect control. If broadleaf weeds
have invaded, consider a plan to eliminate the weeds and
then reseed bare areas. Fall is in excellent time to
start a new lawn or renovate an old one.
Tackle Troublesome
Insects
Inspect areas for signs
of insect damage. White grubs rank as one of the most
troublesome lawn insects. They feed on the roots of lawn
grasses, causing large, brown patches where the turf
rolls back like carpet. August and early September are
the times to effectively control grubs by apply Dylox or
Diazinon. These approved insecticides are available at
Agway as Greenlawn Insect Control and Lawn Fertilizer,
Spectracide 6000 or Grub Control with Dylox. Read the
product label carefully and follow all watering
directions. Thin areas or bare spots can be seeded after
insect control is applied.
Eliminate Weeds
Dandelions, plantain and
other broadleaf weeds flourish in the fall. Now is the
perfect time to control them while they are growing
actively and have tender, new growth. Spray Roundup in
areas that will be reseeded this fall to control all
vegetation, or use Agway Lawn Weed Killer, Agway Spot
Weeder, or Greenlawn Weed Control and Lawn Fertilizer to
control weeds in existing lawns.
Correct Soil pH
One of the easiest, and
yet most important jobs is to check the soil pH in your
lawn. This test helps determine if the necessary soil
nutrients are readily available to the turf grasses as
they grown. The ideal pH level for lawns is about 6.5.
Agway has simple soil test kits available.
Sow Grass Seed
Take advantage of great
growing conditions to sow grass seed in small bare spots
or expansive new lawns.
1. Select the right grass
seed for your lawn conditions. Agway has an excellent
selection of quality Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and
ryegrass varieties to suit every growing location.
2. Prepare the area to be
seeded. In mall areas, rake the soil with a dethatching
or garden rake to disturb the top inch of soil before
seeding. In large areas, use a dethatching machine or
rototiller to prepare the soil for seeding. Never throw
grass seed on hard, compact soil.
3. Test the soil pH. If
it is below 6.5, add lime. Also, apply Agway Greenlawn
Turf Starter Fertilizer before sowing grass seed.
4. Next, sow the
recommended Agway grass seed at the specified rate. Then
carefully rake the fertilizer, lime (if needed) and the
seed into the top ½ - 1 inch of the soil to ensure good
soil/seed contact.
5. The last part of
sowing new grass seed is critical. Water, water, water
so that the new seedlings never dry out. Keep them
watered until the new seeding is well established.
Fertilize For Thick,
Dense Turf
Fall is the best time to
fertilize established lawns. Cool-season grasses grow
happily during fall and benefit from the application of
a turf fertilizer, which encourages deep rooting and
dense growth. Well-rooted grasses survive harsh winter
weather better, and a dense turf is the best defense
against weeds. In early fall, apply Agway Greenlawn
Fertilizer, then in November apply Agway Greenlawn Fall
& Winter Fertilizer. Agway also carries organic lawn
fertilizers such as Natures Way Organic Lawn Food.
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