Our neighbors put down new sod right before the heat wave hit. They've been very good at watering, and their lawn looks super. Our 20-year-old lawn pales in comparison. This made me pick up the UofM recommendations on Fall Lawn Care. In order to have a great looking lawn in Spring here's what they recommend:
1. Overseeding and sodding. Oops should have done that in mid August
2. Fertilizing. Oops again, last fertilizer should have gone down Labor Day weekend.
3. Watering. Ah ha, I can still do that. One inch per week is what is recommended,
but watch the weather. The ground should feel moist but not wet. (the old stick your finger in the ground trick!)
4. Mowing height. Another one I'm not too late to do. Lower from 3" (Summer height) gradually down to 2". This helps reduce snow mold. The lawn's not ready to mow yet, so I can put that off.
5. Lawn aerification & thatch control. Wow, sounds like work. Rending a core aerifier. We'll see if one is available this weekend. We did it two years ago, is it that important?
6. Broadleaf weed control. Now's the time to get the dandelions and creeping Charlie! They may not look dead in the Fall, but the poison will flow quickly througout the plant and there will be less chance of the pesky buggers in the Spring.
