UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Before you resign yourself to having another mediocre lawn this year -- or to spending a hefty part of your salary to improve it -- take a few tips from a turfgrass specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
"Revitalizing your lawn doesn't need to be a costly, time-consuming process," says Peter Landschoot, associate professor of turfgrass science. "It's more a question of correctly evaluating the trouble spots before you invest in solutions."
--Soil Test. The Penn State soil fertility test, which tells consumers how much fertilizer and lime are required, is available for a nominal fee at Penn State Cooperative Extension offices across the state. The test helps determine what nutrients the lawn needs and when to apply them.
--Weeds. The least costly way to control weeds is to follow good lawn management practices designed to prevent reinfestation. A sound program of mowing, watering and fertilizing is your best defense against weed invasion, Landschoot says.
"Before purchasing herbicides, first identify the weeds you want to control," he says. "If you're unsure what the weed is, or how to control it, don't just guess what product would be best. Bring a sample of the weed to a lawn and garden center or to your county Cooperative Extension office and get a professional recommendation.
--Weed Control. "Most weed problems can be reduced by using a weed-and-feed product -- herbicide and fertilizer rolled into one," Landschoot says. He recommends buying or renting a spreader to ensure that the product is distributed evenly across the lawn. Homeowners should be sure to identify what types of weeds are in the lawn before choosing a product. Not all weed-and-feed products are the same.
--Read Labels. When it comes to fertilizers and herbicides, more isn't necessarily better, says Landschoot. "Follow the instructions on the label. Not only are you wasting money if you apply more than the recommended amount, you could damage the grass."
--Timing. "To combat crabgrass, you have to apply herbicide before the weed germinates," Landschoot says. "Some people use forsythia bloom as an indicator, but a good rule of thumb is to apply a pre-emergence herbicide before April 15 in southeastern Pennsylvania, during late April in central Pennsylvania, and between May 1 and May 15 in the northwest corner of the state.
"For broadleaf weeds, such as dandelion and clover, wait until the weeds appear before treating them," Landschoot says.
Before purchasing grass seed to replenish thin areas, homeowners should assess why the grass disappeared in the first place. "Ask yourself if the lawn was too wet, too shady or poor in fertility before you spend time and money trying to replace the grass," he says.
"The best time to reseed is in late summer or fall, when there isn't much competition from weeds. If you apply herbicides in spring, you can damage young seedlings.
"When it's time to reseed, don't just throw seed on the lawn," he says. "First, get rid of weeds, break up the soil surface and put down the seed so it makes good contact with the soil. Place straw mulch over the area so the soil doesn't dry out."
Choose a high quality seed or seed mixture adapted to the site conditions, says Landschoot. For more information about specific varieties suited to your area, contact the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in your county.
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EDITORS: To contact Peter Landschoot, please call 814-863-1017.
Contacts: John Wall jtw3@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-865-1068 fax