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Last Updated on 3-24-01 4:00PM
Welcome to another year of Greengrass.
While the tulips start to peak through the earth let us get started on preparing our lawn for another growing season.
With spring now just starting to bloom now is the time to start with some chores to help get our lawn looking its best.
The first thing you should do if you haven't done it already is rake the lawn very well with a metal tine grass rake. You want to remove all the dead and matted grass left behind from the winter. If your lawn is an exceptionaly large one you might want to think about renting a dethatcher from the local rent-a-center. These machines do a terrific shop removing the dead grass buildup.
In a couple of weeks you should be able to apply the initial application of fertilizer. I like a heavy nitrogen blend like Scotts Super Turf Builder with a ratio of nitrogen around 36. This initial application will help to turn your grass green in no time at all. I also recommend aerating the lawn with a hollow tine aerator. A core aerator is the best bet when it comes to aerating your lawn, although a spike aerator will work just as well, the cores left behind from a hollow tine machine will break up and spread across your lawn as if you have topdressed.
If your lawn suffers from moss now is a good time for moss treatment. Scott's also features Moss Control and Moss Control with Iron. I just put some down on my lawn. I have a lawn that is mostly in the shade and moss is a serious problem for me. Now is the best time to rid your lawn of moss.
If your lawn is plagued by crabgrass or nut sedge you might think about using a pre-emergent with the fertilizer application. Many fertilizer's come with these pre-emergents blended in. Scott's Halts comes to mind. Make sure you put these down before the lilacs bloom, after that, the crabgrass seed has set and it is to late for these products to work. As with all fertilizer and herbicides use extreme caution when applying and read the directions carefully. There's no need to apply a fertilizer with weed killer yet. First we'll wait a few weeks and see how the lawn is helped by the initial green feeding. Check back to this page next month and I'll discuss seeding and weed control. Good luck.
for the Pawtucket Red Sox the Triple A Affiliate
of the Boston Red Sox for 17 years.
John's informative web postings have helped hundreds
keep their lawn looking their best.