Relieving Summer Stress

LINCOLN, Neb. — Specialists at the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources say fall is a great time to renovate lawns that look ragged from summer stress and prepare them to survive the upcoming winter.

"The turf may have lost part of its root system because of stress," explained Dr. Roch Gaussoin. "Fall lawn care, including fertilizing and controlling weeds, is like a prescription for recovery from the summer. These things will promote much-needed root development in stressed turf."

When planning fertilization services, it's important to remember that each turf variety has specific nutrient needs for fall fertilization. Slow-release fertilizers tend to give the best results, Gaussoin said.

For clients on a traditional four-step fertilization plan, early September was the best time for the first of two fall applications.  However, a second fertilizer application can be made in mid- to late October or even early November, depending on weather.

"It's important to keep an eye on the weather when planning fertilizer applications," he said. "If it will be hot for the next two weeks, you may want to hold off for cooler weather."

To control weeds, herbicide applications can be made in conjunction with the first fall fertilizer application, which can be advantageous to your clients' lawns.

"Applying these herbicides in the fall, after ornamentals have dropped their leaves, will cause less damage to ornamentals," Gaussoin related.

For clients that just have a few problem spots for weeds, Gaussoin suggested spot spraying with ready-to-use herbicides between the first and second fall fertilizer applications.

"For economic and environmental reasons, you don't want to treat the whole yard if there are only a few problem spots," he advised.

This article was edited and reprinted with permission from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.