Tips for Home Gardeners
Provided by: Terrence S. Marshall, County Agent,
East Baton Rouge Parish
Lawngrasses are now showing spring regrowth.
Be careful not to push the season by forcing early growth with fertilizer. If put on too
early, it will feed the winter weeds. If put on too heavily, it will create a lush,
weak growth sensitive to brown patch, dollar spot or late freezes. Let the grass
awaken slowly and show definite growth. Mow once or twice before fertilizing on late
March. If you wish to dethatch, core aerify and sand topdress, or power rake this
year, wait until when the turf is actively growing. Large dead areas are probably
die-outs from winter kill or fall brown patch disease. Treat the actively diseased
areas that are yellowing with either chlorothalonil or PCNB or Bayleton fungicides.
General Home Lawn Weed Control
Herbicides can control weeds in your turf. Chemicals that are useful now
are 2,4-D blends, Image, Simazine, Atrazine and Basagran. Be sure to
follow label rates and warnings. Your county agent and Louisiana Master
Gardener Volunteer can advise you. Apply herbicides either before or
well after first green-up, but not during turfgrass transition.
Broadleaf weeds can often be controlled by using selective postemergence
formulations which contain two or more herbicides. Formulations of 2,4-D
or blends with 2,4-D are available for most southern grasses. Examples of
2,4-D blends are Green Light Wipe Out, Kmart Broadleaf Weed Killer for southern
grasses, Spectrum 33 Plus, Trimec, Fertilome Weed Out and Weed B Gon (Southern
Lawn II). Most labels will stress use on younger weeds growing in the cooler
mid-to-late spring. A temporary discoloration of the lawn may occur. A second
application two or three weeks later is usually needed on pesky species (sometimes
a third). Wet foliage only. Don't saturate the soil.
READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS
Most labels will stress use on younger weeds growing in the milder
mid-spring to early summer. A temporary discoloration of the lawn usually
occurs. Repeat application in two weeks. Warning: These products contain
phenoxy (2,4-D) herbicides. Avoid drift, keep away from gardens and clean
sprayers thoroughly with ammonia.
For bermuda or zoysia lawns, weed killers with MSMA or DSMA often provide
selective control for most grassy and some broadleaf weeds. Use these
arsenicals in June through August. Preemergence herbicides can be applied to
thin lawns to protect them from weeds until they thicken and cover. They are
not for newly seeded areas.
Fertilize in April
During April or May, all warm-season grasses should be
in full swing. Start feeding your lawn if you have not done so. Turf
fertilizers with high first number, low second number and medium last
number are preferred. Start with a complete fertilizer like 8-8-8 if
you know your soil phosphorus is not too high. If you have bermudagrass,
use 12 to 13 pounds per 1,000 square feet. On zoysia or St. Augustine, use
8 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet. On centipede or carpetgrasses, use 6 to
7 pounds per 1,000 square feet. After this, use just a nitrogen fertilizer at
a rate of ½ to 1 pound of pure nitrogen per 1,000 feet each month until August.
Sharpen the mower blade before the season and at mid-season.
Check for fresh oil and stale gasoline before you start mowing.
Choose Correct Mower Settings
Cutting heights are important for healthy grass. Choose
the higher cut for grass in shade. Cut grass down to these heights:
| Common Bermuda |
1 ½inches |
| Hybrid Bermuda |
¾ - 1 |
| Zoysia |
1 - 1 ½ |
| Centipede/carpet |
1 ½ - 2 |
| St. Augustine |
2 ½ - 3 |
HOW MUCH WATER IS ENOUGH?
Water long enough to soak the ground several inches. If
you have a good bit of thatch, you'll have to water more frequently. Areas
under trees normally need more water than other areas because of tree roots.
Centipede and carpet grasses seem to need the most moisture of all the
turfgrasses.
Trees hinder growth from shading and also from drought. Areas
near trees need special watering to keep grass actively growing.
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