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Lawn Renovation in Fall
Fall Renovation Step 1- Mow the lawn to a height of
1½ to 2 inches. Step
2- Aerify the turf by slicing, coring, spiking or with dethatching equipment which will help relieve soil compaction
and eliminate thatch. Soil should be moist, not wet. Step 3- rake or sweep the lawn to remove heavy clippings or other debris. Rough the
surface of the soil giving special attention to bare spots. Step 4- Apply Loveland Golf Course Starter™ or
Loveland Renovator™ fertilizer at 8 lbs. per 1000 sq ft rate. Step 5- Spread your premium Grass Pad seed with
a rotary or a hand cranked spreader. Extra seed should be applied to bare spots. Step 6- On bare spots apply a light mulch of sphagnum
peat or Primera One® grass seed dressing. topsoil & black peats contain weed seeds and should
not be used. Step
7- Water the seedbed lightly so the soil surface is moist. continue watering lightly so the soil does not become
hard or baked. Step
8- When the seedling reach a height of 2-3 inches, mow to a height of 3 inches with a sharp mower at a time when
the grass is not wet. Step
9- Reapply Loveland Golf Course Starter™ or Loveland Renovator™ after
4 weeks Step
10- to promote deep roots apply Loveland Snowman™ to seeded area in late Fall (Oct/Nov
) Uncle's Tool Box Pick the Right Tool for the Right Job If the majority of your lawn is crabgrass or other weeds and very little desirable grass, Loveland Lawns
Uncle's Idiot Proof Fall Renovation Program™ using Glyphosate
(Round-Up®) should start in August. Short days, cool nights and welcome rain promise lower
water bills in September for fall seeding and sodding projects. Homeowners should take a tip from Mother Nature and start
their fall over seeding program today. August is a perfect time to plant grass seed. The Right Seed If
homeowners want a soft friendly feel and lush thick look to their turf, then they should seek out selected bluegrass
varieties. Varieties like Corsair® and Baron®
with their distinctive dark color and growth habit will sharpen the appearance of the entire landscape. To improve heat tolerance,
add Midnight® to your lawn mix. For the best bluegrass blend
choose Bluemaster®. BlueMaster® is a blend of fine bluegrasses specifically
blended for the Omaha area. When pampered it will give your lawn the soft, well manicured look of a golf course fairway. Bluemaster® is an aggressive
bluegrass blend that will fill in routine damage from normal wear and tear. In many seasons it will outcompete fescue turf
and give your lawn a striking green color when zoysia has turned toasty brown. If homeowners want to increase wear tolerance and playability
without sacrificing good looks, a fine leafed turf rye blend such as Stadium Special™
can be mixed with bluegrasses. These varieties are used on golf courses and sports fields throughout the country for their
durability and good looks. For a fast start choose Green Love®.
For disease resistance look for Apple®. Homeowners that place low maintenance at top
of their priority list should choose some of the excellent new turf fescues now available. Bullseye® and Arid 3® have developed a reputation for maintaining a dark
green color and low growth canopy. Falcon4® and Overtime® show improved disease resistance and dark color, root strength
and durability. These seed varieties are significant advances over coarse early fescue types. Overtime®:
is a top quality hardy fescue blend specifically mixed for Omaha. Fescue varieties are chosen for color, wear, heat
and drought tolerance. Overtime® is blended and tested to be
free of noxious weeds. Weed contamination routinely found in coarse fescue blends is never found in Overtime®. When choosing a grass seed mix, read the label carefully. Avoid mixes that contain
course bladed varieties such as K-31 pasture fescue and other coarse fescue types. In our area, K-31 is a special problem.
By itself, it is a coarse bladed grass best suited for pastures and landfills. Renovating Spring Lawns and Spot Seeding In early spring, Thin areas a The good news is that Mother Nature wants to give you some
help in greening up your lan and filling in those unsightly bare
spots. Grass plants have a biological clock and will beging to sprout and fill as the weather warms.
The bad news is that common lawn weeds will also begin almost as fast.
The secret to a successful spring seeding project on your lawn is to start early
and get the good turf grasses to fill the bare spots before the weeds do. Can
I seed now? The question is always the same.
The answer is almost always: YES. Although fall
is considered the best time to plant, 70 percent of all grass seed sold in the United
States is sold for spring seeding. Today’s lawn problem needs attention today. Broadleaf
Weed Control. Weed control problems can raise the frustration
level associated with spring seeding. But patience and timing will
help guaranteed success. First, you must distinguish between broadleaf
type weeds and annual grass weeds. Broadleaf weeds are the leafy flower type weeds like dandelions
and clover that are common in April and May. If they are a serious problem,
broadleafs should be treated once before starting to seed. Weed control
products containing Trimec do an excellent job
in cool weather. Readily available products include liquid Trimec,
Speed Zone, or granular Loveland Weed and Feed.
A single application will not kill all your broadleaf weeds, but it will slow
them down enough to begin seeding. Wait
five days after weed treatment, water
the lawn once and then begin your seeding program. Although some seed may be lost
by seeding so quickly, the greater risk is summer’s approaching hot weather.  |
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nd bare spots show up quickly as the rest of the lawn begins to turn green.
