For Release October 15, 2006

Time to Start on End of Season Lawn Tasks

AGRI-VIEWS

by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

We are moving into the last half of October and that means it is time to be moving along on end of season lawn tasks. How good your lawn looks next spring is going to depend greatly on the care you give it this fall. So take a look at the following tasks and see what you still have left to do.

If you still need to seed or overseed parts of your lawn, then we are into that time where you can still do it, but you won't see much activity until next spring. This isn't quite dormant seeding, but very near to it. Seeding this late may work well, IF the weather cooperates and we have quite a few warm days left. But if it turns off cloudy and cool, it will be spring before you see green, and then you may still have to fill in some thin spots.

Fall is the time when we treat for all those early season broadleaf weeds that bloom in our yards. Most of these broadleaf weeds sprout in late September and early October. If you applied a weed and feed product prior to about September 20^th, you have probably had weeds germinate since that time that weren't affected by the herbicide. I encourage homeowners to wait until after October 15^th to treat for broadleaf weeds just to make sure that we've gotten as many of them emerged as possible.

You can either use a weed and feed product or a liquid herbicide to control these weeds. Remember that these weeds will often be very small at this time of year so you may not think you have any, if you don't look closely. If using a granular product, read the directions carefully and follow them. If you are using a liquid product, again read and follow label directions, and then try to treat when temperatures are between 50 and 80 degrees for optimum control. If you do have a new lawn, you shouldn't treat for weeds until the grass has been mowed a couple of times.

For cool season lawns, we find optimal performance comes from fertilizing twice in the fall. That would normally be in early September and then a second treatment in mid to late October. The October treatment could certainly be a weed and feed type of granular application. If you didn't get a fertilizer application applied in September, be sure to get one applied in October. Even though the grass blades may slow down growth in coming weeks, the roots continue to grow well into November and some years even December.

Unless you have a brand new lawn, you should be backing off on the watering to about once a week by now. The grass growth is slowing so there is not the need for nearly as much irrigation water. Then by early November be thinking about shutting off the system and getting it drained before really cold weather sets in.

Fall mowing height is a hotly contested topic. Many homeowners like to start dropping the mowing height down as we move into fall and winter. I do not recommend it. Root growth is directly related to leaf blade length. The longer the leaf blades, the deeper the roots can grow and develop. You want to maximize this root growth and development because this grows stronger, thicker plants. Additionally, the taller leaf height provides more protection to the crowns and roots of the plant during winter and cold temperatures. If you want to mow it close once, wait until next spring. For this fall, leave those mowers set at the taller setting. If you follow all these steps, you should have a healthier looking lawn come next March and April!

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