EARLY SPRING LAWN
CARE
- Keep off the lawn
in the spring until the ground has dried and is firm
to walk on.
- Rake up debris,
dead grass, leaves, etc.
- Roll "frost bumps"
with a light roller.
- Aerate the lawn
annually in high traffic areas, every other year
is usually sufficient in low use areas.
- Apply a 30-5-5 lawn fertilizer.
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LATE SPRING
- Apply grass seed to
repair damaged areas or thicken an existing lawn*
- Apply 21-7-7 lawn fertilizer.
- Follow mowing
suggestions listed below.
- If lawn weeds are a
problem see FAQ's Page
SUMMER LAWN CARE
- Follow watering and
mowing suggestions listed below.
- Apply 16-8-8 lawn fertilizer.
- If insects are a
problem
see FAQ's Page
FALL LAWN CARE
- Fall is the best
time to apply grass seed to repair damaged areas or
thicken existing lawn*
- Follow watering
and mowing suggestions listed below.
- Apply 21-7-7 a premium
winterizing fertilizer.
- If lawn
weeds are a problem
see FAQ's Page
*Grass seed
germination is not compatible with weed control
products used on lawns. They cannot be applied with in
6 weeks of each other. As a general rule - seed in the
spring and weed in the fall or weed in the spring and
seed in the fall. |
WATERING
- Most lawns require a
minimum of 2.5cm (1") of water per week during the
summer.
- In dry conditions,
water heavily once a week as opposed to a daily
sprinkling (daily sprinkling encourages shallow roots,
which will increase the chance of burn during hot
spells)
- Try to wet the entire
root zone.
- Do not water at night
– the chance of fungus developing is increased.
- Use a rain gauge or
aluminum pie plate to measure if the correct amount of
water is being applied.
MOWING
- Ensure mower blade is
sharp to prevent frayed appearance.
- Mow to 5cm to 7.5cm
(2"-3") in spring and fall
- Raise mower another
1cm (½") during hot weather to improve drought
resistance.
- Never remove more than
1/3rd of the grass blade at one mowing.
- Change direction of
the cut each time to keep coarse grasses under control
and ensure an even surface.
AERATION
- Dethatching is no
longer a recommended practice on home lawns. It creates
openings for weed germination and causes stress to the
existing turf. Aeration is now recommended for
decreasing thatch as well as compaction.
- Aeration will increase
the amount of air, water and nutrients getting to the
soil, which will strengthen grass roots and help create
a healthier lawn.
- Aeration should be
done annually in high traffic areas.
- Aeration before an
application of fertilizer will allow nutrients easier
access to root systems.
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
- Read the complete
label before using.
- Remove debris, toys,
etc from the lawn.
- Use a good broadcast
spreader with an accurate flow setting.
- Wash and lubricate
spreader after use.
- Fill the spreader on
the drive or walk and not on the lawn.
- Sweep up spilt
fertilizer.
- Shut off the spreader
when stopping or turning.
- Apply half of the
required fertilizer in one direction on the lawn (i.e.
north/south). Apply the remaining fertilizer across the
lawn (i.e. east/west). This will help to provide even
coverage and prevent streaking from missed spots and
overlap.
- Do not apply Weed &
Feed when rain is expected.
- Do not water the lawn
for 48 hours after applying Weed & Feed
- Store any remaining
fertilizer in a cool dry place.
- Wash after using
fertilizer.
HOW TO CALIBRATE YOUR
FERTILIZER SPREADER
If your
spreader's setting is not listed on the bag, you can
dete rmine which setting to use by conducting this
simple test:Read all
directions and precautions on the bag.
Weigh out enough
of the fertilizer to cover 100 m2 and put
it in the spreader. (Bathroom scales will help you
do this)
Set your spreader
on a low setting. (Usually one quarter of the way
open is a good starting point.)
Spread the
material you put in the spreader over 100 m2
(10m x 10m) [1076 sq. ft (33 ft x 33 ft)].
Ideally the
product will run out when you get to the end of the
100 m2 area. If you have a little left
over. Increase the setting slightly. If you don't
have enough to cover the full 100 m2,
reduce the setting slightly.
Write the setting
and product name on a piece of tape and apply to the
spreader for future reference.
SOIL pH OR ACIDITY
Soil pH is defined as
"potential hydrogen" but a more accurate description is
"hydrogen ion concentration". It is a scale used to
measure the acidity or alkalinity of soil. Soil amendments
such as lime, gypsum and sulphur in conjunction with
fertilization are typically used to help adjust pH of
soil.
In general, a pH of 7.0
(neutral) is most desirable for overall nutrient
availability. A low pH (acidic soils) can be corrected
using a lime. A high pH (alkaline soils) can usually be
corrected by adding sulphur or ammonium or other
acidifiers like aluminum sulphate. Remember that a soil pH
of 5.0 is ten times more acidic than a soil with a pH of
6.0.
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