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Or, if you are more ambitious, dig them out by the roots using a tool that will extract the entire root and keep it from resprouting. To get rid of this weed, snap off their flower stems before they produce seeds. Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides (Or Pull Spring Weeds)ĭandelions are cheerful yellow flowers that are also stubborn perennial growers, first making their appearance in the spring.As the season progresses, a few minutes of spot-spraying (or weed-pulling) after each mowing will keep your lawn looking great all season. While it might seem like a chore, spot-treating becomes quite easy if you start early in the spring, even before the first mowing. Unless your lawn is badly overgrown with weeds, it is best to apply chemical herbicides by spot-spraying weeds rather than over-spraying the entire lawn. In years where you are laying down pre-emergent weed killer, wait until early fall to do your overseeding with turfgrass seed. Overseeding is not very effective if you're also applying a traditional pre-emergent herbicide. You will puncture the shield and decrease the weed killer's effectiveness.Īnd be aware that most pre-emergent herbicides also work against grass seeds. If you are using pre-emergent herbicides, don't plan on doing any core aeration until the fall. They work by forming a chemical barrier in the top layer of soil that coats seeds and prevents them from growing roots and shoots. Pre-emergent herbicides address weeds before their seedlings can even emerge. Crabgrass begins its assault on lawns in spring when temperatures are 65 to 70 degrees for several days. To fight crabgrass, you may need to use both, since this annual weed is very tough to eradicate. Depending upon whether a weed is annual or perennial, you will use either a pre-emergent herbicide or a post-emergent herbicide. You do not get rid of all lawn weeds in the same manner. Be prepared to contend with some crabgrass cropping up and feeding off the fertilizer.įor those who prefer weed-free lawns, spring lawn care is as much about weed prevention as it is about fostering healthy lawn growth. For example, if you've recently lost some shade trees, overseeding with a sunny-grass mix can help your previously shady lawn continue to thrive.įall is the preferred time to do your overseeding, but if your grass is in dire need of help, you can do it in spring. This can also be a way to introduce new varieties of grass seed into your lawn. It is possible to apply seed only to the visible bare patches, but it is also quite common to overseed the entire lawn to ensure that the lawn remains thick and healthy. Five weeks after the grass germinates and sprouts, you can begin a normal fertilization routine using quick-release nitrogen fertilizer. Keep the new seed moist until it has sprouted and is actively growing. Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer (starter fertilizer) when you overseed.

Overseeding is the process of sowing seed over existing grass.

Your extension office may recommend a top-dressing of compost or elemental sulfur to lower the pH of extremely alkaline soils.Ī lawn riddled with bare patches due to dog spots, heavy traffic, or neglect may need an application of grass seed to fill in those patches. Soil that is too alkaline can also cause lawn problems. You will need a fertilizer drop spreader to apply the lime. All you have to do is call, check on their website, or visit your local extension office, and they can advise you on how much lime per square foot you'll need.

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The cooperative extension office is a free educational resource offering scientific-based assistance in agriculture, horticulture, and other areas of expertise.

However, this is not a quick fix, as the liming takes hold gradually.īefore you add soil amendments, send a soil sample to your local cooperative extension office to determine your soil's acidity. Adding ground limestone, for example, is a common method for lifting the pH of acidic soils. A variety of soil amendments can be used to nudge the pH back to an optimal level for growing grass.

Grass likes a neutral pH, and, if your soil is well outside this range it can be subject to moss growth. Acidic soils have pH levels below 7, while alkaline soils measure higher than 7. The acidity or alkalinity of soil is measured by the pH scale, with 7 representing perfectly neutral soil. Moss coating the ground can also be a sign of acidic soil.

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