Homeowner Update; Fall Lawncare Tips

Michigan is finally seeing average fall temperatures and this ushers in an excellent time period for homeowners to focus on their lawns.  Autumn is an excellent time to establish, recover or just maintain your home lawn and here are several tips on how to accomplish this.

• Mowing Height: Many homeowners make the mistake of mowing their lawns too short.  A solid height range for home lawns is 2.5" to 4".  Kentucky Bluegrass, the main species in home lawns, is healthiest when within this range.
• Fertilization: If you only fertilize your lawn once a year, the fall is the best time to do it.  High rates of nitrogen and potassium will encourage lush growth and healthy turf while phosphorous is an essential element at establishment (see next bullet point). 
• Seeding: The summer of 2011 was one of the harshest on record and many lawns took a beating.  From August 15th to September 15th is the best time of year to seed over those lawn blemishes and start the recovery process.  Keep these guidelines in mind. 
• Buy only "Certified Seed".  All certified seed bags contain a minute amount of weed seed as compared to other bags which contain higher percentages. 
• Seed Rates: 2-4lbs per 1000 square feet
• Seeding after September 15th is risky, young plants do not winter well.
• Soil-to-seed contact is needed for the seed to imbibe water (and therefore germinate) so keeping the soil moist is necessary.
• Use a starter fertilizer.  Starter fertilizer is different from other products because it holds a 1:2:1 ratio of the essential elements.  They are high in phosphorous which is the limiting element in young plants with small root systems (Remember; fertilizer analysis stands for Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium)
• Herbicides are most effective on young plants so remember to NOT treat seeded areas of your lawn with these products.   

The range tee at MCC is currently closed for two weeks in order to help its recovery.  Besides fertilization and frequent irrigation, the crew has seeded it at a rate of 10lbs per 1000 square feet.  This is an exceptionally high amount but necessary due to the extensive damage that occurred over the summer months and to establish it as quickly as possible in order for members to practice.  Traffic is very damaging to seeds and young plants which is the reason we have closed the tee to golfers.