Purdue News

August 7, 1998 Now is the time to improve your lawn for next year WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- It's not too early to start thinking about improving your lawn for next year, according to Purdue University turf expert Zac Reicher. Mid-August is the best time to seed a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn, and autumn is the best time to fertilize your lawn. Here's Reicher's advice: If the lawn is in fairly good shape but thin and with a fair population of weeds, you can improve the lawn dramatically by applying fertilizer at a rate of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in September and another 1.5 lb. of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in November. An application of a broadleaf herbicide in mid-October should take care of most of the broadleaf weeds such as clover and dandelion. If your lawn is very thin and very weedy, but doesn't have serious soil problems such as compaction, you can follow one of two courses of action. The first is to mow very low in early to mid August and then use a power overseeder to cut in turfgrass seed. The second option is to apply a nonselective burndown herbicide such as Roundup to the weeds and grass, wait about five days, and then use a power overseeder to cut in seed. Aerifying the lawn in many different directions before cutting in the seed will help to improve the germination and establishment of the new grass. Be sure to keep the lawn well-watered until the new seedlings are established. Applying a starter fertilizer (high in phosphorus but low in nitrogen and potassium) at 1.5 pounds of phosphorus per 1,000 square feet before seeding will help. If your lawn is very thin, weedy, and has serious soil problems such as compaction or bad drainage, apply a nonselective burndown herbicide in early August to kill the existing vegetation. After about five days, till the soil as deep as possible, rake the surface smooth, and then seed. Give the area a light rolling to improve the seed soil contact, and keep the lawn well-watered until the new seedlings are established. Again, applying a starter fertilizer before seeding will enhance grass establishment. More information on turf and similar topics is available on the World-Wide Web at http://www.agry.purdue.edu/agronomy/turf/turf.htm. CONTACT: Reicher, (765) 494-9737; e-mail, zreicher@dept.agry.purdue.edu Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page