Gardening Tips: Winter and Early Spring Lawn Care for Fescue Lawns
January is rapidly passing by and it is time to start thinking about lawn maintenance again, particularly for those who have fescue lawns. If you have a fescue lawn, there are several things you’ll need to consider doing in the next few weeks in order to get your lawn looking great.
February is a great time to apply lime and fertilizer to fescue lawns. We usually have several light rains which help to incorporate the fertilizer into the soil without washing it away completely, and the temperatures at this time of year can make the soil more receptive to fertilizer as well. Application of fertilizer and lime should ideally be done following the recommendations of a soil test, but if you have not done a soil test you can apply fertilizer at a rate of 1 lb nitrogen per 1,000 square feet using a 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 fertilizer. To determine exactly how much fertilizer to apply, divide 100 by the first number on the fertilizer bag. If you are using a 16-4-8 fertilizer, divide 100 by 16, which will give you 6.25. Applying 6.25 lbs of fertilizer per 1000 square feet will provide 1 lb Nitrogen.
North Carolina soils are naturally acidic, so a light application of lime can be done at this time as well. It is a common myth that fertilizer and lime can not or should not be applied at the same time, but this is not true. If need be both fertilizer and lime can be applied at the same time, just be careful not to over apply and follow soil test recommendations whenever possible, as well as the product label.
Another management practice that will soon be necessary is the application of pre-emergent herbicides. Pre-emergent herbicides work by killing annual weeds such as crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail before they germinate, preventing them from coming up. Timing of application for this type of herbicide is critical, because once the weeds have begun to come in and are visible, pre-emergent herbicides will not kill them. Pre-emergent herbicides will need to be applied in early March to be effective, and should only be applied on established lawns. Because you must apply pre-emergent herbicides before weeds have to come up, the decision whether or not to apply should be based on the overall health of your lawn and past weed history. If you had a lot of crabgrass last year, you are likely to have it again this year unless you control it with a pre-emergent. If your lawn is patchy and has a lot of bare spots, there is a good chance these spots will be taken over by crabgrass or other annual weeds.
If your lawn was seeded the previous fall or you will be seeding in the spring, do not apply pre-emergent herbicides. Repeat applications may be necessary depending on the herbicide used, the amount of weed pressure, and the weather. Always follow the directions on the label of the herbicide used, and when in doubt contact the extension office for assistance.
As spring approaches, be aware of what type of maintenance your lawn will need. If you use a lawn or landscaping service, schedule services early so that you don’t miss critical timing periods for fertilizer and herbicide application.
Just a reminder- sign ups for the Master Gardener class beginning February 7th are under way. Contact the extension office for more information or to reserve a spot.
Matthew Stevens is the horticulture extension agent for HalifaxCounty Cooperative Extension. If you have any questions about this article or other aspects of your home gardening, please contact Matthew at 583-5161 or .