Every year, we hit the first week of April and I wonder how we’re so far along in the year. With some beautiful weather and plentiful rain in the forecast for the next week or two, it’s time to start thinking about chores to get your lawn in tip-top shape for the summer season. Depending on the type of lawn you have, some recommendations might vary, but if you have a warm-season species like Bermuda, Zoyzia, St. Augustine, or Centipede, here are some general thoughts for what you can start working on in the next few weeks.
In about February-March of each year, my dad inevitably asks me why I’m not fertilizing and overseeding my lawn. While we’re just now coming into April, the reason remains the same. For most of our grass species, it is too early for us to do much fertilization and seeding! Typically, we want to wait to fertilize until after it’s consistently over 75-80 degrees out, as this is when our warm-season grasses are going to be growing the most actively. Shoot for May 1st and May 15th for that first application. Most folks can get away with a 16-4-8 or 15-0-15 fertilizer- we don’t need crazy levels of nitrogen or phosphorous in this region. Apply 6-7lbs per 1000 sq ft of turf and water it in thoroughly to avoid leaf burn. It’s also not the best time to start overseeding- just like fertilizer, wait until we get more consistent warm weather before you start throwing a bunch of grass seed down for the best results.
As for weed control, it is advised not to apply post-emergence weed control until the grass has fully “greened up” in about 3-4 weeks. Spot spraying weeds with the appropriate chemical is acceptable but should be done with caution because lawns coming out of dormancy can be vulnerable to herbicide damage. The best weed control for this time of year is to mow the lawn regularly- once our temperatures warm up, many of your current weeds will be killed and you’ll have the warm-season species to worry about.
The last thing I’ll tell you not to do is worry too much about irrigation. Unless we get consistently warm temperatures (80-85+) and a good 5-7 days without any rainfall, your lawn doesn’t need extra water. Our clay soil does a great job of maintaining moisture, so with our mild temperatures and good spring rainfall, you shouldn’t need supplemental irrigation at all. Once those temps climb and rainfall is less frequent, you can start watering your lawn- but be sure to water it deeply but infrequently. We recommend roughly 1” of water, once per week.
The good news is, there is one thing you can be working on right now- mower maintenance! Mine is currently in the shop getting all tuned up for a new season of grass cutting. A sharp blade and well-functioning machine can make mowing all the easier. When you first start mowing, be sure to gradually lower the blade- don’t just chop your grass to 2” tall and hope for the best! Mowing more than 1/3 of the blade at a time can cause grass to die back, which increases weeds and bare spots. Bermuda and zoysia should be mowed to 1.5”, centipede to 2”, and St. Augustine to 3”. During really hot weather, increase the mowing height by about ½” to help reduce drought stress on the plants.
If you have any questions about maintaining your lawn, please feel free to contact us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233. Additionally, the UGA Turf website (https://turf.caes.uga.edu/turfgrass-species.html) can be a great resource for information on mowing height, pests, diseases, and species available for our region.
