Q.  What are the secrets to having a beautiful yard?

A.  There are three areas to concentrate on:

• Prevent/Kill the weeds
• Fertilize yard properly.
• Kill the bugs that damage lawns

Right now is the time you can take care of two of the areas by applying a fertilizer with weed control, also know as weed & feed.   Weed & feed will kill the weeds that have begun popping up in your yard while providing the grass with the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy, most feed for up to 2 months.  Weed & feed doesn’t prevent weeds, that’s what a pre-emergent is for which should have been applied in January or February before the weeds started growing.  Weed & feed kills weeds that have already begun to grow, so apply it when you see weeds begin to grow. 

When applying weed & feed, be sure the grass is damp either from the morning dew or a little watering.  The water on the grass and weeds allows the weed & feed particles to stick to the weed, which produces better results.  Also, do not apply the weed & feed if it’s going to rain within 24 hours of application or mow the grass within 24 hours.

Q. Are there other ways to kill weeds in your lawn?

A.   There are also what is called selective weed control sprays that kill weeds but not the lawn.  They can be bought in a ready to spray bottle, as a concentrate, or a hose-end spray.  Non-selective weed killers like Round Up aren’t to be used in lawns, only in areas where you want no vegetation to grow, like a brick walkway.

• Are there any other helpful hints to prevent weeds?

A.  Yes, be sure not to cut your grass too short as too short grass makes it easier for weeds to grow. 

Q.  Tell me more about fertilizing a yard throughout the year?

A.  Around June, you should apply regular lawn fertilizer, with a composition of around 30-3-3.  This fertilizer helps the grass develop a deep root system and hold up to the heat better during the summer months.  Around October or November, you should apply a winterizer, which helps repair the lawn from the summer damage and provides a thicker, studier lawn in the fall.  We earlier discussed putting down a pre-emergent in February to prevent weeds from popping up in the spring. 

Q:  What do the different numbers in fertilizer mean?

A.  The numbers represent what is called the NPK Ratio:

• The first number lists the amount of Nitrogen, which makes grass and plants grow and become greener. 
• The second number lists the amount of Phosphorus, which stimulates the root and seedling (blossom) development. 
• The third number lists the amount of Potassium, which promotes disease and drought tolerance. 
• You can remember this up the saying “Up, Down, All Around.”  The first number nitrogen make the grass grow up, the second number phosphorus makes the roots grow down, and the third number potassium helps it survive and spread.  

It’s important to note whether the fertilizer is a fast-release fertilizer or an all-in-one particle fertilizer.  A fast-release fertilizer, like a 13-13-13, releases the nitrogen quickly, which produces a surge of top growth on the grass but at the expense of the root growth and only lasts 2-3 weeks.  This type is more likely to cause injury to grass blades. All-in-one particle fertilizer (the more expensive type of fertilizer), like a Scott’s Turfbuilder, has the proper ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in every particle of fertilizer (13-13-13 doesn’t) which means it continuously feeds your grass, most last 2 months.  With an all in one particle, there is no danger of burning grass when used as directed.  All in one particle fertilizer is more expensive than fast-release, but the extra money is worth it if you want the best looking lawn.

Q. You mentioned that bugs can affect the beauty of your lawn, how so?

A. Bugs that live under the lawn, subsurface, damage the lawn which can cause dead spots in your yard.  To kill these bugs you can use an insect control product like Triazicide.

Q.  What if I have bear spots or want to grow new grass?  When is the best time to seed your yard?

A.  Plant as early as possible in spring to allow grass to grow before the summer heat begins.  Watering is critical to seeding success.  Seeds can also be planted early in the fall to allow development before the winter.  Frost and cold temperatures don’t harm seedlings. 

Q.  How to know what grass seed to use?

A.  Grasses have different growing zones.  You have cool season grasses like fescue, rye, and bluegrass (good for areas Birmingham and North) and warm season grasses like Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede (good for Birmingham and South).  Other important factors to consider are: the look of the grass (for example do you want a thick bladed grass or one soft to the touch), how quickly the grass grows which determines frequency of mowing, how much traffic the grass will get as some are better for high traffic areas.

Q.  Any other helpful hints on lawn care?