Another benefit of aeration is the increased circulation of nutrients below the surface. Johns today at to learn more about our aeration service and to schedule your free lawn evaluation. We provide our lawn aeration service to home and business owners in St.
Johns and the surrounding communities. Home Lawn Aeration in St. Lawn Aeration in St. Augustine Lawn aeration is one of the many crucial treatments involved in keeping your St. The Benefits of Lawn Aeration for St. Seashore Paspalum. When should I fertilize my Florida lawn? The first fertilization should take place in mid-April, with another two applications in the summer and early fall, the last one no later than mid-September.
This fertilization season provides the needed nutrients during the active grass growth phase. Should I pick up plugs after aerating? Some lawns need aerating every year, although most can go two to three years before needing aerating -- which is good, if you don't like the look of brown plugs on your lawn.
You don't have to rake the plugs left by aerating, but doing so gets nutrients back into the soil faster. How can I make my grass thicker and greener? Improve Your Soil. To get the most out of every step to a thicker lawn, take a tip from lawn pros and test your soil. Overseeding is simply sowing grass seed into existing grass to make thin lawns thick—or keep them from getting thin.
Boost Your Lawn. Mow Properly. Control Weeds. Is aerating your lawn worth it? No, it's not necessary to aerate your lawn every year, especially if your grass is healthy and thriving. Aeration is good if you've got compacted, poor or clay-heavy soil that's been impacted by heavy equipment or lots of foot traffic. Always do "core aeration," which involves a machine that removes plugs of soil. Will grass seed germinate on top of soil? Unlike larger seed types, grass sprouts cannot push through a thick soil layer because the new growth is tiny and sensitive.
However, the seed cannot be fully exposed on the soil's surface either. Grasses depend on a warm soil niche with surrounding moisture for germination. Last frost dates and first frost dates can vary by several weeks from the coastal areas of South Carolina to the foothills of the Upstate.
Mowing: Mow the lawn slightly lower than the regular summer mowing height. Be careful not to set the mower too low, as it may scalp the lawn. This height reduction should be done just before the lawn greens up, which usually occurs during late April or early May. If possible, use a mower with a bagger to collect the clippings and remove the dead material left from winter dormancy.
Be sure to use a sharpened mower blade. Alternatively, the lawn can be hand raked to remove the excessive dead leaf material from the lawn surface.
A sharp mower blade will cleanly cut the grass blades as opposed to tearing the leaves. Dull mower blades rip rather than cut the grass and make the grass more susceptible to diseases.
Sharpen the mower blade monthly or as needed during the growing season. A dull mower blade will shred the turfgrass foliage. The date of initial turf green-up can be quite variable. In the coastal and more Southern regions of South Carolina, this generally will occur sometime during April, but further inland, this may be as late as mid-May.
It is not unusual for St. Augustinegrass to green up and be burnt back several times during the late winter or early spring due to late season frosts. Thatch Removal: If a thatch layer becomes a problem, use a dethatcher or vertical mower to remove it. For St. Do not use a power rake with a 1-inch blade spacing, as severe turf injury may result. Use a lawn mower with a bag attached or hand rake to collect and properly dispose of the turf material pulled up.
Aerification: Core aeration is the process of punching small holes into the turf and soil to alleviate compaction, allowing air to get to the root system. This will help to correct problems associated with poor infiltration and drainage. Once the threat for spring frost has passed and the lawn is fully greened-up, lawn aerification may be combined with dethatching to alleviate soil compaction and thatch problems. However, if a pre-emergent herbicide was applied late February to mid-March, postpone any cultivation practices that will disturb the soil until just before the next pre-emergent herbicide application date.
Pre-emergent herbicides create a barrier that keep weed seeds from germinating. Disturbing the soil after an application will allow weeds to emerge through this barrier.
Weed Control: To control crabgrass, goosegrass, sandspurs, and other summer annual weeds, apply a pre-emergent herbicide early in the year. A second application is needed approximately 8 to 10 weeks after the initial application to give season long control of annual warm-season weeds. Apply a post-emergent herbicide as needed to control existing winter weeds.
In general, do not apply post-emergent herbicides to the lawn once the turf begins to green. If a weed problem begins and the grass has begun to green with warmer temperatures, wait until the grass has fully greened-up before applying a post-emergent herbicide. In the meantime, mow and bag the weeds.
Augustinegrass is sensitive to certain herbicides, such as 2,4-D, not only during spring green-up, but also during hot summer temperatures. Follow label directions for use of any herbicide and use with caution during these times. Insect Control: Cold winter temperatures will help usually keep insect problems at bay.
As temperatures start to warm in late spring, monitor for mole cricket and chinch bug activity. If either insect is observed, apply a lawn insecticide when damage becomes excessive. If the damage is minimal, monitor the activity and wait before applying an insecticide. This is not the best time to apply an insecticide because of the cool soil temperatures and reduced insect activity.
However, an early spring warm-up can lead to both mole cricket and chinch bug activity. Heavy populations can be reduced with appropriately timed insecticide treatments during this period. If grubs the white larvae of beetles, such as Japanese beetles have been a problem in previous years, monitor them by cutting a square foot piece of sod on three sides and peeling it back. If more than six grubs are found under the sod piece, apply a lawn insecticide labeled for grub control according to label directions.
Fertilization: Fertilization of St. Augustinegrass should be based on soil test results, and this is a good time to test soil. However, fertilizers containing nitrogen should not be applied during this period.
If new turfgrass growth is encouraged by fertilization during the early spring, and it is followed by a late frost, this can result in significant damage to the lawn. Irrigation: During dormancy, water the lawn to prevent excessive dehydration.
Winter desiccation can be a problem during dry winters. Watering to prevent drought stress can help eliminate turf loss during the winter. Most areas of South Carolina receive enough rainfall during the winter to avoid winter desiccation of lawns. However, this is not always the case. Monitor the winter rainfall on a regular basis, and apply water to the turf if no measurable rain occurs over a 3 to 4 week period. The added moisture in the soil will help keep the growing points of the turf warmer, preventing crown death.
To manage a lawn, it is important to know the soil texture in the top foot of soil. Sandy soils do not hold moisture well since they drain freely and dry out quicker. Clay soils, however, will hold moisture for a longer period of time. Be sure to not allow the lawn to stay excessively wet if the lawn has a clay soil. If the soil stays saturated all winter, this can cause many other problems. A soil probe can be used to monitor soil moisture.
Mowing: The ideal mowing height for St. Lawns in shady areas perform better when mowed at 3 to 4 inches high. Always mow with a sharp blade using a mulching type mower, which leaves the clippings to decompose on the turf. The mower blade needs to be sharpened on a regular basis — usually about once a month or at least before the growing season starts. If the bag is picking up soil, mainly sand, when the lawn is mowed, then the blade may need to be sharpened more often than once a month.
Fertilization: Always fertilize and add lime or sulfur based on a soil test. Augustinegrass will grow best at a pH of 6 to 6. If a soil test indicates a higher soil pH, sulfur can be applied to lower it.
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