Regular mowing comes to an end in October so raise the height of the mower for the last cut or two. Don’t cut the grass too short. If needed, trim the edges of the lawn so it’s tidy for the winter. If you haven’t done already apply an autumn fertiliser.
Full Answer
How do I control weeds in my North Carolina lawn?
Pre-emergence herbicides, such as siduron (Tupersan) and bensulide (Betasan), can be applied for annual weedy grass control after sodding cool- and warm-season grasses. Consider your lawn established when you have mowed it three times. Lawn Care Maintenance Calendars for specific grass types are available online on the NC State TurfFiles website.
How often should I mow my lawn in NC?
Consider your lawn established when you have mowed it three times. Lawn Care Maintenance Calendars for specific grass types are available online on the NC State TurfFiles website. Improper irrigation of lawns results in wasted water, added cost, and unhealthy plants.
What should I do after I lay sod in North Carolina?
After the sod has been placed, roll the lawn to ensure good sod-to-soil contact. Then begin watering. For a complete list of North Carolina sod producers and the varieties they carry, visit the North Carolina Sod Producers Association.
How do you maintain a green lawn in North Carolina?
To maintain a green lawn, it is best to irrigate, if possible, during periods of drought. Kentucky bluegrass produces a high-quality, medium- to fine-textured turf, at least when grown in the right climate. In North Carolina, it is well suited for the mountains and can be grown in combination with tall fescue in the piedmont.
What should I put on my lawn in October?
Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. If you want your lawn to look better and be healthier, fertilize in the fall. This process will give your lawn plenty of nutrients to get it through the winter and help the grass grow stronger in spring.
When should I fertilize my lawn in fall in NC?
Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day are good to use as reminders to fertilize cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. Your lawn should receive two‑thirds of its yearly fertilizer in the fall when the grass will store the food in the stems and roots.
Should you fertilize your lawn in October?
Fall is the best and most important time to fertilize your lawn because: Fall's morning dew delivers moisture to help turf absorb the fertilizer. The grass has a chance to build stamina before a chilly winter. Supporting root growth in fall leads to a healthier, greener lawn in spring.
What should I put on my lawn in the fall late?
Apply Fertilizer Cool-season grasses, such as bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass, respond well to feeding in early September and again in late fall (late October or November). It helps them green up earlier and look better in spring.
When should I put lime on my lawn in NC?
Lime can be applied at any time during the year, but it will take several months to fully benefit the soil. Try to apply lime before rainfall or plan to irrigate after application.
When Should I aerate my lawn in NC?
FALL. Fall is the best time to aerate and seed Fescue lawns. Core aeration & seeding is performed to alleviate soil compaction and reestablish new turfgrass.
What is the best lawn fertilizer for autumn?
We recommend using either Miracle-Gro EverGreen Autumn Lawn Care or Miracle-Gro EverGreen Premium Plus Autumn & Spring Lawn Food. These products are best applied using a lawn spreader to ensure even application over your lawn - this will help prevent any scorching or damage.
Should I fertilize my lawn in November?
This is the time of year when grass plants recover from disease, heat, drought, and other summer stresses and starts to prepare for the dormant period ahead.
How late can you fertilize in fall?
When To Fertilizer Your Lawn in the Fall. The best time to apply your last fertilizer application is between August 15 and October 1. Ideally, your last lawn feeding should take place six to eight weeks before the average first frost in your area.
How late can you put down winter fertilizer?
In general, try your best to apply it between September 1 and October 15. The farther north you live, the earlier you should apply it. The goal is to have at least one month of active grass growing weather remaining before winter takes its grip.
How do I prepare my lawn for fall and winter?
5 Ways to Prepare Your Lawn for WinterUse fallen leaves to your advantage. ... Maintain a compost pile and use it for insulation in the garden. ... Aerate your lawn before winter hits—especially for cool season grasses. ... Overseed your lawn 6-8 weeks before the first hard freeze. ... Leave the grass short in the winter.More items...
Should you fertilize lawn in fall?
During fall, September is the best time to fertilize your lawn. Grass is recovering from a long hot summer and may be coming out of a drought-induced dormancy, so you'll want to give your lawn a shot of nitrogen to push blade growth.
When is the best time to aerate fescue?
Fall is the best time to aerate and seed Fescue lawns. Core aeration & seeding is performed to alleviate soil compaction and reestablish new turfgrass.
How much grass growth can you remove when mowing?
We will never remove more than 1/3 of the top growth when mowing. Cutting too short lessens grass root growth and limits the turf’s ability to compete against weeds.
Why lower mower setting one notch?
We will lower the mower setting one notch to remove excess overwintering leaves. This promotes quicker green-up of the lawn. Fertilize trees and shrubs for improved health.
When is the best time to plant trees and shrubs?
Fall is great time to plant trees and shrubs.
What to do after scarifying a lawn?
Make sure you employ a good recovery program after scarifying. You should also overseed to fill in bare patches left by these invasive treatments. Serious gardeners should top dress their lawns. Also, if you want to sow a new lawn or lay turf, now is the time.
When is lawn care season?
March is when the lawn care calendar generally kicks off.
How to keep mower from cutting off too much?
Keep lowering the cutting height of your lawn mower if you like a closer cut. Only lower the height of the mower by one setting each time you mow to avoid cutting off too much.
How to keep grass from drying out?
Keep mowing the lawn but if the weather starts to dry, raise the height of the mower and mow a little less frequently. If you can, leave the clippings on the lawn. They will degrade and put the goodness and moisture back onto the soil.
When is the best time to cut worm casts?
November marks the winding down of the lawn care calendar. Keep on top of worm casts by brushing them back into the lawn and removing fallen leaves to reduce their surface activity. If the weather is still good (neither frosty or wet) then set the lawn mower high and give your lawn its last cut of the year.
What to do if there is no frost?
If there’s no frost, keep brushing the leaves off the lawn to avoid the onset of disease.
What is summer lawn maintenance?
Summer lawn maintenance is about keeping on top of the work you did during spring and is really a time to enjoy the longer days in your garden as you relax, with friends and family.
When is the best time to fix bare spots in my lawn?
Loosen the soil where the bare spot is, spread a thick layer of the mixture over the area, lightly compact it, and water every day for about two weeks .
How much do Americans spend on lawn care?
Americans spend more than $40 billion a year on lawn care.
What is the purpose of an aerator in lawns?
An aerator (manual or motorized) punches holes into the ground, pulling out plugs of soil, allowing those resources to get to the roots.
Do you need to get rid of weeds in the fall?
Weed. Don’t be swayed by the weeds that are pretty–you need to get rid of them. Weeds, just like every plant, scarf up resources in the fall to survive the winter, robbing your grassroots of what is rightfully theirs. Besides, the weeds are simply easier to kill in the fall.
What type of grass is used in North Carolina?
Homeowners in NC will have warm-season grasses such as Zoysia, Bermuda, Centipede, or St. Augustine. However, your lawn may be a cool-season grass such as fescue, bluegrass, or ryegrass. Here’s an annual lawn care schedule with fertilizing tips to help keep your lawn in good condition.
When does Bermuda grass go dormant?
If you have a warm-season lawn such as Bermuda grass, your grass will go dormant over the winter and won’t need to be fertilize d at this time. Once it wakes up in the spring, here’s how to make Bermuda grass thicker.
What is the best PH for a lawn?
Most warm-season lawns should have a PH of between 6.0 and 6.5. If you’re having problems with your grass, it may be a good idea to test the soil’s PH levels rather than giving the grass extra fertilizer. Too much fertilizer can sometimes be a bad thing and, in the worse cases, will even kill your lawn.
Does North Carolina have a lawn?
It takes time and dedication to create and maintain the perfect lawn. If you live in North Carolina, you may have a warm or cool-season lawn as all grass varieties grow well. With the correct maintenance, your lawn can grow green and healthy.
What is the best time to treat mildew in the fall?
Make sure to check your lawn closely for any signs of disease on a regular basis so you can treat the disease before winter .
When do leaves fall off the lawn?
October generally marks the beginning falling leaves, and it is important to stay on top of raking and keeping debris (and piles of debris and leaves) off your lawn. Layers of leaves can trap in moisture and prevent airflow, which can promote disease, and piles of leaves left on your lawn can provide shelter for rodents and other pests.
What causes grass to turn yellow in winter?
The weight of these items, compounded with the weight of possible snow, can cause damage. Simply put these items away for the winter and bring them out again in the spring.
Why is it important to rake up dead leaves?
It might be tempting to let those leaves lie, but raking up all leaves, dead plants, and other plant matter is important, because too many leaves or piles on your turf can trap in moisture and prevent airflow, which creates a good environment for disease and can cause damage to your grass, especially if snow falls on top of the leaves and other matter.
Is my lawn growing in the winter?
Your lawn is likely still growing this late into the year. Grass continues to grow as long as temperatures remain around 40 degrees, and your lawn still needs to be mowed to maintain your desired height. Letting your grass grow above three inches before winter can invite burrowing animals like voles and other rodents to take shelter in the tall grass, where they can negatively affect your lawn by causing dead spots and damage .
Is it ok to cut your lawn in the fall?
Fall does not mean you are done mowing - keep mowing until your lawn stops growing, but consider cutting it shorter to prevent snow mold and other fungal diseases. If your lawn has experienced snow mold in the spring before, cutting it shorter can help reduce chances of snow mold by reducing harborage for the mold spores. Start by lowering the mowing height gradually before cutting your lawn very short at the last mow of the year.
When is the best time to oversee a lawn?
Early fall (late August to early October) is the best time to overseed your lawn. Soil temperatures in the fall are still warm, which promotes optimum seed germination, and cooler air temperatures are better for grass growth. Warm-season weeds are also much less active at this time of year.
How long does a new lawn need to be fed?
It is safe to use on new seeds and is designed to make new seed grow quicker and thicker. It will feed your new lawn for up to two months and will help develop a strong root system so your grass will survive the winter or the summer. For more tips on when to overseed your lawn in North Carolina, visit us at JonathanGreen.com or visit your nearest ...
Why does my grass grow so slowly?
Even when the soil temperature is warm enough to germinate grass seed the soil will still be cold a few inches down which causes the grass roots to grow more slowly. If the weather suddenly gets too hot, it could cause the young seedlings to burn up.
What is the best grass seed for a lawn?
Choose the best grass seed. Black Beauty grass se ed mixture is designed to be heat and drought resistant and develop roots up to four feet deep. Black Beauty lawns are a rich dark green color and the leaves have a waxy coating like that of an apple that seals in moisture. It is suitable for both full sun and shade and is the choice of sod growers across the United States. Reading the blog posts on the Jonathan Green website will help you learn what is the best Jonathan Green grass seed mixture for your needs.
How to get grass seed to grow faster?
Use Love Your Soil. If you have hard compacted soil, put down Love Your Soil when seeding . It is formulated to loosen up the soil to allow for better root growth. It also works to release trapped nutrients in the soil to make them easier for the roots to absorb. Choose the best grass seed.
Can you use a lawn spreader over and over again?
Spreading seed and other products by hand does not ensure an even distribution, and some spots might end up missed. You’ll find that you use the spreader over and over again to treat your lawn with fertilizer and other products. Use Love Your Soil.
What to do if you have grub problems?
If you have grub problems, apply your first application of Milky Spore.
Is it worth it to have a beautiful lawn?
Creating and maintaining a beautiful lawn is well worth the time and effort. With a little planning and regular maintenance, you too can have a lawn that will make you proud and be the envy of the neighborhood. Below, you will find a year-round lawn care schedule, offering timely tips and instructions to keep your yard in tip-top shape!
When to apply preemergence herbicides in NC?
Apply preemergence herbicides to control crabgrass, goosegrass, and foxtail. It is typically best if applied in early March, sooner in the piedmont and coastal regions. See the NC State Extension publication Pest Control for Professional Turfgrass Managers for more information.
When to apply white grubs in NC?
Make note of areas with white grub activity and plan to apply a preventive application in the following spring or early summer. Specific timing will vary depending on white grub species, so plan to make an application when adult flight is at its peak. See the NC State Extension publication White Grubs in Turf for specific recommendations.
What is the brown patch on fescue?
Disease Control. Tall fescue is highly susceptible to brown patch disease, which appears as irregularly shaped patches of dead or dying turf. Brown patch develops under high humidity and when ambient temperatures are above 85°F.
When is the best time to mow grass for a slug?
Typically, the disease is most active in July through October. It can be challenging to control and requires multiple approaches for successful suppression. Keep mowing heights at 3 inches or taller and mow consistently. Removing grass clippings can limit the spread of the disease.
When to apply grub treatment?
Curative applications applied in early fall may control some white grubs, but efficacy will vary depending on the size of grub. Later instars (larger grubs) are harder to treat than early instars. Identify and make note of problem areas for preventive applications in late spring/early summer.
When to treat white grubs?
Preventive treatments for white grubs can be used in June, when adults are flying and starting to lay eggs. Curative treatments for white grubs are applied after the larvae have hatched from the egg stage. The best time to apply curative treatments is about 24 hours after significant rainfall, when grubs are actively feeding near the soil surface. See the NC State Extension publication White Grubs in Turf for specific recommendations.
How to repair bare spots in lawn?
Repair bare spots in both cool- and warm-season turf using Scotts® Bare Spot Repair Products . Timing is crucial for success: Aim for an early spring sowing for cool-season grass and a late spring sowing for warm-season grass. If your lawn is worn and thin, thicken it by overseeding. In the north, overseed with Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ , a product specially designed for thickening up thin lawns that combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a soil improver into an easy-to-use product that is applied with a Scotts® spreader. In the south, use the appropriate Scotts® Turf Builder® Grass Seed product for your grass type, and get your new grass off to a good start by using Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Food for New Grass.
How to prevent snow mold on grass?
In areas with falling leaves, a shorter lawn prevents leaves from matting down the grass. In snow-prone regions, a final fall mowing on the short side helps prevent snow mold on grass come spring .
How to cut grass at the highest level?
2. Mow High. Double-check your mower deck height, and position it to cut grass at the highest possible setting for your grass type. Cutting high encourages grass plants to grow thicker with deeper roots, which creates a lawn of healthy grass that will help to crowd out weeds. 3.
How to get deep roots in grass?
Gorgeous summer lawns start with long, deep, healthy roots that snake through soil to find moisture. The surest way to encourage deep roots is by mowing high —as high as you can for your type of grass. Sharpen mower blades at least once a season to ensure a clean cut on individual blades of grass, which helps reduce moisture loss.
How to keep grass green and healthy?
3. Water. To keep grass green, healthy, and growing, provide at least 1 inch of water per week, either through irrigation or rainfall. Time irrigation for early morning (between 6 and 10 a.m.) to minimize water loss to evaporation. 4.
Can you use ice melt on lawns?
Choose ice melt products that are designed to be used around the lawn. Rock salt (sodium chloride) can damage plant roots when used excessively.
