FALL ISN’T FINISHED YET
Good afternoon, everyone!
As I write this Saturday afternoon, the current soil temperature at our office is 107°F. The 24-hour average is 92.4°F, and the five-day average is 91.7°F. One reading in the afternoon doesn’t tell the whole story, but there’s no question the weather is changing.
We have a chance of rain tonight and more chances Wednesday and Thursday. By next Friday, the forecast calls for a high around 81°F and a low around 62°F. After the summer we’ve had, that sounds pretty nice.
If you took the summer off from yard work, I don’t blame you. Now it’s time to get back to work. We still have things to do before our lawns slow down for winter.
PRE-EMERGENT: YES, WE’RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT
People keep asking, “Is it still time to put down pre-emergent?” Yes, please come see us and let’s get your fall weed plan in place. Winter weeds such as rescuegrass and annual bluegrass can become a headache if we wait until they’re all over the yard.
Pre-emergent helps prevent susceptible weed seeds from establishing. It won’t kill a weed that is already growing. The product needs to match your grass and the weeds you’re trying to prevent, and timing matters. If you can already see weeds coming up, show us a picture so we can help you decide what comes next.
FERTILIZER: KNOW WHAT YOU’RE FEEDING
“Can I still fertilize?” That depends on your grass, when you last fed it, and whether it’s still actively growing. Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia, and fescue don’t all need the same fall treatment.
My goal is a healthy lawn going into dormancy and ready to green up when spring returns. That starts with taking care of it through the growing season, not just giving it one big dose of fertilizer at the end. Tell us what grass you have and what you’ve already applied, and we’ll help you make the right call.
RYEGRASS OR PRE-EMERGENT? MAKE YOUR PLAN FIRST
Some of you want green grass through the winter. Overseeding Bermuda with ryegrass can give you that color, but it also means more watering and mowing, plus a plan to let the Bermuda come back in spring.
Here’s the part I don’t want anyone to miss: a fall pre-emergent can also stop your ryegrass seed from coming up. If you want to overseed, tell us BEFORE you put down pre-emergent. We’ll go deeper into winter color next week.
DON’T FORGET THE REST OF THE LANDSCAPE
Walk your flower beds, trees, and shrubs. Check the soil before watering and freshen up mulch where it has gotten thin. Spread mulch out across the bed instead of piling it up against a tree. You should be able to see where the trunk widens at the base. A big “mulch volcano” against the bark holds moisture where it doesn’t belong.
Caption: Left, mulch piled against the trunk. Right, mulch spread across the bed with the base of the tree visible.
And take a look at your irrigation controller. The schedule that helped your yard through summer may be too much as the days get cooler and rain returns. Check the soil, use the rain delay when it’s needed, and adjust your watering instead of letting the timer run on autopilot.
Caption: A new season calls for a fresh look at your sprinkler schedule.
WHAT’S COMING IN THE LAST FOUR ISSUES
Week 41, October 4: Winter color. We’ll talk about ryegrass, what it takes to establish it, and fall color for flower beds.
Week 42, October 11: Beds, trees, and shrubs. We’ll cover mulch, watering, plant health, and what to trim now versus what should wait.
Week 43, October 18: Equipment and irrigation. We’ll talk about preparing mowers and handheld equipment for the slower season, and why this is a good time to bring your mower in for service before the spring rush.
Week 44, October 25: Our final walk around the landscape. We’ll put everything into one last checklist, cover what needs attention before colder weather, and close out this year’s Weekly Insight.
Week 44 will be our last issue for the year. We’ll pick back up in February. Until then, we’ve still got some good weeks ahead of us, so let’s make them count.
Have a great Sunday,
Monte