Parts 1-3 of this series have dealt with considerations of watering, mowing and fertilization that greatly impact turf performance in hot summer weather. The final segment, part 4, deals with several random strategies that will help lawns and other turf areas grow well. These common sense management practices are as follows: *Designate “hydrozones” in…
Category: Weather
Turf Care Under the Hot Sun, Part 3
Parts 1 and 2 of this series have encouraged readers to water and fertilize less than in spring and fall, which dovetails nicely with the topic of part 3, which is to mow less often. Reducing mowing frequency is important as the process of mowing creates openings in the ends of grass blades, allowing them…
Turf Care Under the Hot Sun – Part 2
My GROBigRed post in the first week of June introduced the concept of caring for turf under hot, sunny conditions, and focused on efficient irrigation practices. Here’s an excerpt to set the stage for this week’s post – “In summer, in Nebraska, it’s hot. So hot that caring for turf requires a full set…
Turf Care Under the Hot Sun – Part 1
In summer, in Nebraska, it’s hot. So hot that caring for turf requires a full set of strategies…in fact 4 pieces or parts. And, like McNuggets, they’re fused together for success. Part 1 – Efficient Irrigation Part 2 – Appropriate Fertilization Part 3 – Mowing Considerations Part 4 – Miscellaneous Factors Efficient irrigation begins…
Summer Lawn Care
The heat of summer is upon us and along with it comes a number of lawn issues that are dealt with differently than in spring and fall. First, watering. The two most important guidelines to remember are 1. Water to the bottom of the roots and 2. Keep the roots moist, not soggy or dry. …
Crabgrass Prevention
If I had to think of ONE thing, just one thing that I get asked in the spring about lawns, it’s “when do I put on my preemergence for crabgrass?”. In most years, people are antsy to put it on, partially because they have spring fever after a long, cold Nebraska winter and they’re really…
After the Storm
This week is Severe Weather Preparedness. We often make plans for what to do in worse case situation for families but we often are caught off guard what to do with our trees. Damage done to trees can be from wind, hail, snow/ice, lightning and more. Sometimes the damage is silent and does not appear…
Fairy Rings of Turfgrass – A Folktale?
If ever there was a name of a malady of turf that inspires a bit of folly and a lot of frustration, it’s fairy ring. Pertinent to property owners due to this being National Folktale Week, the name was inspired by the “tale” that fairies used to dance in circles above the turf and soon…
Water – Ground and Surface
With a tip of the cap to National Groundwater Awareness Week, the landscape and gardening industry must do their part to prevent groundwater and surface water pollution on the properties we manage. At first, this topic may seem kinda nebulous, almost begging the question of “how does my garden or lawn contribute to water…