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Great Lawn |
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Caring Techniques for Lawn Georgia
Clean-up Tips
and Help |
Fall
Fertilization |
Insects /
Disease |
Lawn Clippings
Lawn Seeding Best Results |Your
Lawn’s Winter Nap
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Tips
Perfect Mowing
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| Seeding
Fall Fertilization
Fall is the time of year to
fertilize your lawn, prepare for winter and
get a head start on spring.
"If you want a healthy turf in
the spring, you need to feed
your lawn’s root system in the
fall," says Michael Gaffney,
certified turfgrass specialist
with the Professional Lawn Care
Association of America.
For some turfgrasses, growth
slows in the fall but the roots
continue to grow even in very
cold weather. The root system
will thicken to provide a
denser, healthier lawn in
spring.
"As a general rule, feed a lawn
about a month before it goes
dormant," advises Gaffney.
"Fertilize at the right time and
in the right amounts. Improper
fertilization can weaken the
root system." For fertilizer
rates and recommendations,
contact your local lawn care
professional or your cooperative
county extension agent.
Fertilizer provides nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium and
certain key elements like iron.
The root absorbs these nutrients
along with air and water.
Sunlight helps turn these
nutrients into sugars, which are
used to fuel plant processes
such as maintenance and growth.
Excess sugars are stored in the
root system to stimulate root
development during the dormant
period and fuel re-growth in the
spring. It’s also important to
regularly remove leaves from
your lawn during the fall to
keep the plants exposed to the
sun’s rays.
Gaffney also recommends aerating
the soil of cool season
turfgrasses in the fall. Warm
season turfgrasses should be
aerated during the summer when
they are in their most vigorous
growth period, especially if the
soil seems hard and compacted.
"Healthy roots require not only
water and nutrients, but oxygen
as well. Aerating the soil helps
break up the thatch layer and
allows the roots to breathe."
Do
your part for the environment;
invest in a healthy,
well-maintained lawn this fall.
A healthy turf filters
groundwater, retards the spread
of fire, and absorbs pollutants,
dust and pollen.
When Nature Calls is always
ready to help with seasonal
preparations - so you can have
the best lawn possible.
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