Here are some tips for doing your own lawn renovation this fall:
• Decide whether you need some minor repairs, or a complete overhaul. If you have a few weeds or some thin areas, and your lawn looks nice overall, you’ll want to correct your minor problems and promote the vigor of the remaining grass.
• If you have more crabgrass, clover and dandelions than fescue, you’ll want to start by killing everything that’s growing. in mid to late August, apply a non-selective herbicide according to the label. Examine the yard in two weeks. If there’s still some live grass or weeds, spray again.
• Once everything’s dead, start preparing the soil according to what you’ve learned from your soil test. Regrade your soil so it slopes away from the house and high and low points are eliminated.
• Apply grass seed. The best time is in September/October. The second best time is in November/December. The third best time is March through May.
• Fertilize, but go easy. Too much can burn tender seedlings.
• Protect with straw.
• Water two or three times per day until the grass germinates. Then cut back until you are watering heavily once or twice per week.
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