Don’t hurry your lawn

In the spring, our attention can turn in one of several directions depending on our interests. Fishers are pulling out their boats, while gardeners are cleaning up flower beds. Other folks plan spring break trips.

I am shopping for a boat, a small one I can drag and paddle myself. Though I am still looking, I notice a desire on my part to want to hurry the process. I want to buy something, so I can get out on the water and fish. However, if I rush the process, I may make a bad purchase and regret it later.

Lawn care enthusiasts have a similar problem. Once we see the first few sprigs of green grass, we want to begin fertilizing and weed killing. Do not hurry at this time of the year, or you and your lawn may regret it later.

Do not fertilize turf too early. Early fertilization can lead to early green up. Though this may look nice for awhile, turf that greens up early can be more susceptible to cold weather injury. Also, nitrogen applied too early may not be taken up by dormant plant roots. This nitrogen can be lost by leaching and runoff. Finally, heavy applications of nitrogen in cool weather can cause problems with brown patch disease.

Time fertilization based on soil temperature. Wait to fertilize lawn grasses until the soil temperature is consistently 65 degrees and rising at the 4-inch deep level. This often will not occur in central Georgia until the last week of April. To watch soil temperatures, visit www.georgiaweather.net.

Bermuda lawns probably can be fertilized earlier with fewer risks. It is best to fertilize St. Augustine and centipede later. Centipede especially can be at risk from early fertilization and over fertilization. Fertilize centipede lawns with half rates of fertilizer beginning in May.

Though it is too early to fertilize, February is a good time to prevent summer weeds. Apply pre-emergence herbicides in early to mid-February and again 45 to 60 days later if the weather and the herbicide label permits. Summer weeds can include crabgrass, lespedeza, goosegrass and others.

The pre-emergence herbicide you use will depend on the kind of weeds you had last year and will expect this year, as well as the type of lawn grass you have. Atrazine generally prevents broadleaf weeds better than grassy weeds. It will control annual bluegrass but will not control crabgrass well. It is excellent for lespedeza, annual bluegrass and many broadleaf weeds.

Atrazine can be used on zoysia, centipede and St. Augustine lawns. It also can be used on Bermuda grass if it is fully dormant (brown). Atrazine also kills some weeds after they emerge.

On all warm season grasses, you can use other pre-emergence herbicides besides Atrazine. These are better at preventing grasses, especially crabgrass, but will prevent some broadleaf weeds. Some of these include Halts (pendimethalin), Surflan (oryzalin), Balan (benefin), dithiopyr and XL (benefin plus oryzalin). These weed killers should be applied before weeds emerge for good control.

It is hard to find a good time to apply weed-and-feed products. Weed control should begin in February, while fertilization should wait until late April. I suggest you apply fertilizer and weed control separately. If you still want to use a weed-and-feed product, apply it in late April after the lawn greens up fully.

Willie Chance is retired from UGA Extension in Houston County. To reach your local extension office, call (800) ASK-UGA1 from any non-cell phone. To subscribe to the central Georgia home gardening newsletter, e-mail mg@uga.edu.