Why Should I use Lime?

Clay soil is very acidic. Fescue lawns do not thrive in acidic conditions.  Lime raises the pH of the soil making it less acidic.  Lime should be done a minimum of 2 times a year.  You cannot over-lime in this area.  Despite what you have heard, Lime does not burn the grass.  Lime is very beneficial and should be done when you aerate and seed.

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Lawn Tip:

The grass is starting to slow down with its growth. From now until the end of Summer a good rule of thumb to follow for mowing is cut fescue at 4” high and cut Bermuda at 2” high. Bermuda can with stand the heat but fescue is sensitive this time of year and cutting short will kill your grass.  Also watering your lawn 2 to 3 times a week for 20 mins each time will help to keep your lawn healthy and give a better chance of survival during the summer months.

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Time to Aerate

Core aeration is a vital service to have a healthy lawn.  Fescue lawns should be aerated in the fall and early spring, where Bermuda lawns need aerated in the late spring.  We have clay soil which is the worst soil type to have.  Core aeration loosens soil compaction and allows water, air, and beneficial nutrients to get to the roots.  Core aeration is instrumental in root development in new seedlings as well as mature grass.  Never skip the opportunity to aerate your lawn.

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Queen City Monthly Newsletter - August 2016

LAWN CARE FOR AUGUST

August is a great month for:

•           Iron Based Fertilizer Treatment

•           Proper Watering and Mowing Practices

•           Mosquito Treatment

•           Last minute weed control

•           SIGN UP FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER AERATION/SEEDING/LIME/FERTILIZER (ONLINE SIGN UP AVAILABLE!)

LANDSCAPING FOR AUGUST

August is a great month for:

•           Bed Weed Control

•           Tree/Shrub Insect & Disease Treatments

•           Tip Pruning

SCHEDULING FALL SERVICES

Longtime QCLL customers know that we start scheduling aeration and seeding on August 1st.  The most popular time to aerate and seed your lawn is September 6 through October 15.  These weeks ALWAYS get booked up fast!  To ensure a spot in one of these primetime weeks please call the office immediately to schedule.  It is first come first serve!!!  Aeration and seeding outside of this window starts to hinder results. You may also sign up online at www.queencitylawn.com.

ASK JOE THE LANDSCAPER

Joe Morris is QCLL agronomic guru.  Once a month he answers FAQ sent in by QCLL Customers.  To submit your question for Joe, just email him at info@queencitylawn.com and he will be glad to give you his expert advice.

QCLL Customer:  I follow all the recommended mowing instructions, watering instructions, and lawn treatments but my lawn still doesn’t look as good as I would like.

Joe the Landscaper: Fescue lawns are classified as “cool season turf”.  This means that this grass type will start to deteriorate in hotter temperatures.  We can stop drought stress and brown patch, but no one can stop HEAT STRESS!!  Now I am not advocating doing nothing, because if you think your lawn is bad now, imagine it with no water, improper mowing, and Brown Patch.  July and August WILL ALWAYS hurt fescue lawns in some way.  The good news is that we can reverse and repair damage as cooler temperatures prevail.  ALL FESCUE LAWNS SHOULD BE AERATED IN THE FALL!!!!!  Most lawns will need over-seeding, lime and starter fertilizer. 

WHY SHOULD I CORE AERATE MY LAWN?

Core aeration is a vital service to have a healthy lawn.  Fescue lawns should be aerated in the fall and early spring, where Bermuda lawns need aerated in the late spring.  We have clay soil which is the worst soil type to have.  Core aeration loosens soil compaction and allows water, air, and beneficial nutrients to get to the roots.  Core aeration is instrumental in root development in new seedlings as well as mature grass.  Never skip the opportunity to aerate your lawn. Sign up online at www.queencitylawn.com

WHY SHOULD I OVER-SEED MY LAWN IN THE FALL?

Fescue lawns require over-seeding to repair damage brought on by summer stresses.  Unlike Bermuda, Fescue is not a self-repairing grass and should be done in conjunction with fall core aeration.  You want to seed in the fall since the spring treatments have Pre- and Post- Emergent that kill seed.  Watering is necessary to ensure good germination rates!

WHY SHOULD I LIME MY LAWN?

Clay soil is very acidic.  Fescue lawns do not thrive in acidic conditions.  Lime raises the pH of the soil making it less acidic.  Lime should be done a minimum of 2 times a year.  You cannot over-lime in this area.  Despite what you have heard, Lime does not burn the grass.  Lime is very beneficial and should be done when you aerate and seed. Sign up online at www.queencitylawn.com

FALL FERTILIZER

Applying a well-balance fall fertilizer is VERY IMPORTANT when you aerate and seed.  Too many people forget this step.  Using a good fall fertilizer will enhance seed germination and provide the proper root development the young grass needs.  It is important that the lawn receives a big boost of phosphorus and nitrogen to help the seedlings along.