10810 Southern Loop Blvd. Pineville, NC 28134
Mon-Sat: 08:00AM - 6:00PM
20 Jan 2018

January 2018

The Charlotte area has just experienced some extreme weather conditions. Extended below freezing temps, wind chills in the single digits followed up with 4-5″ of snow on the 17th will have an impact on Fescue and Bermuda turf. The thawing/freezing cycles during snow melt can harm the root system/crown of the individual grass plants. Most damage will occur in low areas of the lawn and on the shade side.

The wind and frost extract moisture from the plants which is not a problem on Bermuda (dormant) but will cause the actively growing Fescue plants to shut down, turn brown and begin wilting.

I would expect to see moderate spring dead spot and winterkill on some varieties of Bermuda and Zoysia. We will not know the extent until May green-up. The green-up could be delayed as a result of the weather over the last 3-4 weeks. Keep an eye on May night time lows. We need to see lows in the 50’s for a week or two to start the transition.

Over the next 8-10 weeks it will be important to get additional Phosphorous and Potassium to the root systems. The first mowing of the spring for Fescue (usually Feb-Mar) will need to be shorter than normal to remove the winter injury and jump start the root system. Aeration for Bermuda lawns is highly recommended in June-Jul this season.

The last few winters have been relatively mild. As a result, we have seen exploding populations of Aphids (crape myrtles), White Fly (gardenia/privet) and Scale Insects (on just about everything). This was especially true for 2017. The hard, prolonged freeze will reduce the population of over-wintering insects reducing pressure in the spring.

The forecast is for warmer than normal temps and average rain over the next 10 days which will hopefully mitigate the effects of the recent severe weather extremes.

20 Sep 2017

Watering Fall 2017

It looks like Ma Nature has shut off the spigot just in time for fall Fescue seeding! Through the end of August, rainfall was +10 inches versus normal and some 15″ above 2016 totals. We have seen no rain since being brushed by Irma on September 12th. With 80 degree temps, it won’t take long for the clay soil to dry out.

Tall Fescue seed takes 14-21 days to germinate. Proper watering is the key to good germination. Once the seed is down it must kept wet on a daily basis. If you have an irrigation system, I recommend 3X per day (9AM, 3PM, 8PM) for 15-20 minutes. If you are watering by hand, twice per day for 25 minutes is minimum. (AM,PM) If the seed is allowed to dry out, germination rates can decrease by 75%. Waiting for natural rainfall only will delay germination by weeks. Municipal and county watering restrictions will dictate how often you can water.

Once you see a good stand of young seedlings (3/4″) you can cut back to once per day for 5 days and then 3X per week for 5 days. You will see germination in aeration holes first. Surface germination will occur about a week later. Don’t expect a full stand of grass this fall. We are aiming for root development through the winter. Fescue will not start tillering and thickening until the spring. Not seeding this year…I recommend normal 2X per week 35-40 minutes per area during periods of no precipitation and 80 degree temps.

Try not to cut the grass for 3 weeks after seeding. That is one of the reasons we ask you to cut short prior to seeding. Keep leaves off of new seedlings using a blower at low speed. Call or e-mail with any questions….Mike

30 Aug 2017

Preparing a fescue lawn for Aeration and Seeding

Proper Preparation Pays

We recommend cutting the lawn shorter than normal before aeration and seeding. Take it down to 2-2 1/2 inches. This is the only time we will ask you to cut this short. By cutting short, you can skip a mowing or two. We like to see no traffic on the lawn for 14 days to allow the seed a chance to germinate before you cut again. Cutting it shorter also allows the seed to get down to the soil and more sunlight on the seed.

If you started lawn service later in the season and have an abundance of annual weeds like crabgrass, lespedeza and spurge, take your mower down to the lowest setting. “Scalping” and bagging the clippings in this type of situation is the only way to insure good germination.

The most important aspect of your preparation is watering before the service is performed. The deeper the core pulled the better. We want to encourage the deepest root system possible. Even the best equipment and operators can not extract a deep (2-3 inches) core in dry soil. It is very important to have an adequate base soil moisture before the seed is applied. You will never be able to keep the new seed moist on a daily basis without starting with wet soil. Frequent, light watering is required for good germination. Without that base to start, all of your water will be sucked down into the dry soil and the seed will dry out. We ask you to please mark irrigation heads before we arrive. Aeration and Seeding is a big investment in your lawn so get the best results with proper preparation. If you have any questions, please call us.