Published On: September 16th, 2019Categories: Uncategorized


Sandlots and dirt yards are fine for goofing off during pickup football games; running, leaping, swerving and diving is perfect for a relaxing afternoon in the Colorado sunshine. But if you’re going to pirouette before mashing your face into the ground, you’d probably prefer to land on nice, cushy turf grass.

Fall marks the season for football and renovating yards. As temperatures cool, grass gets a chance to plug in its holes that were left by high summer heat. As the summer season wanes, it’s time to get the grass into gridiron shape.

Temperatures in the lower ’70s are ideal for cool-season grass regrowth, allowing thin spots to fill in and crowns to send up new shoots. Many lawns that have browned under dry summer conditions may start to fill in again. A bit of water helps grass recover, and areas stressed from Ascochyta disease or poor irrigation will likely make a comeback.

During September, the most important aspect to lawn rejuvenation is a strong fall feeding with a turf-builder fertilizer that’s rich with both quick- and slow-release nutrients. All-purpose mixes have 16 nutrients needed by turf to remain healthy. A balanced fertilizer goes beyond offering nitrogen, phosphate and potassium oxide (the N-P-K numbers).

Apply chelated iron to lawns that are slightly yellow from iron chlorosis. But be aware, not all chelation formulas work in Colorado’s alkaline soils, so be sure to look for a formula with ethylene diamine dihdroxyphenyl acetate (EDDHA). The cheaper and more common formula available, EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetate), is only active in pH-neutral soils.

When releasing the most important fertilizing nutrient for turf — nitrogen — into the soil, the temperature and moisture levels are important. When there are warm days with a few rain showers, lawns will get a quick boost of food. Under ideal conditions, turf — an active scavenger of nitrogen — will take up the nitrogen within hours of it being put down. This is perfect for lawns near the end of September because the quickly available fertilizer will increase turf vigor, and the slow release will continue encouraging turf rebuilding well into fall.

Thin areas where the grass has died off can be over-seeded. To get the best results from over-seeding, water the lawn 24 hours before aerating. Pass the aerator over the turf in two to three directions to open up many holes. Immediately over-seed with the grass of choice, but keep in mind that, in general, tall fescue does not blend well with bluegrass, perennial rye or fine fescue because of its wide grass blades.

Grass seed takes a while to germinate, so keep humidity on the lawn for 14 to 21 days. Use starter fertilizer at the time of over-seeding to feed the turf without burning the new shoots. With close attention to care and a little pampering, your lawn will recover.

The Colorado Master Gardener program in Boulder County is currently taking applications for its spring class.  If you are interested in helping others garden, the Colorado Master Gardener program is for you. Classes are held 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Fridays from late-January through mid-April. Call 303-678-6238 to receive an application.


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