March is the time to feed your lawn and to also apply a pre emergent weed control in a one step process. Pre-emergent weed control will prevent crab grass and other annual weeds from taking over your lawn in warm weather when our cool season fescues want to slow and become dormant. Crabgrass is an annual that re-seeds each year if allowed to grow in the hot summer months. This pre-emergent treatment in the spring kills the young seedling as it sprouts, preventing another cycle. This is needed each spring season due to the fact that plugging and seeding in the fall brings some older seeds to the top that might not have been able to germinate the previous treated season. This pre-emergent treatment can also be put into the mulched beds to aid with fertility and also help with potential annual weed growth in the beds. Remember not to treat areas you intend on seeding or have planted wild flower seeds, this could prevent these from germinating. Pre-emergent does not control perennial weeds or grasses (e.g. wire grass). The timing for this treatment is critical. Ideally pre emergent needs to be applied to the lawn prior to the Dogwoods completing their bloom cycle.
We also recommend keeping a close eye on the broadleaf weeds (clover, chick weed, henbit, etc}. Many of these can be treated in prior months but most often they don’t emerge until spring and even summer. There are many applications that contain 2-4D formulations that have different effects on different weeds in the lawn. When applied at correct conditions and rates these chemicals will not harm our fescue lawns. We prefer a liquid application of broad leaf weed killer, however it can be achieved by using a "weed & feed" granular product. If using this dry product you should do this early in the morning to see that the dry chemical adheres to the foliage from the morning due or you could irrigate first to wet the foliage and then do NOT wash it off. Keep in mind that this "weed & feed" or broadleaf weed control should NOT be allowed to go into the shrub bed.
These products are available for purchase at Shelby Nursery, Inc and we are also licensed to apply these products to your lawn. Give us a call if you are interested in lawn health care services.
Skip Warrick
These products are available for purchase at Shelby Nursery, Inc and we are also licensed to apply these products to your lawn. Give us a call if you are interested in lawn health care services.
Skip Warrick