At Home Living: Know when it's time to fix your lawn

If it aint broke, dont fix it. At what point do you determine that your lawn is broke and needs fixin? There is a general rule of thumb that if 50% of the lawn is in good condition then work on improving it by killing weeds and overseeding with K-State recommended turf grass seed. If less than 50% is in good condition it may be time to fix whats broke.

Fixin your lawn will take serious commitment. Timing is critical and all actions needed should not be attempted in one weekend. A successful new lawn requires careful planning and frequent attention until establishment, but the results should be well worth the effort.

September is the best time to seed (or overseed) a lawn. The soil is warm and seeds germinate very quickly allowing time for good root development before winter. Plus, there is less weed competition than in spring. October 15th is generally considered the last day for planting a lawn in the fall.

In the past the popular seed mix was K-31.While it was very hardy it had the appearance of pasture grasses and an unacceptable level of weed and other seed. A much better choice for our area is a tall fescue blend. Find these at your local nurseries and garden stores. They are blends using K-State recommendations for varieties that grow best in our area. Be careful if buying pre-packaged blends from the large convenience stores. They often have an unacceptable level of weed and other seed. If you try to save money on seed you will be spending it on weed killer later and still not have a quality lawn.

Steps for renovation

1. Take a soil test. This will determine if any essential nutrients are deficient. Call the Extension Office for directions. (785) 232-0062.

2. Kill existing vegetation. (If you are overseeding use Trimec, Weed-Out, Weed-B-Gon, or Weed-B-Gon Max plus Crabgrass killer, and similar products to kill broadleaf weeds only.) Use Round-Up to kill ALL weeds and grass in the area chosen for renovation. Do this at least 2 weeks before planting new seed. Shortening this time will result in plants not being fully killed. Tilling too soon will only cause perennials to regenerate. (Wait one month if overseeding.)

3. Grade soil surface so it drains water away from the house and blends into the surrounding terrain. Avoid adding or removing soil around trees. Remove any dead plant material.

4. Amend soil. Add compost and fertilizer as recommended by the soil test. Till 10-12 inches deep or as deep as possible. This should be done several weeks before planting allowing time for soil to settle. Avoid over-tilling that results in the soil being beaten to the consistency of flour.

5. Hand rake for the final phase making it smooth to mow or walk on.

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At Home Living: Know when it's time to fix your lawn