Turf Care: An Overview
Turf Care: An Overview
Grasses in Indiana
For many homeowners, turf care is an important part of maintaining their landscape. A lush, green lawn is perfect for recreation and adds aesthetic value to the home. But how can we achieve it? First, we have to understand the lawn at the base level.
In residential homes in Indiana, most turf is comprised of cool season grasses - Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue. These should be seeded between mid-August and mid-September. Different seed blends are available depending on site traffic, sun exposure, and aesthetic needs.
Cool season grasses grow best when temperatures in the 70s, usually in late spring and early fall. They slow down in the heat of the summer and the cold temps of early spring, late fall, and winter. Here in central Indiana, they typically keep some of their green color in winter.
Watering
Watering is an important part of turf maintenance. Done correctly, it can enhance the health and vigor of the lawn, therefore making it more resistant to disease and pest pressure.
However, watering too much, too little, or at the incorrect time can have negative effects - resulting in disease, stress, and damage. Turf can become sickly, or even die off.
Water just enough to support the aesthetic and functional needs of the grass. Cool season grasses are especially likely to require irrigation to support them during the hot summer months, but you want to avoid creating standing water or leaving grass wet for long periods of time.
It’s best to water in the morning so the grass can dry throughout the day, and to water deeply less often, rather than watering lightly every day.
Fertilizing
Most turf will benefit from fertilization throughout the season. Cool season grasses appreciate extra nitrogen at the end of the growing season, between late August and early September.
There are a wide range of fertilizer blends. Some include herbicides and insecticides to make overall lawn care more efficient.
Consult with your local garden center or turf provider for more specific advice regarding your lawn needs.
TIP: If you think your lawn is suffering from a weed, insect, or disease issue, consult with your local garden center or turf provider. If you’re in the central Indiana area, Sundown Gardens is happy to help and offers a wide range of turf services. Proper diagnosis and treatment is imperative for the health of the lawn, but also the health of the environment and community we all enjoy!
Mowing
Different types of grass do best when kept at different heights, but most residential cool season grasses prefer to be kept at around 3 inches. Typically, the longer the better, especially in the summer months. Mowing frequency will fluctuate with the weather and the grass’s growth rate.
Make sure mower blades are kept sharp and clean. Mowing with dull blades can damage the turf and invite stress and disease.
Lawncare at Sundown Gardens
In the Garden Shop
The Garden Shop at Sundown Gardens carries a range of grass seed, fertilizers, and turf pesticides for homeowner use.
Staff members are available on site to help get you on the path to lawncare success, from small projects like reseeding or spot treating for weeds, to our full-season lawn programs, and everything in between!
DIY Lawncare Programs
If you enjoy working on your lawn and want a complete DIY option, we have two programs available through the Garden Shop. They give you all-season care for turf health and maintenance.
The four step program is designed to support turf throughout the growing season. It provides weed protection and nutrients that your lawn needs to thrive.
The six step program packs some extra punch. It includes grub prevention for lawns with a history of grub pressure, as well as a lawn winterizer for end-of-season care.
Turf and Tree Department
If you want some assistance with your lawncare, or have a tricky weed or pest issue that can’t be solved without professional intervention, the Turf and Tree Department at Sundown Gardens may be able to help!
We offer a full range of turf services, from diagnosis to treatment, mowing, aeration, and more!
Call to inquire today and see what we can do for you.