From the category archives:

Lawns and Turf

Manure should be well composted before being applied to your lawn

By JOE LAMP’L

I am often asked questions like this one. “What is the best natural fertilizer for your lawn? I would like to use something that I would not have to worry if it would burn up my lawn if to much was applied. What do you think about 10-10-10 fertilizer?”

10-10-10 is a great all purpose fertilizer when used in moderation. But it is not ‘natural’. It can certainly burn your lawn or plants if it is over applied. It can also actually do harm your soil if too much is used.

As far as a great natural fertilizer, Compost and composted cow manure are great. However, most people don’t have access to the volume necessary to effectively cover their lawn surface. If you are one of the lucky ones that do, be sure the manure is thoroughly composted or it too can burn your lawn. But once it has mellowed, it is harmless (except for the weed seeds) and very high in nitrogen and soil building properties.

A packaged product that I really like as a natural fertilizer is Milorganite. You can read more about this product on their website.

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Fall Lawn Renovation

November 2, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L Summer’s end is often a welcome time for many, especially if you enjoy gardening and working on your home landscape. The cooler post-summer weather is just what many of us need to become reinspired and head back out into our yards. Early to mid-fall is a great time to take on the [...]

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Fall Lawn Care Basics

October 6, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L Now that the fall season has arrived, those who were so busy in the summer maintaining and fertilizing warm season grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, and St. Augustine) are now able to sit back and enjoy one of the benefits of those types of grasses – dormancy. As these warm season grasses wind [...]

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Summer Turf Care for the Southeast

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L I’d like to start this article by sharing the common characteristics and needs of all turf grasses for this time of year, in the southeast. Irrigation In the absence of rainfall, your lawn should get about one inch of water per week. However, you won’t know how long it takes for you [...]

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Turf Tips for Spring and Summer

July 23, 2010
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In late Spring, turf grass, depending on the type, will either be coming into its prime, or on its way to decline. Each type has a preferred growing season. In either case, these simple guidelines will help ensure the best chance of looking it’s best this summer. Mowing Height Become familiar with the ideal mowing [...]

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Great Looking Lawns with less Time, Effort and Chemicals

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L I have at least two personalities when it comes to gardening. One is the practical, prudent, efficient type. To be sure, it’s the more intellectual one. The other is clearly motivated by emotion over sensibility, willing to sacrifice all but my first-born to the yard gods, in the name of beauty. Personality [...]

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Lawn Survival Guides in Times of Drought

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L Crunch, crunch, crunch; no, it’s not the sound of you munching on your favorite cereal. It’s what you hear beneath your feet as you walk across your parched lawn when grass is really dry. One of the first signs I look for in a drought stressed lawn is seeing whether or not [...]

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Grasscycling; Going Bag less- Its Liberating for You and the Environment

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L With the arrival of spring, cutting the grass becomes another weekly ritual to promoting the health and beauty of a great looking lawn and landscape. But many homeowners don’t realize it’s not necessary to bag those grass clippings. In fact, leaving them on your lawn offers several advantages. Grasscycling is the natural [...]

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To Mow or Not to Mow, THAT is the Question

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L What have I gotten myself into this time? While I painstakingly redo my lawn for the second time in a year, my wise Master Gardener friend tilled hers up for the last time, replacing it with a carpet of dwarf mondo grass, never having to mow again. Granted, she’s worked mighty hard [...]

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Spring Tips for a Great Looking Lawn

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L In March, it’s still too early to do much with warm season grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, and St. Augustine. However, if you have a cool season grass, like Fescue or Kentucky bluegrass, now is the second best time to overseed. Here are my suggested steps for getting your cool season lawn [...]

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Turf Talk

July 23, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L If you live in the Southeastern United States, your lawn is most likely Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine (known as warm season grasses) or Fescue (known as a cool season grass). It is important for you to know which type you have so that appropriate care and timing can help you obtain [...]

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Not Your Ordinary Lawn

July 12, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L What if you could have a lush lawn that stays deep green all year, only needs mowing once, never needs fertilizer or supplemental water, is disease and pest free, and looks just as good in sun or shade. Sound too good to be true? Enter Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus). First the bad [...]

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Best Time to Fertilize Lawns

July 12, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L Fertilizing your lawn can keep it looking lush and green. Whether you have warm weather or cool weather grass, fertilization is almost always a must for maintaining a great lawn. Fescue Fescue lawn should never be fertilized in late spring or summer. For best results, fertilize your lawn before the end of [...]

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Ridding the lawn of nut grass

July 12, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L Q.) Our back yard has been over taken almost completely by nut grass. There is hardly any grass left except the extreme edges. What do we do? Should we tear it all up and start over? Or is there a weed control product that would work? jg) Nut grass, also known as [...]

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Dealing With Common Chickweed

July 12, 2010
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By JOE LAMP’L If you see light green patches mixed within your fall lawn, there is a good chance you have common chickweed (Stellaria media). It’s a winter annual that’s found in all parts of the country. Chickweed has small egg-shaped leaves, and petite white flowers. These weeds are found as spreading clumps, 4-12 inches [...]

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