EAST AURORA, N.Y. — Fall is the time to finish well as you wrap up turf care for the year. As you continue to mow through the fall, it’s also a good time to check, or scout, for insect pests and make a fertilizer application.
Care for our lawn is one area where many of us may be able to take small, but important steps to protect the environment. If your lawn is already pesticide-free or you are planning to stop using pesticides, consider taking the Home for the Gnomes Lawn Pledge that you do not use pesticides on your lawn including products such as weed-n-feed. The Home for the Gnome Lawn Pledge is an effort through the Erie County Environmental Management Council, in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program and other organizations, which encourages homeowners to reduce or limit lawn applications to protect water quality and benefit the environment. The best practices below are steps homeowners can implement to maintain a healthy lawn.
As you keep up with your mowing during these cooler, wetter months, make sure your mower blade is sharp. A clean cut equals healthier grass which grows quicker and better competes with weeds. If you establish new grass, wait until 60% of the seedlings are 2.5” before mowing.
Now is also the time to think about patching, renovating and fertilizing. Sometimes your lawn may be beyond what just a fertilizer application and reseeding a few patches will fix. This is when you should consider renovating or establishing new grass through seeding or sodding. As you think about areas where you will seed grass, consider if grass is the right option or if other plants might grow better in these areas. If renovation is the best option, learn more about renovation practices in resources such as Cornell’s Lawn Care and Water Quality Almanac. (http://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/)
Fall fertilizer applications feed the roots of your plants, so they are ready to grow next year when spring arrives. For lower input lawns, hold off on the last fertilizer application until between late October and Thanksgiving. ‘Test don’t guess’ is good practice to understand your input needs. If you haven’t taken the pH of your soil or had a complete nutrient analysis done recently, have your soil tested so you can supply nutrients to your lawn based on your test results.
Master Gardener volunteers are a great resource if you need soil testing information. The CCE Erie County Master Gardener Program has re-opened its garden hotline outreach on the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora. The hotline table is staffed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00am to Noon in the downstairs lobby of the Print Shop at 21 South Grove Street, East Aurora. They will be following all safety protocols and face coverings are required.
In addition, the Master Gardener volunteers at the hotline will have Home for the Gnome pledges and free lawn signs available for pick-up. If you prefer, you can take the pledge online at http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/gardening/-erie-county-healthy-lawns-campaign.
At the hotline table, the Master Gardeners offer pH testing for a small charge and can provide you with information on how to have your soil analyzed for the major plant nutrients. A complete soil analysis costs about $15.00, requiring samples to be mailed to a lab in central New York. This lab provides recommendations for your lawn (or garden or other crops) based on research that has been conducted by Cornell University on New York soils. One reason to test is to limit applications of phosphorus. If phosphorus is adequate, make sure to use a fertilizer with a zero in the middle (10-0-10 for example). Most lawn fertilizers available in New York do not have phosphorus. Excess phosphorus can move off-site and contribute to algal blooms in bodies of water. (https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/67239.html)
Fall is also the time to check for grub damage. Are insects munching on your roots causing those brown patches? August through October grubs are near the surface before borrowing deeper to wait out the winter months. To check for grubs, the larva of insects such as Japanese beetles, cut three sides of 1 sq. ft area of lawn, peel back and count the small (~ ¾”) white grubs you see. Sample a few areas at least 20 yards apart. After checking an area, replace the sod and water. Fewer than 10 grubs per sample area means no need to worry about treating.
Taking these steps now will help to ensure your lawn gets off to a good start next spring.
About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County puts knowledge to work to build stronger communities. CCE provides educational programs in Agriculture, 4-H Youth Development, Nutrition, and Consumer Horticulture. Currently, CCE Erie offers training and educational programs with the support of over 100 Master Gardener Program volunteers.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County