Turf Troubles - Kiefer Landscaping

Your lawn and landscape are the first things others will notice about your home. A neglected lawn can make a poor first impression. Left alone your lawn can become a haven for pests and diseases. Luckily, there are steps you can take that will give you a lawn that looks beautiful and that you will also want to walk barefoot in.

6 Step Fertilizer Program

Crabgrass preventer with a slow-release fertilizer.
Broadleaf spray with a slow-release fertilizer.
Balanced slow-release fertilizer.
Insecticide and grub control.
Summer relief fertilizer.
Slow-release fertilizer for winter.

All fertilizer applied in this program would be granular. Steps 3 and 4 are applied at the same time for the best results.

Common Lawn Weeds

Dandelions are often found in lawns with low calcium levels and alkaline soils.

Chickweed thrives in compacted soil that is poorly drained.

Yellow nutsedge (water grass) is a grassy weed that is found in wet or poorly drained soil.

Ground Ivy (Creeping Charlie) likes shaded damp, and slightly acidic soil.

Common Lawn Diseases

Snow mold is a fungus that is caused by snow covering the ground for long periods of time.
Dollar Spot is often found during warm, wet weather.
Rust causes grass to start thinning out. An orange powder will cover the blades of the grass.
Pythium Blight occurs during hot and humid conditions. Poorly drained soils are infected.
Anthracnose is caused by low mowing, heavy traffic, unbalanced fertility, and extreme temperatures.

Common Lawn Pests

White grubs can be devastating to a lawn. They feed on the lawn roots which kills the grass. They also attract moles, raccoons, and skunks that will tear up the lawn.

Cinch bugs are found in lawns with excess thatch. They will cause your lawn to wilt and dry out in sunny areas.

Billbugs cause large patches of grass to turn brown and die. Infested areas will list easily from the soil. Billbugs leave debris similar to sawdust.

Sod webworms can kill a lawn in as little as 2 days. They feed on the grass blades.

Control Methods

Weeds, diseases, and pests can destroy a lawn quickly. The best defense against these problems is routine maintenance including fertilizing and proper mowing.

Enroll in Kiefer Landscaping’s 6 Step Fertilizer Program.
Keep your mower blades sharp, mow at a minimum of 3.5 inches tall, and mow in opposite directions each time you mow.
Aerate your lawn at least once a year.
Apply a fungicide at the first sign of fungus.
Remove all leaves and debris from your lawn.
Check your lawn for insect damage.
Maintain your lawn’s pH level between 6.5 and 7.
Allow for proper drainage of your lawn.
If watering is required, it is best to water in the early morning.