As summer winds down, so should your fertilization regimen.
The month of August is your last chance to apply high nitrogen fertilizer and to topdress with compost or Level Mix (our sand/compost blend). Don't let that make you sad - there are still several warm month ahead for you to enjoy your Bermuda, Centipede, or Zoysia lawn.
Last Chance to Topdress Warm Season Lawns
This is the last month to aerate warm season lawns. Use a core aerator, then topdress with Soil³ compost to add nutrition and improve the soil.
Learn How to Aerate & Topdress >>
Do you have a bumpy lawn and are looking for a way to fix that? We recommend topdressing with our Level Mix, a blend of sand and Soil³ to fill in the small holes, divots, and depressed areas. You guessed it, August is the last change to level your lawn without damaging it.
How to Care for Your Lawn When it's Hot
🌡️ Nina Johnson, our Lawn Coach marketing manager, reminded me to remind you that heat stress can cause grass to change color - not just brown, but sometimes a grey-blue color.
💦 She noticed a couple bluish patches in her lawn last weekend and got the hose out right away!
Read our tips on how to care for your lawn when it's hot >>
Fall Armyworm Alert
There are two annoying things about the name of this creature:
🐛 It's not a worm. It's a caterpillar.
🐛 They are called "fall" armyworms. It's not fall yet, it's the doldrums of summer, but this caterpillar doesn't know that "fall" (or worms) is in their name, so you could see them any day now until frost.
All lawns are under alert, but these caterpillars especially love new sod (and Tall Fescue of any age).
Scout for "fall armyworms" from now until first frost in autumn. If areas of your lawn look mysteriously brown and chewed on, it might be these caterpillars. >>Read up on fall armyworms
To prevent armyworms and feed your lawn, we recommend our 5-10-30 with Acelepryn insecticide for all lawns. It's safely low in nitrogen and the phosphorus and potassium will benefit overall health. 
Fertilizing Tips
- Since the threat of fall armyworms is real, we recommend our 5-10-30 + Acelepryn insecticide for Zoysia and Bermuda lawns. Order fertilizer for pick up or delivery or check out our Lawn Coach subscription.
Read the Best Times to Apply Fertilizer >> - Your TifBlair Centipede should be fertilized with very little nitrogen fertilizer. We have our own special formulation just for it with lower nitrogen: Centipede Formulation 5-10-30 + Iron. That's all it will need. Order 5-10-30 for pick up or delivery or check out our Lawn Coach subscription.
Read Fertilizer Tips for Your Centipede Lawn >> - Topdressing with Soil³ can take the place of one fertilizer application. We recommend you aerate at the same time. If you have a new lawn, don't aerate until it's fully rooted - we recommend waiting until it's had one growing season to establish.
Read How to Aerate Your Lawn >
Weeding Tips
- The window for pre-emergent herbicide opens next month in September! Meanwhile, apply post-emergent liquid herbicides like Quincept and 3-Way Max for weeds you can see now in established lawns. Read the label and follow instructions.
👍 Rule of Thumb: It's okay to apply a post-emergent liquid herbicide labeled for warm season lawns (Quincept and 3-Way Max) after you've mowed your new lawn 3 to 4 times. - Pulling by Hand: Tomorrow morning pour yourself a cuppa and pad around your garden looking for stray weeds. Pull up the biggest ones by hand. If you do a little every day, you'll see your progress.
- Mowing: Mow those weeds down before they go to seed. Mowing is an effective way to suppress weeds because it cuts off flower/seed heads and that stops weeds from making more weeds, thus breaking the life cycle. If you have bad weeds, mow on a weekly routine and don't let the weeds get ahead of you.
- Mulch suppresses weed seeds in flower beds. Spread your favorite mulch 2-4" thick and keep it 1-2" away from touching the trunks or stems of your plants.
- Because this weed is difficult to pull up by hand, I almost get goose bumps when I see it. Read how to get rid of it in your lawn and flower beds: August Weed of the Month: Goosegrass
I have to get a shovel and dig up goosegrass - large clumps are tenaciously rooted and I cannot pull them up by hand. The best control is mowing and pre-emergent herbicide.
Mowing Tips
Read André's blog where he'll teach you the 7 Tips to Mow Your Lawn Like a Super-Sod Boss.
Here are your specific Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede mowing tips for August:
- Mowing New Sod: Did you lay new sod? Our saying is to "mow as soon as there is something to mow." In fact, mowing will promote growth! So don't be timid. Mow it! Read: How Soon Should I Cut My Grass?
- Mowing Height: There is a healthy range for each type of lawn. Do you know the best height for your lawn? Look them up at: Summer Mowing for Warm Season Grasses
If you have a Tall Fescue lawn (the best cool season lawn for the Southeast), check out August's Lawn Tips for Tall Fescue.
Got questions? Leave a comment below!
Come back next month for September's Lawn Tips for Warm Season lawns!
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