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 that get you down! There are still several warm months ahead for you to enjoy your St. Augustine, Bermuda, Centipede, or Zoysia lawn.
As you know, 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 before the end of August.
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 chance to level your lawn without damaging it.
In the Southeast, we are currently entering a rainy week with mild temperatures. However, it's still summer, so don't put away your hoses and sprinklers just yet, as warm, dry conditions will probably return at least one more time before your lawn goes dormant.
If (when) it does get hot and dry again, keep an eye out for heat stress in your lawn. Heat stress can cause grass to change color - not just brown, but sometimes a grey-blue color. If you noticed bluish patches in your lawn, turn on your irrigation right away!
Read our tips on how to care for your lawn when it's hot >>
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.
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.
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 St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede mowing tips for August:
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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