– So some of the common questions I’ve been getting in the livestreams are around what should you be doing to your lawn this time of year, now that the main cutting season is over. And that, if you have warm-season turf, your grass is starting to go into dormancy. What are some things you should consider doing, and what are some things you shouldn’t consider doing, this time of year? So that’s what we’re gonna talk about in this video, I’m gonna talk about everything from things you should be applying to your lawn, things you shouldn’t be applying, as well as some other tips around, like, maintenance, that just makes a lot of sense to get done this time of year.
You know, this time of year, with a Bermuda grass lawn, the lawn’s starting to go dormant.
As you guys can see, I’ve still got some green here and there, throughout the lawn. But for the most part, the lawn is starting to check out, it’s starting to go to bed until next year. So given this time of year, what’s one important thing that you can be doing that’s gonna set yourself up really good for next season? And really, that comes around soil testing. You guys know I’m a huge fan of soil testing.
So if you’ve never done one before and you’re just sort of thinking, “Hey, is this a good time of year? Is this the first time that I should consider doing one?” The answer is yes.
The main reason being is that, by getting a soil test, one of the things you’re gonna find out is what nutrient levels are in the soil, as they sit now. And also, you’re gonna learn a lot about pH, right?
pH is one of the things that a lot of people don’t really consider, when it comes to getting the most out of any fertilizer or out of the products that you apply to your lawn. And by knowing where that is now, it’s gonna allow you to take steps, you know, during the off-season, to help correct some of those problems.
So thing one, thing that you should consider doing this time of year, is a soil test. I’ve already got mine done for the fall. And, you know, it gave me a lot of good insights, as far as how the products that I applied to my lawn, over this past season, did.
And you can do the same for you, as far as getting ready for next season, for next spring. So let’s talk about something you really shouldn’t be doing, regardless of what your soil tests tell you. So let’s say, you go out and get a soil test done and it says, “Hey, your nitrogen levels are low. Your potassium levels are low,” you know, and you’re thinking, “Okay. Well, if they’re low.
I should go and try and fix those now.” And really, fertilizer is something you really want to be applying to your lawn when the lawn, when the grass, is actively growing. This time of year, doing a heavy fertilizer app can actually cause some issues. As much as I love Humic Max, you guys know this is my fertilizer of choice, the one that I recommend, the one that I use on my lawn. You know, even if your soil test results come back with saying, “Yeah, your soil is lacking nitrogen,” or lacking of one of the other macros, now really isn’t the time of year to do that.
Really, information on that level, you should just file away and know that, “Hey, when March rolls around or April rolls around, I’m ready to start, you know, applying my, do my fertilizer apps. I know what I need to be feeding the soil, but now isn’t the time of year to do that.” One negative that can really come out of doing heavy fertilizer apps now, when the grass is dormant…
Or really, two things. I say one, but really, two things. One, you’re really just wasting the product, because the grass isn’t really actively growing to take advantage of it. And then, second, you can start causing conditions or creating conditions that can cause issues with fungus in the spring, like spring dead spot. It’s something that I’ve dealt with this past season, which is why, this year, I really backed off on the fall fertilizer apps, just to prevent any chances of having spring dead spot in the spring.
So thing one, definitely consider, do not do any kind of heavy fertilizer apps this time of year. You can definitely load up on fertilizer. You know, if there’s any good deals on it, feel free to buy it, put it somewhere in a cool, dry place, and shoot, you’re ready to go for next spring. But I would not be putting it on your lawn, at this time of year. Now something you can do, and something that I have been doing this fall, I’m about to do my last app for the year, is a preventative fungicide.
So what I’ve got here is a product from Syngenta, it’s Headway G. Again, like I was telling you guys, this past spring, I had some areas with spring dead spot. And if you guys don’t know what that is, it’s when your lawn comes out of dormancy and, you know, the grass is growing green, everything looks good, and you have a few, like, circle, like, you know, 10 to 12-inch size areas of your lawn that are completely dead, right? They’re just circle areas that are dead for no apparent reason.
And what that is, is caused by a fungus problem that starts now, and really doesn’t manifest itself, you don’t really see it, until springtime.
So one way to help prevent that, or to get rid of any fungus problems that could be starting this time of year, is to use a preventative fungicide. I really recommend two apps. I’ve already done one app this year, this fall, already. So in early October, I did one. And then, now I’m about to do my second application.
Again, I used Headway G in both cases. Some people like to mix it up, they like to alter it. You may try a different fungicide, if you have access to that. But Headway, because it has both propiconazole and azoxystrobin in it, I find this works well and should give me a pretty good result, as far as preventing spring dead spot next year.
So something you can do, if you’re just trying to be super safe and prevent issues with fungus issues in the spring, is to get down a preventative fungicide.
So soil testing, yes. (chimes chiming) Heavy fertilizer apps, we’re gonna say no to that. (buzzer buzzing) And then a fall fungicide application, great idea, (chimes chiming) as far as preventing issues with fungus in the spring. So now, something else you could also consider, too, is our lawn equipment, right? So, you know, most of you guys, I would imagine, have a mower, and perhaps a real mower.
You’ve probably got a string trimmer or some kind of power tool. And now’s a great time, if you don’t do that kind of maintenance yourself, is a good time to send your mower out, to get it sharpened up, get an oil change done, get it all freshened up, because you’ve gotta figure, around springtime is when the shops that do that type of work are gonna be loaded up. They’re gonna have everybody bringing their stuff in, and it might take you several weeks to get your equipment back. But if you have, you know, if you’ve got the time now, I’d really recommend taking your equipment in, getting it all sharpened, get it all freshened up, get it put away so you’re good to go for next spring. So I just wanted to share this with you guys, really quick.
I hope you guys are finding this useful, and it gives you something to do in the off-season. I know a lot of you guys are, you know, that are lawn care nuts. You love applying fertilizer to your lawn, you love you just being out there mowing.
And there’s not a time, right now, to be able to do that, because the grass isn’t really growing, right? But these are some tips that you can do that are gonna get yourself all set and good to go for next season.
You know, enjoy the time off. And just realize that spring is only three or four months away. It’ll be here before we know it. And now’s the time to get yourself all set up to be able to do that. I will have links in the description for everything you see here.
So as far as the Headway, the fungicide, I’ll have both a link in the description of where you can pick this up, and also a video that goes into excruciating detail of how to apply it.
Same thing for the soil test kit. You can get these at this Golf Course Lawn Store. But I’ll have a video in the description that shows you how to go through collecting the samples, how to mix it up, how to send them out, all this jazz. And I don’t have anything for you on mower maintenance, ’cause I don’t do that stuff myself.
I send it out to professionals and let them take care of it. Guys, thank you so much for watching. I really appreciate all the love and support you guys have given me over this season. It’s been really awesome watching a lot of your guys’ lawns, really, just blossom and just do really well. And I am privileged to have been able to play a very small part in that.
So thank you guys so much for watching. I will see you guys in the weekly livestreams. And I hope you found this useful. I’ll see you next time.
Take care.
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