SPRING TURF CARE:

• Cool season species in the north and transition zone states: Spring is a good time for planting cool season species, such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue and perennial ryegrass.
• Spring is also a great time to put down a feeding of fertilizer to wake up your turf and get it growing. Ewing stocks a broad line of fertilizer, including organic products.
• Warm season species in the southern states: Spring is when the warm season species like Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass start to come out of dormancy and green up again. An application of fertilizer will help jolt them into growing mode.
• Late spring is the best time of the year to apply an application of insecticide to control sub-surface, root-feeding insects such as white grubs.
• If an irrigation system was turned off during the winter months, don't forget to turn it on and adjust the timing for the warmer days of spring.
• Spring is the best time of the year to apply pre-emergent herbicides; they put down a barrier that prevents weed seedlings from germinating and developing.

SUMMER TURF CARE:

• Broadleaf weed control products are often applied in the early summer, especially in the northern and transition zone states.
• An application of slow-release fertilizer can help extend the release of nitrogen for up to 12 weeks and minimize surge growth, and the extra mowing that comes with it.
• Summer is when turf is under the most heat stress; make sure your irrigation timers are adjusted to apply enough water during the hottest times of the year.
• Mowing height is critical to healthy turf, especially during the heat of summer. The general rule is that the shorter the turf is cut above grade, the shorter the roots will be below grade. Higher cutting heights will allow grass to maintain deeper roots so that plants can gain access to water deeper in the soil profile.
• Late August/early September is the best time to seed permanent turf in the northern and transition zone states. The soil temperature is warm and daytime temperatures are not as hot as in the middle of summer.

FALL TURF CARE:

• Fall is the number one time to fertilize cool season species. It is helpful to put an application soon after Labor Day in the northern and transition zone states so that the plants can develop a strong reserve of carbohydrates in their roots. This will aid in spring green-up. Depending on your location, a late fall follow-up application may be needed as well.
• In the southern states, fall is overseeding season as the warm season species go dormant and yellow all winter. Overseeding with cool season species allows the turf to stay green all winter. Ewing offers a diverse line of overseeding species, such as perennial ryegrass, Poa trivialis and chewings fescue.
• Fall is the time to turn down, or turn off our irrigation systems.
• Keeping leaves raked off of a lawn will prevent the accumulated leaves from suffocating the turfgrass plants underneath.
• A late season application of fungicide is helpful in preventing turf damage from winter snow mold.
• Keeping mower blades sharp is a year-round way to minimize turf diseases and keep turf looking good.