Lawn Treatment Guide
Aeration & Overseeding
Aeration is one of the single best things you can do for your lawn. Aeration is the process of punching holes approx. 1-3" deep into the turf allowing for sunlight, water, oxygen, and minerals to flow into the root grasses root layer.
Aeration is done in the early Spring or early Fall. This is because the cooler temperatures allows the grass to rebound quickly from the aeration process since it can be stressful on your lawn.
Overseeding after aerating is great for promoting new seed germination to make your lawn thicker and greener. Overseeding during the cooler months of the year allow the seed to be in a more ideal environment compared to hotter summer months.
Fungus Treatment
Preventative monthly fungus control applications will be made May through September. The most common reason your lawn may get a fungus is due to extended leaf wetness and humidity. Common funguses that these treatments prevents against is Dollar Spot, Brown Patch, Summer Patch, and Red Thread. It is better to be preventative than reactive when dealing with lawn fungus.
Lime Treatment
Lime will raise the soil PH and make nutrients more readily available to the grassroots. Fertilizer with lime helps raise pH to bring it back to levels where nutrients are more readily available to plants. On the pH scale, your lawn’s pH should ideally be between 6.0 and 7.0. New Jersey has naturally acidic soils and fertilizer applications can decrease pH slightly which is why lime is so important.
Fertilizer & Weed Control
Early spring: Crabgrass preventer (unless you intend to overseed your lawn)
Summer through fall: Slow-release, high-nitrogen fertilizer* with a post emergent weed killer every 90 to 120 days
Plan to apply your fertilizer the day before the forecast is calling for steady rain. Otherwise, you will need to water the lawn immediately after the fertilizer application (unless it is a weed-and-feed, see the package for instructions). This helps dissolve and dilute the fertilizer and prevents it from burning the lawn. Follow the directions on the fertilizer bag and familiarize yourself with your spreader for best results.
*Do not use a heavy nitrogen fertilizer during periods of extreme heat and avoid spreading at a full rate during stress conditions (such as drought). Too much fertilizer will cause your lawn to burn out
Flea & Tick
To kill and deter fleas and ticks, routine application to the lawn and perimeter is recommended. Application effectiveness lasts approx. 30 days, so applying a minimum of 6 times per year (May- October) is recommended.