Lawn Care Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to caring for a lawn. Fertilizing, watering or installing a new lawn at the wrong time can result in a waste of money and materials.

Here are the basic steps for keeping any lawn, large or small, in good shape year-round.

Seeding new lawns: The best time to plant a new lawn is in mid-August to mid-September when days are warm and nights are cool. Once seed germinates, it can get established during the cooler months of fall, when less watering is required.

The second-best time for new lawns is in spring, from mid-May to mid-June. Seed germinates quickly in late spring temperatures, but more water and maintenance will be required for the lawn to get established during hot summer months.

Planting sod: The optimum times to lay sod are in late spring and late summer. Any time from mid-March to mid-November will work, but weather conditions affect a lawn's ability to become established.

Because sod is perishable, prepare the ground ahead of time. Sod that has been cut and left sitting for more than 36 hours will begin to deteriorate. Preorder from a reputable sod company. Aerating: Lawns, especially those in clay soil, often get compacted, causing water and fertilizers to run off rather than soak in. Spring is the best time to aerate an existing lawn. Aerating, or coring, is a process of drilling small holes in the lawn to allow water and nutrients to penetrate. Hire a professional landscaper or rent a corer (or aerator) from an equipment rental store. Cost depends on rental time, but plan on about $50 for four to eight hours.

Dethatching: Dead roots and old grass clippings can form a thick matting, or thatch, preventing water and nutrients from getting past the surface. Early spring is the best time to remove this layer of built-up organic material. A professional landscaper can dethatch your lawn, or you can rent equipment from a rental yard. Experience shows that organic lawns tend to have less thatch because organic fertilizers encourage slow growth and less thatch buildup. High-nitrogen synthetic fertilizers push fast growth that causes thatch buildup.

Applying lime: Willamette Valley soil tends to be slightly acidic, and lime can help make it less acidic. A pH level of 7 is neutral. A number lower than 7 is acidic and higher than 7 is alkaline. The pH determines how well a plant will be able to absorb nutrients. Lawns prefer a pH of 6 to 6.5.

Fall is the best time to apply lime because it has time to break down in the soil during winter. Some lawn experts recommend applying lime every one to two years, but test your soil to be sure. Others maintain that a healthy lawn, supplied with the proper nutrients and water, will maintain a healthy pH level.

Fertilizing: Fertilize at least once a year, in spring or fall. You'll need to fertilize more often for a conventional lawn, less if you use organic methods.

-- HGNW staff

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