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Depends on how anal you want to be about your lawn.I've been on both sides of the fence. I used to have a lawn company in HS and College. My lawns were perfect and sterile. Later, I got the inspiration that generally green, brown in the summer to save water and mowing, and building the lawn in the Fall was the way to go.
Guess it all depends on your tolerance for lawn care. The best time to seed is Fall. Actually, if I am killing the lawn, I do it in August, and seed in early Sept. If I want to overseed, I do it in the Fall, and rake it into the exhisting turf at the same application rate as if I were planting a new lawn. I also apply a 'fall' fertilizer that encourages new seeds and root development.
I take a long term care approach. I do seeding and majority of fertilizing in the fall. Every 5 yrs or so I do a core areation, not to areate, but to help level the lawn in the spring. I never have a real thatch problem, because I mulch and cut the grass in the summer at around 3.5-4". Even though I have an inground sprinkler, I let the grass go dormant if we don't have rain in the summer.
I think the most important factors in lawn care is keeping the blade sharp, cut the grass high in the summer, use a crabgrass preventer/fertilizer early in the spring, and a good fall fertilizing. You will have a decent lawn with this minimal care.
An additional fertilizing in May/June and two fall feedings will make your grass plenty green. Fertilizing in late June, July and August is more likely to kill your grass than help it.
So if you are patient and willing to take the long view, use the crabgrass preventer before your grass starts growing actively. Fertilize sparingly or lavishly depending on your preference and ecological concience. Cut the grass often with a sharp blade, preferably on the long side. Feed well and seed in the fall when temps are cool and rain high.
My generalities are applicable to the midwest and northeast. If you want grass in California or Arizona, you are going to irrigate and do lots of other unnatural things.
posted by 75.13.4...
, Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:13:51
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