Now that all that self aggrandizing is over with, I will tell you that I have been schooled in the "correct" way to do things for a long time. I kind of did it backwards though. I was in this field for a long time before I realized this is exactly what I wanted to do with my life. It was that, coupled with a career ending layoff in a different field, that led me to getting serious about horticulture and pursuing higher education.
The benefit of that is that I have had unbiased observations of plant habits without the "intrusion" of ideas that can be contrary to the real life situations that we find ourselves in.
That being said, I will say that the extension agency is the best source of information out there. Their recommended practices are backed up by extensive proven research under university conditions. My professors at school were usually involved in the field as well, only teaching at night after a day's work. Be wary of random people on the internet (like me, I suppose…) that will tell you that there is only one proper way to do things, and you will face disaster if you vary from the course.
However, my own observations would say that there can be different sides to every story.
That is what this series will be all about. I have seen a few things this year that run somewhat contrary to established practices that I learned. I hope the take away lesson from these posts will be that you should try different things to figure out what works best in your own individual situation. Be adventurous! Don't be scared to try new things.
CASE #1
SPRING TURF FERTILIZATION
This may be the most "controversial" topic I will discuss here. There is a huge doctrine dispute between commercial turf care and university research (extension agency) here.
Extension agency recommendations will tell you never to spring fertilize, as the turf will grow to fast for existing root mass leading to summer stress. Also, excess fertilizer applications lead to increased nutrient runoff into waterways.
Commercial lawn care companies and TV commercials will tell you that there is no such thing as a bad time to fertilize and have funny Scottish guys telling you that you are an inhumane beast if you starve your lawn to death in the spring.
Is there a middle ground? There usually is in most cases.
Undoubtedly, the fall is the absolute best time for turf fertilization (of cool season grasses, such as fescue. Warm season grasses, i.e. those that brown out in the winter get treated in the summer.) During this time, the plants shift focus and begin to move nutrients down into the roots, to be stored for upcoming spring growth. When you fertilize at this time, much of the nutrients are absorbed into the roots, rather than triggering excessive top growth.
However…..
This is a picture taken in early spring of the lawn next to the Rose Garden at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, that I manage. You will notice the definite border of light green and dark green grass.
The reason for the difference is that there was a display taking up the middle part of the lawn, and the lawn crew could not fertilize under it.
So, obviously, spring fertilization has it's benefits, at least in greening up. When I did commercial lawn care many moons ago, I used to add in a little half-dose of nitrogen mixed in with the pre-emergent I applied.
While there may be some slight disadvantages to adding nitrogen in the spring, as stated above, I believe the advantages outweigh the possible problems.
The biggest advantage is growth. The number one problem with turf is bare spots. Weeds love bare spots. If you have bare spots in the lawn, I guarantee it will be filled with something you don't want to be there, probably crabgrass in the summer and bittercress in the winter.
The best preventer of weeds in a lawn is a dense, thick grass cover.
I would rather add a little nitrogen here and there, and other products designed to make things grow, than constantly be using products that are designed to kill things.
Now, don't go throwing nutrients at your lawn by the ton, because then you will certainly be causing more problems than you are solving.
Get a soil sample, know what your soil needs, address any deficiencies first.
Just don't be scared to add a little nitrogen in the spring.
My two cents on the situation.
Jay
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