Most of us have seen pre-winter checklists for your home or auto. These are the things we need to do to make sure we don't have any unexpected surprises during the colder, potentially icy months. Did you know that fescue lawns also need attention before the cold sets in? Fescue is a cool season grass. One of the reasons it is a popular turf choice is because it maintains its green color throughout the winter. A little maintenance now will help fescue to achieve its optimal look though-out winter and into spring.
Now is the most important application of fertilizer for fescue lawns. With the cooler temperatures you can apply larger amounts of nitrogen to enhance the root system and help improve cold tolerance. A larger root system allows the plant to absorb more water and nutrients and help the plants to mature prior to next year's heat. That will increase the plants survival during periods of stress either from drought or heat.
When selecting a Winter Fertilizer you want to look for a higher first number, which indicates the amount of nitrogen. Some examples are 32-5-7 or 24-2-8. The 32-5-7 in a 50lb bag would cover 16,000 square feet at 1lb of nitrogen per 1,000 and a 50lb bag of 24-2-8 would cover 12,000 square feet at 1lb of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. You want to make sure that you put down at least 1lb of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet for ideal results.
By applying a winter application of fertilizer you will notice a greener lawn longer and also you will receive a faster green up in the spring without excessive growth. If you have a contract with us, AA Tex Lawn will take care of this fertilizer application for you, If not, make sure to add it to your winter checklist.
Thanks,
The AA Tex Lawn Team
