Herbicide residues should not be a problem if the grass clippings are thoroughly composted. As an added safety measure, mow the lawn two or three times before collecting and adding the clippings to the compost pile.
When the lawn is allowed to grow tall, it can produce seed heads. It stands to reason that if the seed heads are allowed to mature, the seed can fall to the ground, germinate, and grow, effectively overseeding the lawn and promoting a…
Preemergence herbicides, such as benefin, bensulide, and pendimethalin, prevent the germination of crabgrass seeds in spring. Most preemergence herbicides also prevent the germination of turfgrass seeds. If you intend to sow grass…
Grass clippings contribute very little to thatch development because clippings are primarily cellulose and decompose quickly. There is no need to remove grass clippings when lawns are mowed properly. Infrequent mowing of tall grass…
If the strawberry patch is being overrun with perennial grasses, such as quackgrass, control is not very practical. Your best option would be to prepare a new site for a strawberry bed this summer or fall and plant a new bed next spring.…
Before applying any herbicide, carefully read and follow label directions. When applying liquid formulations, potential spray drift problems can be avoided by following simple precautions. Don’t spray when winds exceed 5 mph.…
Violets (Viola species) are native to Iowa. Native habitats vary from dry, rocky prairies to moist woodlands. Violets are also found in lawns, especially in shady areas.
The best way to prevent crabgrass infestations in lawns is to maintain a thick, healthy lawn through proper mowing, irrigation, and fertilization. Crabgrass will have a difficult time germinating and surviving in a dense stand of turfgrass…
Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) is a warm-season perennial grass. Nimblewill is a thin, wiry grass that is pale green or gray-green. It spreads by aboveground shoots or stolons, often forming circular spots in the lawn.…
Perennial broadleaf weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have leaves that are wider and are typically botanically classified as eudicots (dicots). Perennial weeds reproduce by…
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long, narrow leaves with parallel veins. They are often in the Poaceae (grass) family or a closely related family and…
“Water grass” is an ambiguous name. Several plants are occasionally referred to as water grass. Two common lawn weeds that are sometimes referred to as “water grass” are crabgrass and yellow nutsedge.
White clover (Trifolium repens) is a creeping perennial. It is a common plant in many Iowa lawns because it is a prolific seed producer and adapts well to mowing and other lawn care practices. Its presence is often a sign of…
Mosses in lawns are usually a sign of poor growing conditions. Turfgrasses have a difficult time growing in heavy shade, compacted soils, or other poor sites. However, mosses are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions.…
Mushrooms are the reproductive or fruiting structures of fungi. Their appearance in the lawn usually indicates decaying tree stumps or roots in the soil. In garden beds, mushrooms can appear because they are associated with decaying organic…
Fertilization rates range from 0.50 to 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, depending on application time and the quality level of lawn you wish to grow.
To figure out how much fertilizer you will need to apply to your…
In Iowa, Kentucky bluegrass lawns can be fertilized in spring (April or May), mid-September, and late October/early November. The number of fertilizer applications is largely determined by an individual’s desires or expectations for their…
Mowing frequency is based on the growth rate of the turfgrass and mowing height. As a general rule, never remove more than one-third of the total leaf surface at any one mowing. Shorter mowing heights require more frequent mowing. A lawn…
Most lawns in Iowa require 1 to 1½ inches of water per week. When watering the lawn, apply this amount in a single application or possibly 2 applications 3 or 4 days apart. Avoid frequent, light applications of water which promote…
Most turfgrasses have a difficult time growing in the vicinity of large shade trees. If your efforts to grow turfgrass are unsuccessful, there are alternatives. Areas around and beneath trees can be mulched with wood chips or shredded…
The frequency of mowing should be based on the growth of the grass. As a general rule, mow as often as needed so that no more than one-third of the total leaf area is removed in a single mowing. Removing more than one-third is detrimental…
Ideally, you would apply fertilizer to the lawn just before a light rain. Alternatively, you can water the lawn just after the application. This allows the fertilizer to be readily absorbed into the soil, where the plants can use it…
When the lawn is mowed properly, grass clippings do not need to be removed or bagged. Small clippings filter down into the turf and quickly decompose, returning essential plant nutrients to the soil. Lawn clippings do not…
Greenbug aphids may be responsible for the brownish orange color of the turfgrass. Greenbug aphids feed only on plants of the grass family (Kentucky bluegrass, corn, sorghum, etc.). Greenbugs live on the grass blades and feed on sap…
Thatch is the layer of dead and living plant material that forms between the soil surface and green vegetation. It is composed of shoots, crowns, and roots. Thatch, to some degree, is present in all lawns. However, when thatch…
Do not mow shady areas less than 3 inches in height. Because of the lower photosynthetic rates in shady areas, the turfgrass plants need a large leaf surface to manufacture adequate amounts of food. The recommended mowing height for…
The runways in the lawn were likely caused by the meadow vole. The meadow vole is a small, brown, mouse-like animal. Though common in Iowa, the meadow vole is secretive and seldom seen by most individuals.
A slow-release fertilizer is the best option for many homeowners. A fertilizer label will include what type of fertilizer is in the bag. Slow-release fertilizers include sulfur-coated urea, methylene urea, IBDU, and natural organic fertilizers.…
