LAWN RENOVATION GUIDE

STEP BY STEP GUIDE

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1. Control weeds.

Remove annual weeds. Spray for perennials such as bermudagrass, bindweed, and nutsedge.

We can ID them for you -- bring in a sample.

2. Mow lawn as short as your mower will permit.

3. Dethatch lawn.

You can rent a dethatcher--also called a verticutter or a power rake -- from JB Lawn and Garden or Davis Rent-All Center.

Rake off the thatch.

4. Aerate lawn.

Rent an aerator -- also called a sod corer -- which pulls out a plug of soil.

Many people like to rake off these plugs.

5. Apply a starter fertilizer.

Examples include GreenAll 16-16-16, or Sure Start 5-20-10.

The phosphorous content (middle number) should be high.

6. Spread seed.

Perennial ryegrass/bluegrass/red fescue blends at 1# per 300 sq. ft.; tall, dwarf, and red fescue grasses at 1# per 100 sq. ft.

Use a spreader for more even results.

7. Topdress

with a fine layer of redwood or fir compost or peat moss at 1 bale per 250 sq. ft. (more in hot weather).

A compost spreader is helpful.

8. Water daily;

more often if weather is warm, dry, or especially windy.

SOME SPECIAL NOTES:

• Fall is the best time to renovate cool season grasses.
• Early to mid spring is also good.
• Spring is the best time to renovate bermudagrass lawns.

• Do not apply pre-emergent herbicides to the lawn in the 3 - 4 months prior to reseeding.

• If you have had a problem with annual weeds in the past, renovating in the spring will likely cause large numbers of weed seeds to germinate. Consider applying a pre-emergent in the spring, treating for weeds through the summer as needed, and renovating in the fall.
  
  
  
  

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  © 2008 Don Shor, Redwood Barn Nursery, Inc., 1607 Fifth Street, Davis, Ca 95616
  www.redwoodbarn.com
  Feel free to copy and distribute this article with attribution to this author. Click here for Don's other Davis Enterprise articles