John Nylund, a golf course superintendent, explains how to effectively maintain a lawn.
- Make your own fertilizer spreader by punching holes on the bottom of a coffee can, then covering it with the plastic cover.
- The soil of the lawn is the most important because it is where the grass roots feed. To have a healthy lawn, the soil must be healthy.
- Begin by taking a soil sample of the lawn. Use a soil sampler or use a trowel to take a soil sample. The sample only needs to be three to four inches down. Place six soil samples, taken from six different spots in the lawn, into a plastic, press-and-seal type bag. Send the sample to a soil-testing lab. Each soil sample will cost roughly $5.
- When you get the soil test back, look over the results and the recommended instructions for which items to use to fertilize the lawn. The soil test also gives other important information about the pH levels in the soil. Grass loves a pH of about 6.5 to 7.0. Add sulfur to lower pH, and add lime to raise pH.
- The soil test will give a three-number reading such as 10-5-25. These numbers correspond to the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels in the soil. When you go to the local hardware supply store, bring the soil test to be sure to buy the correct combination of elements for proper fertilization of the soil. Many people over- fertilize the soil, thus creating hazardous runoff and pollution. To spread fertilizer evenly, add flour (as in for baking)--one part flour to 10 parts of the fertilizer. The flour will dust the lawn and thus show you where you have already fertilized. The flour will soon dissolve.
- Look at the soil sample taken earlier. The thatch layer in the lawn is the main reason why the lawn may or may not be receiving the proper amounts of water, seed and fertilizer. If the thatch layer has become unusually dense, you should de-thatch the yard by renting a machine at a local hardware store, or aerate the yard.
- Aerate the yard by renting a machine. The machine will work automatically, while the operator walks it around the lawn. Aerating will penetrate through the thatch layer and will allow for watering, seeding and fertilizing to reach the soil.
- Once the soil is in check, the type of grass you choose is important. Most lawns are a combination of grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass and Rye grass. Mixing the types of grasses is best in case one of the varieties fails during the winter months.
- Recommended irrigation for lawns is about one inch to 1-1/2 inches of water per week.
Guests John Nylund
Golf Course Superintendent, Braemar Golf Course
Phone: 952-826-6799, Ext. 1254
Fax: 612-826-6793
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