By following these few steps, you will optimize seed germination and lawn growth to achieve a healthy and lush fescue lawn
Thanks to its non-invasive nature and relatively low maintenance needs, fescue is a popular lawn choice across the country. However, after a long and hot summer, your fescue may begin to lose its vigor and thin out. Fortunately, the warm days and cool nights of autumn provide the ideal temperatures to revitalize fescue. You must sow it every year, as fescue does not regenerate on its own.
PREPARE YOUR YARD BEFORE AERATING
- Mow it - Four days before aerating, mow your lawn short; do not exceed 1.5 inches in height. This will allow the aerator tines to penetrate the soil rather than trying to make their way through long and dense grass. In addition, fertilizers and lime will enter the soil more easily to provide nutrients to the existing lawn and new growth.
- Mark it - Using flags purchased at a local hardware store, mark all irrigation systems, fire hydrant covers, surface irrigation pipes, and anything else that could be damaged by aerating.
- Water it - Water your lawn for several days before aerating (without flooding it), until you can push your finger about one inch deep into the soil. If the soil is compact, the aerator will not be able to penetrate the soil, and the seed will not have the holes and loose soil it needs to germinate, root, and establish.
BUY THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO DO THE JOB RIGHT
- Equip yourself - A wonderful solution for your aerating work is the versatile STIHL YARD BOSSMD. With its various optional tools, the STIHL YARD BOSSMD can cultivate, trim edges, sweep, till, and yes, even aerate. It is a practical tool for your annual seeding as well as for a ton of other gardening and yard maintenance work. If you are using the aerator for the first time, make sure you know the proper instructions before starting.
- Buy it - The better the quality of the seeds, the stronger the lawn will be. Employees at the local lawn company or garden center can help you choose the right seed mix for your climate. You will pay more for quality seeds, but it is worth it. Otherwise, the grass blades will be uneven and of various colors, not to mention the weeds that will appear once the lawn is mature. All this may make you regret not spending a little more money upfront rather than much more trying to fix the situation later.
- Aerate it - For better results, pass over with the aerator several times to prevent the lawn from growing unevenly with bare patches. If your lawn is healthy, two passes will be enough. If there are large bare areas, pass three to four times. The more soil plugs and holes, the better. When overseeding, the grass will root and grow in the holes, under and around the soil plugs. The latter will break down when you start watering and promote steady and abundant growth.
- Fertilize it - Buy granular lime and starter fertilizer at your garden center and read the instructions before spreading. A small amount is enough, so spread the minimum amount of lime and fertilizer to stimulate germination.
- Seed it - In the main lawn area, a spreader offering a wide broadcast range (covering about ten feet on each side) is more effective. Use a hopper spreader (disperses seeds vertically directly onto the ground) around flower beds, along asphalt driveways, and on non-cemented walkways to prevent grass from growing in these areas.
MAINTAIN YOUR NEW LAWN
- Water it (a little less) - Before the autumn nights get too cold, maximize the supply of water and light to allow the grass to grow. During the first three weeks, water early in the morning (between 5-8 a.m.) and again in the early afternoon (around 2 p.m.). If you have an irrigation system, watering periods should last 10 to 15 minutes per zone depending on the water flow. If you have sprinklers, we recommend watering for 30-45 minutes each time.
- Spare it - Walking on an immature lawn can delay germination, which is why you should identify the seeded areas using stakes and string during the first three weeks to avoid trampling the grass.
- Cut it - After three weeks, you can do a first mowing, but only at the highest cut height. Be careful when turning the mower over so as not to pull out the still fragile young grass blades. Young grass can withstand being walked on, but avoid walking on it for a little longer. Remove leaves and debris regularly, as they block the sun and can harm the growth of the grass. To do this, use a STIHL leaf blower rather than a rake to avoid damaging the new growth.
- Water it (a little less) - After the first mowing, water once a day in the morning. In the fall, the temperature drops considerably, so water every two days in the morning until the first frost. In the spring, water every two days, always in the morning, then every day as the weather warms up. By watering early in the morning, especially during the hot summer days, you allow the water to soak into the soil before evaporating.
REPAIR THE PATCHES
- Find them - After the first mowing, check for bare patches. This can happen on slopes where water drains more easily and in undulating areas where water accumulates.
- Cover them - Use premium seeds and soil enriched with compost and high in organic matter and nutrients to help germination and prevent the seeds from being carried away by rain or wind, or eaten by birds. Cover the bare patches with about one inch of compost and sow by hand, covering about 40% of the surface. Using a broom (and not a rake), gently mix the seeds and the soil.
- Water it - Repeat the watering step, twice a day during the first few weeks so that the soil remains moist and germination is maximized.
A HEALTHY LAWN ALL YEAR ROUND
- Cut it - Throughout the year, set your mower's cut height to the highest level or close to the highest level so that the grass remains dense and retains its moisture. This way, you will get a greener lawn with stronger roots that will survive summer temperatures and lack of moisture.
- Water it - Water your lawn several times a week early in the morning, between 5-7 a.m. Deep watering allows the water to penetrate the soil, and morning watering, especially during the hot summer months, minimizes evaporation and prevents fungal diseases (such as Rhizoctonia fungus or "brown patch disease") that can harm fescue.
- Treat it - Keep your lawn healthy and free from weeds and diseases all year round by applying lime and fertilizer. A local lawn maintenance company can advise you on the best treatment for your climate.
- Clean it - In the fall, remove leaves regularly using a STIHL blower instead of a rake to avoid damaging the new grass.
- Spare it - On the first winter mornings when your lawn is frozen and covered in frost, avoid walking on it. This could contribute to the formation of patches that will remain until the end of the dormancy period in the spring