6200 12TH DR SE 2020-10-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

every 5-7 days through the height of the spring growth spurt, tapering to weekly on irrigated summer lawn or 10 days to 2 weeks on dormant lawn, weekly through the fall growth spurt, and once a month during winter. Avoiding over-fertilization and soluble "quick release" fertilizers is key to reducing mowing frequency. C.5.2. Fertilization - Turf • Natural organic fertilizers or "bridge" (organic plus slow-release synthetic) fertilizers shall be used. Soluble fertilizers, though less expensive, wash off site, volatilize, require more frequent application, and are toxic to beneficial soil life, so tend to be more expensive over time. • • Mid to late fall applications are the key to building carbohydrate reserves in the grass root system over the winter. Early spring applications should be avoided because they promote rapid top growth (requiring more mowing) and can exhaust stored nutrient reserves. If spring applications are desired, they should be in late spring. C.5.3. Aeration and De-thatching - Turf • While aeration is most important on high-use areas (such as playfields and building entrance areas) any lawn area should be considered for annual or more frequent aeration if it shows signs of thin turf, weed invasion, poor irrigation penetration, or soil compaction. • Thatch buildup (beyond the 1/2 inch that is healthy) is usually a sign of over- fertilization, over use of broadcast pesticides, over-watering, soil compaction, or other causes of diminished soil biota to break down thatch. Excess thatch prevents water penetration and promotes shallow rooting. Good maintenance practices will generally prevent thatch buildup, but where present it should by reduced by regular aeration or a vertical mowing (de-thatching), followed by adjusting cultural practices to prevent recurrence. C.5.4. Overseeding - Turf • In addition to aeration, spring or fall lawn renovations should include overseeding of thin or weed infestedareas, or entire areas subject to heavy wear. This is a key weed control practice. • Select certified seed appropriate for the site (perennial rye for sport lawn, rye and fescue blends for general lawn: contact the Cooperative Extension Service for site-adapted varieties, or buy from a reputable local supplier). • Generally over-seeding is practiced after aeration and before topdressing. A slice- seeding machine allows seed to be placed in the ground at the end of the dry season to await fall rains, and greatly improves seed germination and survival. C.5.5. Topdressing Turf