Please remember to turn on your irrigation very soon if you have not done so yet. We have been seeing some old signs of drought damage on a few lawns from the couple of 90 degree days we had earlier last week. Most areas did receive a half inch or more of rain last night, but it looks like that is going to be it for quite awhile. Temps are supposed to rise next week and without additional rainfall, your irrigation should be running every morning to avoid damage. It is also time to raise your mowing height to 3-3.25″ if you have not done so already. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Probably not the most common title for a lawn care blog post, but I heard someone on Wood radio compare the layers of leaves, then snow, then leaves, then snow on their lawn to a seven layer lettuce salad and I had to chuckle a little bit.
Then reality gripped me and I cried a little for all of our customers that are blessed with these beautiful shade trees on their properties that still have leaves on them. As I look at many of the trees now it appears more leaves have fallen, but there are some slower varieties that are still pretty full. In looking at the long term trends, it appears that we have some days in the 40’s coming to us over the next two weeks. I believe at this point we will lose the snow by the middle of next week and that will give everyone a much needed opportunity to get out over next weekend and pick up the rest of their leaves.
Yesterday was the first time that the max soil temperature as recorded at MSU’s Hudsonville station dropped below 40 degrees, but with the temperatures moderating over the next two weeks I think we may see that pick back up. It is Michigan, but I’m optimistic that Winter is not here to stay, so buckle up and get that rake and blower ready. Next spring your lawn will thank you for it.
The forecast for next week is calling for temps at or above 90 for all week. There are some slight chances for showers, but more than likely we won’t see any measurable rainfall. We are already starting to see heat stress on concrete and asphalt edges, as well as some lawns which are not receiving enough water.
Here are some special instructions for this coming week:
Water every morning. Do not skip any days. Your lawn is a living organism and cannot last more than 24 hours without receiving some moisture in this kind of heat. Most lawns should also receive a light dose of water (roughly half the amount of the morning watering) in the heat of the day to avoid heat stress. I would recommend around 2pm or so. Your main watering should be a minimum of 20-35 min per zone for a typical rotor sprinkling zone.
If you are not sure if an area is dry or not, check the soil moisture using a shovel. Dig down a few inches and check the damaged areas. The soil should be damp and be able to pack together. If it turns to dust when you roll it between your fingers, it is much too dry.
Do not mow your lawn at all next week. This will put extra stress on the lawn during a very stressful time. Just let it grow out and wait until the heat wave is done to mow, and then water immediately afterward.
Once you do mow, keep it at 3″ or above. Please measure the grass with a ruler. I have yet to meet a lawnmower with an accurate height adjustment. You might be surprised how short you are actually mowing.
Please follow these recommendations to keep your lawn looking as good as possible through the next few weeks. Let us know if you have any questions.
In the past week or so you may have noticed a flush of small tree seedlings growing in your yard, especially Maple seedlings. Typically we see these pop up in April or May, but this year we are just finally getting our flush now. I believe the cool, wet spring has pushed them a bit later this year than normal.
It is going to be in the mid to upper 80’s this week so they will mow out pretty quickly this year. Please do not lower your mowing height to try to cut them off. This is not healthy for the lawn (current mowing height should be around 3-3.5″ measured on the lawn with a ruler). They will disappear on their own within a week or two.
Also, this is probably the first week of 2019 where irrigation is not optional. Every lawn out there needs water every single day this week. There are chances for rain most of the days but it sounds like it is going to be pretty spotty and nothing we can count on. If you are in lighter sandy soils, you may even want to be giving your lawn an additional afternoon shot for a quick “cool down” to avoid heat damage.
As always, if you have any questions, give us a call at 616-813-3135, or send us an email at office@myturfllc.com. Have a great holiday week!
If you are seeing vole damage in your yard this spring, watch this short video below. The quick takeaway is that if you have any damage, now is the best time to lightly rake and remove the damaged, loose grass. If it is left on the ground for any extended period of time, you greatly increase the risk of root rot, and as a result will most likely have to reseed these areas.
If the severed grass is properly cleared away, the grass will recover much faster.
As always, please let us know if you have any questions.
