The Green or Not So Green Grass of Home

Last month, lawns along the front-range began their annual ritual of awakening from winter dormancy.  Some lawns are springing to life as normal, while some are not. 

What happened?
Only two winters since 1882 have seen less snowfall than this 2010-2011 season.  Through March of 2011, only 20.6 inches of snow fell in Denver.  From October to March, the precipitation was only 50 percent of normal.  Except for February, temperatures were above normal. The battle cry went out to water the lawns.  Some heeded the cry, others hoped for rain.  The grass died from desiccation and often from turf mite feeding.  Lawns on south facing slopes and on difficult soils fared poorly. 

What’s the moral of the story?
Winter dry spells, lack of snow cover and warm temperatures are calls to action.  Watering is essential along with checking for mites.  To look for mites, swipe a white card or sheet of paper over the lawn.  Red specs or smears will indicate the presence of  mites.   Mites may require monthly treatments. 

What now?
Spring aeration and fertilization are essential to wake up and produce healthy grass plants for the growing season.

• Seeding - Renovate small patches and areas that are just sparse.  Prepare by raking up the dead grass and hand aerating the soil prior to seeding.  Apply seed and cover with soil.  Keep the area moist for several weeks.  Soil surfactants that help wet the soil are recommended. 
• Sod - Larger areas are better dealt with by removing the dead grass, preparing the soil and sodding the affected area.  Soil preparation should include organic matter and humates to encourage microbial activity. 
• Beware of “bunch grass” - You may be encouraged by green tufts of grass filling in your blighted turf.  Take a close look at this grass.  If it grows in “bunches” and has large course leaf blades, this is probably tall fescue.  Tall fescue invades in the absence of bluegrass while encroaching in other parts of your lawn.  Begin by digging out or spraying this grass prior to soil preparation.  
• Soil Conditioners - Products like Revive™ are excellent for lawns growing on difficult soils.  Soil conditioners work by aiding in water penetration for hard to wet soils.  Conditioners also contain substrates that encourage soil microbes.  Soil bacteria exude sticky substances that bind soil particles, increasing soil porosity and deeper roots.