The El Nino factor has been very kind to us this year in regard to Tulsa lawn care. Our winter thus far has produced no blizzards, no minus 10 degrees, and some lovely days in the 60’s and even 70’s.
The upside is that the fescue is looking grand, we probably won’t see any cold weather damage on the bermuda grass, and we have had almost adequate precipitation, for the most part.
The downside is that the weeds love it, too. It’s been warm enough that we’re seeing lots of broadleaf weeds that aren’t usually out yet at this time of year.
Crabgrass Pre-Emergent
Now is the time to get crabgrass pre-emergent down on your lawn. Pre-emergent prevents the crabgrass from germinating. If it does germinate, it is difficult to get rid of, so a pre-emergent just makes sense.
Our first application, that we are doing now, and the next application, both have crabgrass pre-emergent in them. Both applications are essential if you want to get good crabgrass control this year.
Broadleaf Weeds and Post-Emergents
The broadleaf weeds we are seeing now, like henbit (the ones with purple flowers,) need a post-emergent to kill them. Our first application and second application also contain post emergents. Post emergents will destroy the broadleaf weeds that you are seeing in your lawn, now. There is no pre-emergent for most broadleaf weeds.
If you are not a current customer, we would be happy to give you a free estimate and can usually do it over the phone. Just click on the link below.
Water If You Can
Although we've had rainfall during the winter, the high winds we're experiencing now have dried out everything. If you are able to water, it would benefit your lawn greatly, not to mention reduce the chance of grass fires, which are a threat to all of us.
Fescue Grass
Your fescue should be looking pretty good right now, and you may have even mowed it recently, because it is actively growing. Just remember to try to keep the leaves off of it, as this is the time that fescue gets sunlight, since the leaves are off the trees. Sunlight is very important to fescue this time of year, because it’s building up its carbohydrate reserves to sustain it through the long, hot summer.
If you have piles of leaves built up along a fence or in a corner somewhere on top of fescue, you need to get them off the fescue. If you don’t, the fescue will die. Fescue will turn yellow underneath a pile of leaves in just a week or two.
Bird Feeders
If you are a bird lover and have bird feeders hung in various places, just remember that bird seeds are….well, seeds. You may have a lot of unknown stuff popping up in the ground under the feeders. You might even have a little bare spot where the birds are stomping around, pecking at the seeds that fall out of the feeder.
Most of the time, if the grass is bermuda, this will rectify itself when it warms up and the birds start eating worms and insects instead. The bermuda will overtake the area. But if you have fescue, you might just end up with a little stomped on place with a bunch of weeds in it. Just sayin’.
Spring is just around the corner! What you do now will affect the way your lawn looks this summer, so get your pre-emergents and post-emergents down, water if you can, and blow those leaves off the fescue!