How to Care for a Lawn & Trees
- 1). Re-seed bare lawn patches by mid-April. Rough up the bare spots by raking over them with a metal rake several times. Spread 1 inch of mature compost over the areas. Broadcast grass seed according to package label amounts, and water thoroughly.
Check trees for winter wind or snow damage. Clean up debris. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of mature compost fertilizer in 2- to 5-foot diameter around the tree trunk. Mature trees need one fertilizer application per year in either spring or fall. - 2). Mow your grass throughout the summer, never cutting more than one-third of the blades' length at one time. Grass becomes semi-dormant during summer's hottest months and should not be cut too low. Allow grass clippings to fall back onto the lawn. This serves as mulch and provides slowly decomposing nutrients. Increase the watering schedule during drought periods. Lawns lose about 1 inch of water each week during summer. Water between 4 and 8 a.m. to avoid water evaporation.
Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch around trees. Do not place mulch against the tree trunk. Mulch helps retain moisture and adds nutrients to soil. - 3). Apply all-purpose organic compost fertilizer in the fall. Compost provides slow-release nitrogen which becomes available to the grass plants over a period of time, depending on soil, moisture conditions and temperature. Over-fertilization with synthetic nitrogen contributes to the development of thatch and increased mowing requirements.
Pull all weeds within a 4-foot diameter of tree trunks. Weeds establish their root systems during fall months and compete with tree roots for available nutrients. - 4). Re-seed the lawn with winter rye grass, or allow the lawn to go dormant during winter. The fall application of fertilizer feeds the soil during winter and prepares it for growth again in spring. Winter rains carry nutrients deep into the soil.
Prune damaged or dead tree branches during winter dormancy. Check the tree tie if it is a young tree still staked to a post. There should be sufficient room for movement. Loosen the tie as the tree becomes strong enough to grow alone.
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