May Is Lawn Month

May is lawn month, according to Texas turf experts. ?EUR??,,????'??Do not be deceived by the decline of the rescue grass, annual bluegrass, and rye grass to thinking that the lawn is drying out.?EUR??,,????'?? Winter weeds decline in the heat at the same time St. Augustine, zoysia, and Bermuda grasses begin their growth period. Experts advise only irrigating the lawn if there has not been any rain for two weeks. Soil moisture level rates are high from the spring rains Texas has been treated to.

Expert Advice
Fertilize the lawn grass early in the month with a slow-release fertilizer like 19-5-9. It releases half of the nitrogen when it is applied and watered in, and then slowly releases the rest of the nitrogen over several months. The immediate release supports the high growth period this month. The label explains what setting should be used on a spreader. If it does not, set it at the lowest level. Use five pounds (five cups) for each 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Mow St. Augustine grass at three inches, zoysia at two inches, and Bermuda grass at one inch or shorter. Buffalo grass does best when mowed at five inches.

It is not too late to reduce the sand bur and crabgrass populations this summer if you apply Crabgrass Preventer 2, Weed and Grass Stopper or Amaze to the lawn early this month. Apply it again at the end of June.