Fertilize in fall to get a jump on your green lawn for next year and winter mite control.

Early fall is a great time to think about helping your turf get started on the right foot next spring. The cooler weather allows for more effective weed control. The heat of the summer actually forces some difficult to control weeds into a pseudo-dormancy. This lack of activity prevents them from absorbing a lethal dose of herbicide when temperatures are extreme. With the cooler daytime temperatures, we can reduce the amount of broadleafed weeds that will overwinter into next spring.

It is also very important to evaluate your turf in the fall in order to set up a winter mite program. Winter mites are one of the most damaging pests of Colorado turf. With a variety of mite species that thrive throughout the fall, winter, and early spring, the damage can be very substantial and unsightly when spring finally arrives. Read More…

Control programs can vary in intensity based on the cultural situation and the likelihood of the mites being either a minor or serious problem. Many lawns were devastated by the dry conditions last winter. Spring showers earlier this year helped many lawns recover, but we can’t rely on that being an annual occurrence. Mite control programs include a variety of winter insecticide applications, winter watering of dry turf areas, as well as fall and spring seeding.