February 2021 newsletter

FEBRUARY 2021 NEWSLETTER
Spring is coming! We will have Spring Sunday hours again, open 12 to 4 from Sunday March 14 to Sunday May 2 (closed Easter Sunday April 4)!
 
Baby chicks are here on Fridays from February 26 to March 26. Their arrival schedule is on the last page of this month’s newsletter.
 
Seed potatoes and onion bulbs have arrived, and next week we’ll get in our first shipment of fruit trees, vegetable plants, and herbs! In the Garden Corner section, we’ve included the pH ranges for area grasses and how to adjust them..
 
TURF TALK
 
Bermuda— Mow when the lawn first turns green, set mower at 3⁄4 to 1 inch. Be sure to mow before the bermudagrass gets taller than 2 inches. Leave grass clippings on the lawn; they decompose quickly and help fertilize. DO NOT fertilize at this time, we’ll get into that in April & May. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. Based on the results of your soil test, apply lime or sulfur to adjust soil pH. Apply Hi-Yield Dimension pre-emergent herbicide to prevent winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds—measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount.

Carpetgrass— Mow the lawn to 11⁄2 inches when it turns green in the spring. Do not let it grow taller than 21⁄4 inches. DO NOT fertilize at this time, we’ll get to that in June. Make sure your lawn gets 1 inch of water each week. Check for white grubs, mole crickets, armyworms, sod webworms, and nematodes. Manage weeds by hand pulling and mowing. Replant bare areas when average daytime temperatures are continually above 60°F using 2 pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet (mix the seed with Play-Sand for ease of broadcast spreading, we have the seed and sand at Farmers Supply). Rake seeds into the soil or cover the seeds lightly with soil. Keep the seedbed continually moist, but not soggy, with several light waterings daily for several weeks. Seeds should germinate in 7 to 10 days. Continue to water regularly for several weeks to keep seedlings from dying.
 
Centipede— Drop mower height to 1”. DO NOT fertilize at this time, we’ll address that in May/June, we’ll also tackle Post-Emergent herbicide then. When dogwoods are in full bloom, apply Hi-Yield Dimension pre-emergent herbicide or Atrazine to control crab-grass, goosegrass, and foxtail - measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount. Yellow appearance may indicate an iron deficiency. Spray iron (ferrous) sulfate (2 ounces in water per 1,000 square feet) or a chelated iron source as needed. Follow label directions. Grass will green up within 24 hours. Actively growing Centipede needs 1” of water each week. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. If needed, apply lime or acidifier to adjust soil pH. Check for and control any white grubs.

St Augustine— Drop mower to 2.5”, leave clippings on the lawn. DO NOT fertilize at this time as we’ll get to that in the May newsletter, and we’ll also tackle Post-Emergent herbicide then. When dogwoods are in full bloom, apply Hi-Yield Dimension pre-emergent herbicide or Atrazine to control crab-grass, goosegrass, and foxtail - measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. If needed, apply lime or sulfur to adjust soil pH. Water occasionally during dry spells. If brown circular patches up to several feet in diameter appear, you may have brown (large) patch. Gray leaf spot also may be a problem. Come see us to control either with proper fungicides. Actively growing St. Aug requires about 1 inch of water per week, all at once, if possible. Sandy soils often require more frequent watering (1⁄2 inch every third day).  Control any white grubs. If drought symptoms or yellow spots occur in a sunny location, check for chinch bug activity. Push a coffee can (with both top and bottom removed) into the ground and fill it with water. Any chinch bugs will float.

Zoysia— It is not necessary to mow, but keep lawn free of debris to ensure proper green-up in the spring. DO NOT fertilize at this time, keep an eye out for March/April/May newsletters. Submit soil samples for analysis every 3 years to determine nutrient requirements, or come get one of our pH test kits. Based on the results of your soil test, apply lime or sulfur to adjust soil pH. Apply Hi-Yield Dimension pre-emergent herbicide or Atrazine to prevent winter annual and perennial broadleaf weeds—measure your yard’s square footage so you get the right amount. Water occasionally during dry spells. If brown (large) patch disease is a chronic problem, come see us for fungicide to remedy.


We are accepting advanced orders on baby chicks! Call or come by! $6 each, available for pick-up on the dates below:Feb 26: Olive Eggers, Easter Eggers, Cuckoo MaransMarch 5: Barred Plymouth Rocks, White Leghorns, Blue RocksMarch 12: Rhode Island Reds, RI Blues, Golden CometsMarch 19: Olive Eggers, Easter Eggers, Cuckoo MaransMarch 26: Rhode Island Reds, RI Blues, Golden Comets

GARDEN CORNER

Onion bulbs and seed potatoes are here!
Fruit trees, spring vegetables, and herbs start arriving the week of February 8th!
 Come see us and get your garden ready for planting!
 
Optimal pH ranges for area lawns (Acidic < 7.0 < Alkaline)
Bermuda, 5.8 – 6.8                       Fescue, 5.8 - 6.5
   Carpet, 5 - 5.5                              St. Augustine, 5 - 7
                Centipede, 5 - 6 (5.5 is ideal) Zoysia, 6 - 7
 
To LOWER pH by 1 point, apply 10# of Soil Acidifier per 1,000 square ft
 
To RAISE pH by 1 point, apply 40# of Pellet Lime per 1,000 square ft
 
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