MAY LAWN CARE

Due to all the changes brought by Hurricane Florence, we are recommending soil testing for all Cape Fear lawns. Click Here for instructions and the form to take to your local Cooperative Extension office, and when the report is emailed to you bring it to Farmers Supply for analysis. For ALL the grasses below, a Pre-Emergent herbicide can still be applied in early May. Always follow any product’s application instructions as optimal temperature and water conditions vary. And note, fertilizers are labeled according to content of Nitrogen, Phosphate, and Potash (Potassium)… so 14-0-14 would be high Nitrogen, zero Phosphorous, and high Potassium.                                                                           
Bermuda— Measure your lawn’s square footage. 3 weeks after the lawn fully turns green, apply 16-4-8 fertilizer. When Bermuda is growing, the lawn needs 1 to 2 inches of water each week. A bluish-gray appearance or wilted, folded, or curled leaves may indicate that it is time to water. Apply Post-Emergent herbicide in May as needed to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Products containing two or three different broadleaf weed herbicides usually control weeds more effectively. Check for and control any white grubs with an appropriate insecticide from Farmers Supply. In late May, start replanting bare or worn areas.                                                                                
Carpetgrass— Measure your lawn’s square footage. Make sure your lawn gets 1 to 2 inches of water each week. Unless your soil sample suggests otherwise, do not make a broadcast application of herbicide. Carpetgrass is sensitive to most herbicides, and most herbicides are not labeled for use on Carpetgrass. Manage weeds by hand pulling and mowing. Check for white grubs, mole crickets, armyworms, sod webworms, and control with an appropriate insecticide from Farmers Supply.                                                                    
Centipede— Measure your lawn’s square footage. Your lawn needs 1-2 inches of water every week. 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. Grass will green up within 24 hours. No sooner than 3 weeks after green-up, apply Post-Emergent herbicide in May if you need to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Centipede is sensitive to certain herbicides (like 2,4-D), so follow label directions. By mid-May when the grass has greened-up, apply a high potassium fertilizer: 5-0-15 or 8-8-24. At the coast, a second fertilization in August without phosphorus (like 8-0-24) can be helpful if soil testing reveals that you already have moderate-to-high levels of phosphorus. Control any white grubs with an appropriate insecticide from Farmers Supply.                                                                                                                                                           
St Augustine— Measure your lawn’s square footage. In May, apply a fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio (like 16-4-8). 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 to enhance color as needed. Actively growing St. Augustine 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 broadleaf weeds as necessary with Post-Emergent herbicide. St. Augustine is sensitive to certain herbicides (2,4-D and MSMA), so follow label directions and use caution. Control any white grubs with an appropriate insecticide from Farmers Supply.                                                                                                                                    
Zoysia— Apply 16-4-8 fertilizer from Farmers Supply. Zoysia needs 1 to 11⁄4 inches of water a week. Apply Post-Emergent herbicide in May as needed to control summer annual and perennial broadleaf weeds. Wait 3 weeks after the grass has turned green, and then use it only if weeds are present.

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