Current Weather Conditions for Growing Lawns
Recent rains have helped many lawns in the area. But 1st, some housekeeping: I’ve fallen behind on weekly posts but with the Seeding season around the corner for Tall Fescue, I’ll keep this refreshed. Once hurricane Isaias passed through, the weather has shifted from super hot (heat indices approaching 110!) and little rain, to moderate temps (high 80’s low 90’s) and regular rain (1/3 to 1/2 inch events). The rain is welcome, reduces the stress and helps the lawns.
Tall Fescue
Temperatures are much better for growing Tall Fescue. Typically, Tall Fescue doesn’t like to grow above 85 degrees. Lawns with irrigation can handle temperature stress better as the evaporative cooling helps with the heat. If fungal diseases have not been treated this summer, put the money towards your seeding. It is a better spend than trying to recover from Brown Patch fungus this late in the summer season.
For Tall Fescue, August is a great month to work on removing grassy weeds such as dallisgrass, bahaigrass, broomsedge and others from the lawn in preparation for seeding in September or October. The grassy weeds need to be dug out or sprayed out. To expose the underlying soil for good seed/soil contact, moss should be raked out.
Recommendations
- Mow with SHARP blades, only as needed
- Avoid watering at night or after rains
- Water early morning, or if early morning won’t work, water early enough in the afternoon that the grass is dry before sunset
- Start filling in low spots with soil/sand
- Rake out mossy spots
- Remove low hanging branches that block sunlight to the lawn
- Remove perennial broadleaf or grassy weeds
Warm-Season Grasses
This rain has really helped turn on some warm season lawns. From the high temperatures and return of the rain, we were seeing a higher incidence of fungal disease. Rain is great, but extended cloudy weather (see below) will impact the ability of the grasses to outgrow fungal diseases like Dollar Spot, especially for warm-season grasses on north or east facing slopes. Overall, the weather has greatly improved.
Recommendations
We are in the final stretch for the summer growth of warm-season lawns. The warm season grasses are undergoing the strongest growth of the season. Soon (approximately a month) the warm-season lawns will start drifting towards dormancy. This is the end of the season where frequent mowing will have the most impact on the appearance of the lawn. Mowing weekly now will help the grass can develop deep, strong roots.
- Water, if needed, especially south or west-facing sunny slopes
- Water early morning or if early morning won’t work, water early enough in the afternoon that the grass is dry before sunset
- Mow frequently with a sharp blade