The Plan

Aerate, overseed, and feed. This is the season that fixes the lawn.

• 1Mow low and core aeratemid SeptemberRent a core aerator, about $80 for a 4 hour block

  Mow down to about 2 inches and bag the clippings. Run the core aerator in two passes at right angles so the whole lawn is covered. Leave the plugs on the surface, they break down within a couple of weeks.

• 2Overseed with turf type tall fescueCriticalsame day10 lbs of seed at 4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft

  Spread seed right after aerating, while the holes are open. Use the handheld spreader on a low setting and make two passes at right angles. Seed to soil contact is everything, so rake lightly if any seed is sitting on top of thatch.

• 3Starter fertilizer with mesotrionesame dayHalf of one 21.52 lb bag

  Apply the Scotts Starter Food Plus Weed Preventer the same day as the seed. The mesotrione in it stops weed seeds without hurting the new fescue. Do not use a regular crabgrass preventer here, it will block your grass seed too.

• 4Water daily to keep surface dampCriticalnext 3 weeksLight and frequent, not deep. A dry seedling dies.

  Two or three short waterings a day for the first two weeks, then once a day for the third week. The top half inch must never dry out until the seedlings are up. Back off gradually to deep, infrequent watering once the new grass has been mowed twice.

• 5First feedingmid to late OctoberAbout 7 lbs Flagship 24-0-6, or one bag Milorganite

  About four weeks after seeding, once the new grass has been mowed at least once. Spread evenly with the handheld spreader and water it in.

• 6Late fall nitrogenCriticalearly to mid NovemberAbout 3 lbs urea 46-0-0, or one small winterizer bag

  The most important feeding of the year for cool season grass. Apply after top growth has slowed but before the ground freezes. The roots keep taking it up and the lawn greens up faster in spring.

Nothing to apply. Maintain equipment and stay off frozen turf.

• 1Sharpen mower bladeany time

  A dull blade tears grass and leaves brown tips. Sharpen or replace the blade now so the mower is ready for the first cut in April.

Pre-emergent before crabgrass germinates, then a light feed.

• 1Granular preemergent before soil hits 55FCriticallate Mar to mid Apr7.2 lbs granular prodiamine at 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft

  Crabgrass germinates when soil temperature holds around 55F for a few days. In Boardman that is usually the first half of April, when the forsythia blooms. Apply prodiamine before then and water it in with half an inch of water. Check the soil thermometer at 2 inches deep in the morning. TODO: live soil temperature feed not built yet, use the soil thermometer.

• 2Light spring feedinglate Apr to early MayAbout 5 lbs Flagship

  A light feed only. Too much spring nitrogen pushes top growth at the expense of roots and sets the lawn up to struggle in July.

• 3Second half of preemergentCriticallate May, 8 weeks after firstAnother 7.2 lbs

  The split application extends crabgrass control through the summer. Apply the second half about 8 weeks after the first, water it in.

• 4Spot spray broadleaf weedsas needed under 85F

  Mix Triad Select in the pump sprayer and spot treat dandelions, clover, and plantain on a calm day below 85F. Do not spray the whole lawn, and do not spray within a few weeks of seeding.

Mow high, water deep, do not push growth with nitrogen.

• 1Grub preventionmid Jun to mid Jul

  Optional. If you had grub damage or see lots of June beetles, apply GrubEx and water it in. Skip it if the lawn has never had grub trouble.

• 2Raise mower to 3.5 to 4 inches, no nitrogenall summer

  Tall grass shades the soil, keeps roots cooler, and crowds out crabgrass. Water deeply once or twice a week in the early morning, about an inch total. No fertilizer until September.

• 3Crabgrass rescueonly if needed

  If crabgrass breaks through, spot treat with Tenacity while the plants are small. Expect it to turn white for a couple of weeks. Do not apply in extreme heat.

Year two. Assess, feed, and repeat what worked.

• 1Assess: overseed again OR apply fall preemergentCriticalearly Sep

  Walk the lawn. If there are still thin or bare spots, aerate and overseed again like last year. If the stand is thick, skip seeding and apply a fall preemergent instead. You cannot do both, the preemergent blocks the seed.

• 2Fall feedingmid to late Oct

  Same as last October. Flagship or Milorganite, watered in.

• 3Late fall nitrogenCriticalearly to mid Nov

  Same as last November. Urea or winterizer after growth slows.

• 4Core aerateevery 1 to 2 years

  Aerate again if the soil is compacted or you are overseeding. Otherwise it can wait a year.