Answers to Common Lawn Questions I have crabgrass growing in my yard in the early spring. How do I apply a crabgrass killer? If the “Crabgrass” stays green like your turf grass year long, even in the winter, you have either Quackgrass or Orchardgrass. Crabgrass comes from seed each spring and dies after the first fall frost. To control and eliminate Crabgrass, you need Zamzows KleenUp, a non-selective vegetation killer that works systemically to kill the entire grass plant. With Quackgrass, several applications may be necessary. I applied your Crabgrass Preventer as recommended, and after several months, I have Crabgrass coming up in my yard. Why? The grass you are seeing may be Goosegrass, not Crabgrass. Goosegrass leaves and seedhead looks like Crabgrass, but is a different type of weedy grass. It germinates several months later than Crabgrass, when your preventer is no longer effective. If you have a Goosegrass problem, make a second application of Crabgrass preventer 60 to 90 days after the first one. How can I get rid of the weeds in my lawn? Depending on what kind of weeds are growing, your lawn may have problems that you are not aware of. This could be hard, compact soil not allowing your turf to become thick and full. You may have a watering problem with not enough water or coverage. You could be mowing your turf too short, allowing the sun to germinate the weed seeds. Even under-fertilized lawns will promote certain weed growth. When do I apply grub control? Grub control is a matter of timing to match the hatching of the eggs that the adults have laid on turf blades. There are several different species of billbugs that cause damage. Early hatching species are active in lawns from March/ April to June. Northwest Bluegrass Billbug is the most common, and is active from May/June through September. Zamzows Duration is a season long control for the “life cycle” of one specie of billbug. Apply Duration twice during the year, beginning in early to mid March to take care of the early feeding species of billbug. The second application is done mid-June to control the Northwest Bluegrass Billbug and other late season feeding billbug species. What can I use that works against billbug damage? A lot of products have billbug control listed on the label; however it will only control adult billbugs that are above ground. You need a product that penetrates the soil and kills the larvae. At the same time, apply a bag Zamzows Duration grub control to prevent any future problems. I have brown spots in my lawn, which are not caused by insects or my pets. What are they? In most cases the brown spots will be a type of turf fungus. There are more than 10 types of turf fungus in our area. Bring a turf sample in to Zamzows for fungus identification and treatment recommendations. To help reduce the chance of getting a turf fungus, water your lawn with the correct amount of water at the proper time of day, and use a well-balanced lawn food. Use a rate and application timing that is best for Treaure Valley soils and growing conditions. How much water and how often do I need to water my lawn? Most turf will perform very well with 2” of water per week. Water every other day during the intense heat of July and August, or every fourth day during the early spring and fall. To make sure that your turf is getting the proper amount of water measure how much water your sprinklers are putting out and how long it takes to get to the right amount. If you are watering three times a week your sprinklers need to run long enough to put down about 3/4” of water. Also, make sure the coverage pattern is getting all of your turf evenly. Don’t do this at mid-afternoon; your coverage check needs to be done when all of your neighbors are watering their lawn. This will allow for pressure drop and water volume. This is extremely important for gear drive sprinkler systems. Watch the weather early in the spring. A dry spring with warm weather, may require watering earlier than normal. Some years it may be March that your turf needs to be watered. Drought stressing a lawn will lead to fungal and insect problems later on in the growing season. How often and how long should I mow my lawn? During slow growth periods, mow once a week. During the peak periods, mow once every 5 days. Mowing more than 1/3 of the blade length is harmful to grasses. Tall turf will help choke out weeds, reduce water evaporation, and generate a healthier root system. Mow at the 3” height during the cool part of the season, but go to the 4” during the heat of summer. Does the use of a mulching mower create thatch in my lawn? A mulching mower is one of the best ways to add plant tissue to soil. Over time, mulching helps build the lawn’s organic content. Also, plant tissue will help feed turf during the growing season. Mulching is totally different than thatch. Thatch is fibrous root and stems growing just above the soil. This material is high in lignin, a compound resistant to decay by microorganisms. If the thatch layer is more than 3/4” thick then removal is a must. Power rake in the spring, before the soil temperature becomes too warm, or in the fall after the soil cools down (but before lawn growth becomes too slow to repair itself). Using an organic based lawn food helps promote soil microbes that break down the thatch, eliminating the need for power raking. I’ve heard about Zamzows Huma Green and how green it makes lawns. When should I use it, and can I use it instead of fertilizer? Zamzows Huma Green is a natural source of humus and a non-staining natural source of iron. It both conditions the soil and keeps lawns green in summer heat. An application of Huma Green provides several benefits. First, since Huma Green is a natural source of iron, it greens a lawn without stimulating excessive growth. Hot weather is no time to stimulate grass growth with heavy fertilizer applications. Second, as a soil conditioner, it adds humus (organic matter) to the soil. Regular use of a chemical fertilizer burns up the humus. Unless the humus is replaced, the soil becomes hard and can become unhealthy. Third, Huma Green also breaks down hard clay soil, allowing air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil and reach grass plants. In addition, Huma Green increases the soil’s water holding capacity. This allows you to water deeper and less frequently, thus saving on water expense. Huma Green is recommended for use in hot weather. However, since it improves the soil with each use, it can be used anytime and more than once a season for maximum benefit. It does not replace fertilizer. Lawns should still be fed lawn food in the spring and fall. Huma Green works better and faster if there is still nitrogen present in the soil from feeding lawn food. 10 Convenient Treasure Valley Locations to Serve You: Boise 6313 Fairview Ave. 6208 W. State St. 3691 Federal Way Meridian 375-4231 853-1616 338-8404 136 E. Watertower 545 E. Chinden 3650 E. Overland Eagle 884-8616 846-7830 695-2960 435 S. Eagle Rd. Nampa 939-1231 1201 N. Franklin Blvd. 465-3626 1518 Caldwell Blvd. 466-0282 922-5511 www.zamzows.com Kuna 256 W. 3rd Ave. This guide is the culmination of over 77 years of hands-on experience in dealing with Treasure Valley lawns. Its purpose is to provide you with a month by month schedule for a quality, environmentally-sound lawn care program. We recommend you read this guide thoroughly and then use it as a reference throughout the year. Your purchase of our lawn program comes with more than several bags of quality lawn food. You also benefit from the help of our experts in the care of your lawn and yard. Any time you have a concern, please call or drop by your nearest Zamzows store for our support and friendly advice. You can also find a wealth of beneficial information for a variety of subjects at www.zamzows.com. We have formed a partnership with you through your purchase of our lawn program. Our goal is to assure that you have the healthiest, greenest lawn in your neighborhood. Let us know how we can help. MARCH APRIL JUNE~JULY~AUGUST SEPTEMBER~OCTOBER This is the time to prevent crabgrass and spurge that are such a problem in our area. It is very important to begin a consistent fertilization program for your lawn, trees, shrubs and perennial beds. Last but not least, take steps to prevent future insect damage to your lawn, trees and shrubs. • To prevent crabgrass, spurge and other grassy weeds apply a pre-emergent herbicide to your lawn when the soil temperature reaches approximately 50 degrees (a good indicator is the blooming of the forsythia bush). Apply Zamzows Defendz Crabgrass Preventer to prevent seed germination for up to 90 days. A note of caution when planting or repairing lawns: Since crabgrass preventers stop all grass seed germination, don’t apply crabgrass preventer to areas you will be seeding in the next three months. • It’s time for your first application of Zamzows Lawn Food. Our slow-release organic-based lawn food will bring back that deep green to your lawn. Apply at a rate of one bag per 2,500 sq. ft. You will need a second application of Zamzows Lawn Food in about six weeks. • Fertilize your dormant perennials and trees with Zamzows Thrive or Thrive Extra. Thrive products provide your perennials with the nutrients and minerals the plants will need to thrive in the season ahead. • Apply Zamzows Tree & Shrub Insect Control to trees and shrubs. One application kills insects and prevents new infestations for an entire year. Note: More than any other thing you do for your trees and shrubs, timely application of both Zamzows Thrive and Zamzows Tree & Shrub Insect Control will save you effort and expense throughout the year. • Apply Zamzows Duration Grub Control in early to mid March to prevent spring season lawn insect damage. Note: The most damaging lawn pest is the billbug in its larvae stage. The Treasure Valley has several billbug species that hatch at different times and must be controlled by two separate properly-timed applications. Re-apply Zamzows Duration in June to control summer billbug infestations. • Start controlling broadleaf weeds that may have overwintered in your lawn, and new weeds such as dandelions, clover, thistle, etc. that show up as the temperature warms. Spot spray Zamzows Ultra Weed Control. Most weed killers are only effective above 65 degrees. Zamzows Ultra Weed Control starts working at 45 degrees, allowing you a head start on weed control. • Whenever Ultra Weed Control or other liquid lawn/garden products are used, mix Zamzows Stay Put with the liquid product and water in a tank sprayer. Stay Put is a wetting, penetrating, and adhering agent that improves product performance by helping the sprayed mixture “stick” to the plant. • To begin protection of roses and flowers, apply Zamzows Defendz Systemic Rose Drench at six-week intervals throughout the growing season. This product protects plants, even new growth, against insects and diseases. Note: Following the recommended applications and prevention measures will save a lot of work and money this summer. April is a great time to over-seed sparse or previously damaged lawns. Over-seeding fills in the sparse areas and thickens the lawn. April is also the best month to lay sod or plant a new lawn from seed. Starting a new lawn from scratch is no small task and could require a booklet of its own. Visit your nearest Zamzows store and let us personally assist you with your new lawn. • Apply your second application of Zamzows Lawn Food, approximately six weeks after your first lawn feeding. Apply at a rate of one bag per 5,000 sq. ft. • Give your roses a feeding of Zamzows Thrive or Thrive Extra. Repeat feedings monthly during the growing season. • Apply soil conditioners to your lawn to break up the heavy clay soil common to the Treasure Valley. We recommend Zamzows PenaTurf, an easy to apply all-natural liquid soil conditioner or Zamzows Pelleted Gypsum. Also, apply soil sulfur to correct high soil ph and make minerals available to the grass plants. Zamzows Huma Green can be applied in place of soil sulfur for the same purpose and more. Huma Green will be covered in more depth later in this document. • Start watering your lawn an average of 1/2” twice a week. Pay special attention to the corners of the lawn and other areas that may not be getting adequate water (additional adjustments in the hot summer months may also be required). • Use a rain gauge to determine the amount of water that reaches the lawn from each sprinkler. Note that if you have a sprinkler system, the time for each station may need to be adjusted. • With a rain gauge time how long it takes to get 1/2” of water. This is how long the station needs to run. Not all stations will deliver 1/2” in the same number of minutes. Check each one. • If you have not yet applied Zamzows Duration for grub control, apply it now to prevent insect damage in later months. The most important thing in maintaining your lawn is following proper summer watering procedures. The stress of high heat, insects, and disease make lawn maintenance a challenge. Follow the suggestions listed below to ease the challenge of keeping your lawn green during high summer heat. • Apply the second application of Zamzows Duration insect control in June. • Tug on the blades of grass in dead areas. Billbug damaged grass pulls up easily and is yellow. Drought damaged grass does not pull up and appears more blue or gray. The Bluegrass Billbug lays its eggs in April and May, and their larvae usually begin to do serious damage during the heat of the summer. If you discover billbug damage, apply a contact kill grub control to immediately stop larvae that are feeding and be sure to apply Zamzows Duration, as previously mentioned, to prevent further damage for the rest of the season. Basic things you can do to help your lawn deal with summer heat stress: • Set your mower height at least one inch higher than you do in spring and fall. The taller plant will help shade the root zone. • Do not fertilize during these hot months. The residual nutrients from your spring feedings will suffice during the slowed summer-growth period. • Keep your mower blade sharp and mow often. Leave the small clippings on the lawn to decompose. This will replace needed organic matter in your soil. • It’s time for your application of Zamzows Huma Green. In June and early July, lawns tend to lose color quality. Hot weather is not the time to stimulate grass with heavy fertilizer applications. This organic iron supplement will green your lawn without growth. It is also a great soil conditioner that adds humus to the soil, breaks down hard clay soil and improves the soil’s water holding capacity. Since Huma Green improves the soil every time it is used, apply it more than once during the year, in addition to this program application. Huma Green should always be applied at a rate of one bag per 2,500 sq. ft. • It’s best to water your lawn in the early morning hours for two reasons: Save water. On a 100-degree day almost 30% of the water from your sprinkler can evaporate before it even hits the ground! Increase to 1” inch per watering, two times per week. Night watering can cause fungal problems. Brown patches, circles, semi-circles or mushrooms in your lawn can indicate fungus. Zamzows Defendz Systemic Disease Control will cure and prevent most lawn fungal problems. Let the lawn care specialist at your nearest Zamzows help solve these problems. • Apply Zamzows Defendz Systemic Rose Drench according to your six-week interval schedule established in March. Continue your summer watering schedule through September. This month also begins the rebuilding season for Southern Idaho lawns. The cooler nights let the grass breathe a sigh of relief from the heat. This is the most important time of the year for fertilization. We recommend two end-of-season lawn feedings: The first in September and the second six weeks later in either October or November. Fall is the ideal time to also feed the trees in your yard. Long before the leaves change color they stop taking up nutrients and take in less water. • September is the time for your next application Zamzows Lawn Food. Your lawn has not been fed since early summer and needs food to begin the recovery process from summer heat. Apply at a rate of one bag per 5,000 sq. ft. • Apply Zamzows Thrive or Thrive Extra to trees in early September. • Reduce mowing height down to fall levels and continue mowing frequently to recycle organic material back into the soil. • October or November is the time to apply Zamzows Fall Lawn Food, approximately six weeks after the September application. This fall application encourages root growth, promotes grass to fill in open areas and slow feeds over the winter. Apply at a rate of one bag per 2,500 sq. ft. MAY Lawn pest damage can really start to show up in May. Billbugs and similar pests attack lawns when temperatures rise into the 80’s. Also, watch for small moth activity in or around your lawn. The larvae these moths produce become active very suddenly and cause damage to your lawn. • Apply Zamzows Lawn Food at a rate of one bag per 5000 sq. ft., if it’s been six weeks or more since your first lawn feeding. • Apply the second application of Zamzows Thrive or Thrive Extra to your roses. Their unique balanced trace-mineral formulas strengthen your roses, keeping them healthy, naturally. • To continue protection for your roses and flowers, apply Zamzows Defendz Systemic Rose Drench according to your six-week interval schedule established in March. NOVEMBER ~ DECEMBER Relax! You’ve earned it! The money you saved on lawn care can now buy you the best Christmas tree in town. Zamzows sells only fresh-cut, Oregon-grown Christmas trees. They usually arrive by the weekend after Thanksgiving. Enjoy the holidays! When the New Year arrives, within a few short weeks, it’ll be time to start preparing for spring! • One final mowing in early November will help clean up all of the leaves in your yard. • Keep the turf short in winter to help prevent some types of lawn fungus. As the weather gets colder, your animals have increased nutritional and other special needs. The experts at Zamzows can help keep your animals healthy and happy this winter. Don’t forget your pet at Christmas! Zamzows carries a huge selection of gifts and stocking stuffers perfect for your special pet. Copyright Zamzows, Inc. 2010 – All Rights Reserved
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