As the winter cold gives away to the warmer temperatures of spring, there are a few things
you can do to ensure a healthy landscape through the summer months to come. Once the threat
of freezing temperatures have passed, take some time to inspect your irrigation system.
If you winterize the system in the fall, you will first need to recharge it before your
inspection. When you open the valve that supplies the manifold, be sure to do so slowly to prevent
damage to the lines. Next, test each zone in your system for proper
valve operation and possible leaks. If you have a drip irrigation zone, be sure to flush
out the lines and clean out all your Y filters. Adjust pop up nozzles to limit run off as
needed, and make sure that all your heads are not slanted at an angle. Also, check that
your nozzles are performing properly. If you find any that are damaged or clogged, you
need to replace them or clean out the screens to remove any debris that may have accumulated.
If you have an irrigation controller, spring is a great time to verify that it's programmed
appropriately for the warmer temperatures to come.
When it comes to selecting new plants for your landscape, know your geographic location.
Then reference the USDA plant hardiness map in order to choose those plants that are best
adapted to your environment. Also, you need to take into consideration the location of
the plant. Is it going to be placed in the full sun, shade, or possibly a mixture of
the two? Those plants that are indigenous to your geographic area are going to be the
easiest for you to maintain. To limit weeds in the newly planted landscape
bed, a pre-emergent application is vital. Since some of the products have several sensitive
ornamental species to avoid, make sure and reference the product label prior to making
an application. To prevent establishment of weeds in your turf grass, apply a pre-emergent
herbicide once soil temperatures average 55 degrees consistently over the course of 4-5
days. This will create a nice barrier between the weed seeds in your soil, preventing them
from germinating. Depending on the type of grass you have, spring
is a good time to aerate and dethatch your turf. Thatch is that layer of dead roots,
leaves, and organic matter which develops over a period of time. If you have a tall
fescue or perennial ryegrass lawn, thatch accumulation is usually not much of a concern.
However, grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass can produce large amounts
of thatch over a period of time. Having too much thatch can harm your turf
by preventing both water and nutrients from reaching the roots for uptake. Also, this
area can harbor disease and make insecticide applications for grub insects ineffective.
Do some research for your locations and on the type of grass you have to determine when
to dethatch and if it's even required. Also, it's important to aerate prior to applying
your pre-emergent herbicides. If you fertilize your lawn in the fall, then
your lawn certainly reaped the benefits of an early spring green-up. However, to carry
that color and density through the spring, it is a great idea to make an additional application
of at least one pound of nitrogen per thousand square feet to cool season species like tall
fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass. For those managing warm season grasses,
such as Bermuda grass, wait until the grass begins to green-up from dormancy before applying
your one pound of nitrogen. When establishing or maintaining a new lawn,
it is always a good idea to perform a soil test in order to address your lawn's specific
nutrient needs. Once your turf is recovered from its dormant state, and you're ready for
that first cutting of the season, be careful not to cut it too short. The leaf blades of
your plant act like solar panels, harvesting light so that they can convert that light
into energy. You can help prevent unnecessary stress on your turf by following the one-third
rule. That simply means that you should never remove more than one-third of your plant's
canopy in a single mowing. Finally, spring is a good time to remove dead
branches and leaves that have accumulated during the winter. Most of your pruning should
be done in the fall. However, there are some species that can benefit from a spring trim.
Do some research to learn the best practices for the specific types of trees, plants, and
shrubs in your landscape. For more tips on irrigation inspections, fertilizer
application rates, soil tests, pre-emergent herbicides, and more, check out our other
videos on our YouTube channel, and subscribe for future updates. You can also learn more
at your local Ewing branch or by visiting us online at ewingirrigation.com.