Q. I have a lawn that did not do well this last summer. It browned and had a few patches that had some sort of infection and die-off. We added compost in early fall and the lawn perked up quite a bit but it browned again considerably even though it is a fescue blend that should remain green through our winter. I think it probably needs another application of compost at some point. When should I add compost again?
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| Probably summer patch disease on fescue in Las Vegas. |
A. There is solid research
from major universities showing that many lawn diseases are controlled by
applying frequent compost applications through the growing season. To
accomplish this, light applications of compost, about ¼ inch deep, should be
applied monthly. This is equivalent to applying 10 to 15 cubic feet of compost
per thousand square feet.
With regular compost applications, and returning grass clippings
to the lawn using a mulching mower, no additional fertilizer is needed. One or
two applications of compost during the year is not often enough to maintain a
healthy lawn.
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| Bagged compost like this one helps to reduce disease problems if applied monthly to lawns. Apply about 10 to 15 bags per 1000 square feet. Cost is usually less than $3 per cubic foot. |
To keep the lawn from browning during freezing
temperatures, an application of compost is needed around Thanksgiving through
the first week of December. Depending on the compost, a supplemental
application of high nitrogen fertilizer might be needed.
High levels of nitrogen inside the grass needs to be
present before cold temperatures to prevent fescue from turning brown, even in
our climate. If nitrogen levels are low when freezing temperatures arrive, any
lawn will turn brown.
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| The easiest way to apply compost to a lawn is probably with a compost spreader like this one. Experienced applicators can apply it by throwing it on with a manure shovel and a raking it. Make sure you water it in immediately after applying it. |
However, most problems with lawns growing in the desert are
related to watering and irrigation. Make sure water is applied evenly to the
lawn from the sprinklers. Sprinklers must “throw” water from irrigation head to
irrigation head.
The second contributing problem results from the condition
of the soil that can result in suffocation of grass roots. Adequate soil
preparation at the time of planting is hardly ever done by professionals. This soil
problem can be corrected, somewhat after-the-fact, by “coring holes” in the existing
lawn once a year using a commercial, gasoline-operated, aerator.
Make sure your irrigation system is adequate. Aerate the
lawn in January/February with a gasoline driven lawn aerator. Apply 10 to 15
cubic foot bags of high nitrogen compost with a compost spreader for every 1000
square feet of lawn. Mow with a mulching mower.
