Transcript
Getting your lawn green again

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“This is a typical spot where we’ve got some dead grass from over the winter or last summer…”

It’s that time of year again, when rakes replace snow shovels and the University of Minnesota Extension’s Bob Mugaas is busy giving advice on how to get your lawn ready for summer.

Mugaas says the first step is covering up the bare spots.

“…this would be a good rake to scratch up the surface, get some loose soil and then go ahead and do their seeding.”

Using a garden rake, break up the soil. Then …with a small pot,

“We’re going to actually use this, just like a shaker that you would do salt and pepper with.”

…shake the seed evenly over the exposed ground.

“You don’t want big clumps of seed, at this point you want it pretty well scattered out over the surface.”

After gently tamping the seed in place, you’re on your way.

And not only will over seeding make your lawn look greener, it will help you live greener.

 “There’s an old cliché about ‘a healthy, dense turf is your best weed control’ and there’s a lot of truth to that, because where the grass plants are growing and taking up the available space, there isn’t any room for weeds to begin to grow.”

To keep weeds out, homeowners have been using herbicides and pesticides for decades …but Mugaas says those chemicals might not be necessary, if the grass doesn’t give the weeds any room to start.

“The healthier you maintain your lawn, the more grass plants you have taking up that space along the ground, the less chance there is for weeds to invade.”

Another way to keep your lawn healthy without chemical treatment, is knowing when to mow.

“When your lawn begins to turn green, and you start to see a lot of unevenness in height, that’s a good indication that maybe a first mowing is about in order.”

When it comes to watering, spring-time conditions usually mean the sprinklers aren’t necessary …but Mugaas does have advice for the warmer, drier months ahead.

“As we start to get on into the summer period, with hotter temperatures, then we kind of stay with that one inch of water per week to keep the lawns green and actively growing.”

In the upper Midwest, homeowners can get started on all their lawn care, from re-seeding to mowing, in late April, early May …plenty of time to get your yard in shape for summer.

For the University of Minnesota, I’m Justin Ware.