2012 Guide to Your. Best. Lawn GET THE ADVANTAGE.

Transcription

1 2012 Guide to Your Best Lawn Ever GET THE ADVANTAGE. 1

2 A HEALTHY LAWN IS GOOD FOR THE FAMILY Canadian families love their lawn. It provides a safe place underfoot for play and outdoor living activities. It s good for the air. 15m 2 of a healthy lawn releases enough oxygen daily for a family of four. An average sized front lawn has the same cooling effect as three typical home central air conditioning units, and it helps capture particles responsible for poor air quality. It s good for the soil. Dense grass captures pollutants, filters rainfall and prevents water runoff. It helps to sequester carbon into the ground. A nice lawn enhances property value, and improves the neighbourhood, too. 2

3 and EASY TO GROW with Growing and maintaining your best lawn ever is easy with Scotts. The useful hints throughout this booklet will help even beginners get the Scotts advantage to produce a great lawn. With a little know-how, the right products at the right time, and a little effort throughout the year you can grow a thick and healthy lawn you and your family will enjoy. GET THE ADVANTAGE. 3

4 FEED YOUR LAWN The single most important thing you can do for your lawn is provide it with proper nutrition. It s easy to grow your best lawn ever when you understand the three feeding basics: WATER YOUR LAWN Tips for a better-looking, more resilient lawn, even in dry conditions. PG 10 know what food your lawn needs know the best times to feed your lawn know how to apply fertilizer correctly PG 6 WHY FEED YOUR LAWN PG 7 WHAT FERTILIZER DOES PG 8 WHEN TO FEED PG 9 HOW TO FEED MOW YOUR LAWN Tips for grooming a healthy, better looking lawn. PG 11 4

5 REVIVE A TIRED LAWN Lawns need reviving for many reasons. You ve just moved to a new home and the lawn was neglected. Or it has been stressed by a long, hot, dry summer, or even a cold, hard winter. It s easy to restore your lawn to best ever condition. PG 12 REVIVE A TIRED LAWN PG 13 OVERSEED SUCCESS PG 14 CHOOSE THE RIGHT SEED PG 16 REPAIR BARE PATCHES TROUBLESHOOT LAWN PROBLEMS Well-fed, healthy lawns naturally crowd out weed seeds, but sometimes trouble strikes. Learn how to diagnose and solve lawn problems. PREVENT LAWN WEEDS CONTROL LAWN WEEDS CONTROL GRASS & WEEDS ON HARD SURFACES CONTROL MOSS AND ALGAE CONTROL GRUBS AND INSECTS PG 17 PG 18 PG 20 PG 21 PG 22 5

6 WHY FEED YOUR LAWN? Grass, like all plants, needs to be fed to maintain health. As it grows it depletes nutrients from the soil. Every time you mow nutrients are depleted. You can easily spot an undernourished lawn. It is thin and patchy, has a pale green, yellowish colour, and usually is choked with weeds. Aside from the appearance and texture of a healthy, correctly fed lawn, there are important benefits that help the environment and your pocketbook. FEED THE LAWN TO ENRICH THE SOIL A healthy lawn is part of a natural cycle that returns organic matter back to the soil, creating a good environment for beneficial microorganisms, insects and worms. USE LESS WATER A well-fed lawn has a deeper root system so it is better able to reach deeper stores of water in the ground, allowing it to withstand heat and drought stress. You ll need less water to maintain your lawn s vigour. CONTROL WEEDS NATURALLY Weeds flourish in thin lawns because weed seeds have room to germinate and compete for light, water and nutrients in the soil. A thick, well-fed lawn keeps weeds from getting a foothold. FIGHT STRESS Well-nourished lawns are more resilient to heat and drought conditions, winter stress, insect infestations, and disease problems. 6

7 WHAT FERTILIZER DOES NITROGEN Boosts growth and green colour POTASSIUM Provides all around vigour and health, and strengthens resistance to disease and stress. PHOSPHOROUS Feeds seedlings and stimulates new root growth MICRONUTRIENTS Solve yellowing due to micronutrient deficiencies in grass plants GET THE ADVANTAGE. NEW the 100% NUTRITION in Every Particle 100% NUTRITION in Every Particle Plus 5.17% Iron to Enhance the Natural Greening Process IRON * for FASTER, DEEPER GREENING ** * compared to Scotts Turf Builder Pro Lawn Fertilizer with 2% iron when applied at recommended application rates **compared to unfertilized lawns 7

8 WHEN TO FEED FEED YOUR LAWN EVERY OTHER MONTH BEGINNING IN APRIL. A lawn fed three to four times a year develops deep root systems to resist heat, drought and wear, and thick green top growth to resist weeds, disease and insects, naturally. 1 ANNUAL FEEDING 2-3 ANNUAL FEEDINGS 4 ANNUAL FEEDINGS EARLY SPRING Feeding in early spring promotes strong roots and recovery from winter stresses. LATE SPRING Lawns are actively using up stored energy, feeding now will replace much needed nutrients and help prepare for summer heat and drought. EARLY FALL Lawns are ready to grow again so feeding now will provide necessary nutrients to recover from summer damage. LATE FALL One of the most important feedings of the year; helps strengthen roots, improve winter hardiness and promote early spring green up. scottstip Canadian holidays are an easy way to remember best times to feed your lawn. Easter, Victoria Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving. 8

9 HOW TO FEED ESTIMATE YOUR LAWN SIZE You need to know the area of your lawn to know how many bags of fertilizer are required for an application. Multiply your property s length by its width, and subtract the area of your house and any hard surfaces like driveways, patios or decks. Look for the coverage (expressed as 400 m 2 for example) on the bag. WHY USE A SPREADER Properly maintained and calibrated spreaders are designed to deliver an accurate amount of fertilizer evenly across the entire lawn. Uneven application can cause variations in lawn colour, and potential burning if over-applied. Never spread fertilizer or grass seed by hand. scottstip To help you visualize your lawn area, picture a full tennis court with a fence around it. The area inside the fence is about 800 m 2. Average Canadian lawns are about 400m 2, half of the tennis court, and the size of a Scotts Turf Builder bag. SPREADER SETTINGS All Scotts fertilizer and grass seed bags have Scotts spreader settings for accurate application, and show recommended spreading patterns. Spreader Settings Scotts Broadcast / Rotary Spreaders Apply header strips. Then apply product in longest direction of lawn. Shut off spreader or stop each time you reach a header strip. Each pass should be within 1.5 metres (5 feet) of each other to ensure an overlap. Scotts Drop Spreaders Mow lawn first. Apply 2 header strips. Apply in longest direction of lawn, overlapping wheel marks. If not using a Scotts spreader, apply at the rate of 1.51 kg per 100 sq. metres (3.10 lb per 1,000 sq. feet). SETTING 4 7 1/2 SCOTTS EDGEGUARD SPREADER TECHNOLOGY Applies seed or fertilizer only where desired. Keeps product off landscaping, sidewalks, driveways and out of waterways. Edgeguard Technology means less waste, and less mess to clean up. 9

10 WATER YOUR LAWN Do it right and you will get a better-looking, healthier and more resilient lawn, while conserving water use. WHEN TO WATER Two of the best clues that your lawn needs water are when you can see footprints on the grass, or patches of dry grass. HOW MUCH? Lawns need at least 2.5 cm of water per week. Use a rain gauge to measure the rainfall during the week and make up the difference with a lawn sprinkler. HOW OFTEN? Water only once or twice a week, but water deeply to reach the roots. Frequent watering only wets the lawn s surface and forces the roots to remain shallow. Deeper root systems help lawns survive stressful periods of heat and drought. HOW LONG? Use a rain gauge or several cans to trap water from your sprinkler and time how long it takes to fill to 1 cm. Multiply that time by 2.5 to determine how long you should water if it doesn t rain that week. scottstip Choose a sprinkler that can be adjusted to cover your lawn area and shape. Avoid wasting water by letting it spray onto hard surfaces like driveways and sidewalks. 10

11 MOW YOUR LAWN Follow these simple steps to cut your grass correctly to improve its appearance and health, and make your job easier. STEP ONE Mow your lawn tall rather than short. Canadian lawns thrive best at the 6 cm height. Longer grass blades hold more moisture, are more drought tolerant, encourage deeper roots and grow thicker to crowd out weed seeds and prevent them from getting the light they need to grow. Shorter cut lawns need more work to stay healthy, weedfree and attractive. STEP TWO Don t cut more than one third off the grass blade. During spring and fall this may mean mowing more often than in the summer months. During hot and dry periods, cutting off only one-third helps conserve moisture in the plant. STEP THREE Keep your mower s blade sharp. A dull one frays grass blade ends allowing moisture to escape, and causes tips to turn brown. scottstip Cutting off no more than one-third of the grass blade has a double benefit. You won t have to rake and dispose of the clippings. Leave them on the lawn to conserve moisture and add organic matter back into the soil. 1/3 2/3 11

12 REVIVE A TIRED LAWN OVERSEED It s easy to tell if your lawn needs rejuvenation. It is thin, you can see bare soil between grass blades, and the ground feels hard to walk on. Older lawns grow tired naturally if the soil has been depleted of food, or neglected over time. All lawns are susceptible after stressful periods like long, hot droughts, or long, cold winters. Thicken your lawn by overseeding with a quality grass seed. It s an easy and effective way to strengthen your lawn and protect against weed problems. TWO METHODS For good results, simply cut the lawn at the lowest mower setting, add quality grass seed, feed and water. For best results, aerate the ground first, and enrich the soil with organic matter before seeding, feeding and watering. scottstip A quality lawn rake, properly calibrated spreader, and an even-flowing sprinkler will make your overseeding job easier. 12

13 STEPS TO OVERSEEDING SUCCESS AERATION Aerators penetrate the ground to allow air and water into the soil creating a better root environment for germinating seeds. CUT AND RAKE Cut grass at the lowest mower setting. Use a lawn rake to expose the soil to sunlight to give seeds the best chance to germinate. ENRICH SOIL Organic matter added on top of the ground creates a more nutrient rich environment for seed germination. GOOD RESULTS BEST RESULTS ADD GRASS SEED Choose quality grass seed for better germination and a better quality lawn. FEED Use starter fertilizer to help establish new grass quickly. WATER Keep seeds moist for best germination and rapid root development.* * Area must remain moist for 3-4 weeks. 13

14 OVERSEED WITH THE RIGHT SEED Scotts Turf Builder Coated Grass Seed Dense Shade Medium to high shade levels; moderate traffic 3-4 hours Scotts Turf Builder Coated Grass Seed Sun - Shade Versatile - thrives in areas that receive a mix of sun and shade 4-8 hours Scotts Turf Builder Coated Grass Seed Heat - Drought Full sun to mostly shade; moderate traffic 4-8 hours Scotts Turf Builder Coated Grass Seed High Traffic Medium to high sun areas with high traffic 8 hours + Scotts Turf Builder Coated Grass Seed Bluegrass Sun Full sun areas with medium traffic 4-8 hours 14

15 GET THE ADVANTAGE. GET EARLY SEEDING SUCCESS with less water! * The #1 reason homeowners cite for lack of success when trying to grow grass seed is a failure to keep seeds moist. With Scotts Super Absorbent Coating, you no longer have to worry if you miss a day of watering. HIGH PERFORMANCE GRASS SEED * Quicker to germinate when water is less available. SUPER-ABSORBENT COATING ENRICH YOUR SOIL Use with grass seed for lawn repair or thickening existing lawns. 33% QUICKER HELPS ESTABLISH NEW GRASS QUICKLY Use when planting grass seed, sod or overseeding. 45% QUICKER 50% THICKER 70% THICKER 15

16 REPAIR BARE PATCHES IN LAWNS FOR BARE SPOTS OR THIN AREAS Grows Anywhere, Guaranteed FOR SPOTS CAUSED BY PET URINE NEW 3 in 1 mix of super-absorbent mulch to hold moisture, premium grass seed and slow release fertilizer. Just add water and grow. Use in dry, sunny areas, dense shade or in heavy traffic areas. DOG SPOT REPAIR MIX SEEDING Same great features as Scotts ez seed plus gypsum to help flush away excess salt caused by pet urine, which can cause burns in your lawn. * refers to existing pet damage 16

17 TROUBLESHOOT LAWN PROBLEMS PREVENT LAWN WEEDS CRABGRASS DANDELIONS Did you see crabgrass in your lawn last summer? Were weeds present in your lawn last fall? Help keep weeds out of your lawn this year by inhibiting weed seed germination early this spring. Apply Scotts Turf Builder with Weed Prevent soon after the snow melts. May also be applied in early fall to prevent weed seed germination in the fall. PREVENTS WEEDS. DOES NOT CONTROL EXISTING WEEDS. 17

18 CONTROL WEEDS IN LAWNS COMMON WEEDS Controlling common lawn weeds like dandelions, plantain and clover is easy. SPOT CONTROL DANDELION PLANTAIN WHITE CLOVER CONTROL MANY WEEDS CONTROL INFESTATIONS NEW CONCENTRATE KILLS WEEDS NOT LAWNS! 18 BEFORE APPLICATION 5 DAYS AFTER APPLICATION* * when used as directed, results dependent on weather conditions.

19 GET THE ADVANTAGE. Lawn weeds can be prevented, but if they show up you can easily control them. PREVENT WEEDS Apply Scotts Turf Builder with Weed Prevent before weeds are visible in the lawn in early spring and early fall. EARLY SPRING LATE SPRING EARLY FALL LATE FALL OVERSEED Thicker lawns inhibit weed growth. Overseed with Scotts Coated Grass Seed for denser turf*. * CAUTION: do not overseed after Weed Prevent application FEED Thicker, healthier lawns resist weed growth. Feed four times a year with Scotts Turf Builder. WEED Control actively growing, common lawn weeds such as dandelions and plantain with Scotts EcoSense Weed B Gon. 19

20 CONTROL GRASS & WEEDS ON HARD SURFACES Unwanted weeds and grass show up in cracks on hard landscape surfaces such as sidewalks and driveways. Undesirable weeds also appear along fence lines and around established trees and shrubs. GRASSY WEEDS BROADLEAF WEEDS FAST-ACTING FORMULA LEAVES NO HARMFUL RESIDUE IN THE SOIL. Apply Scotts EcoSense PathClear to actively growing grass and weeds. Available in three ready-to-use sizes. 5L Pull N Spray applicator is great for killing grass and weeds over a larger area. Biodegradable herbicidal soap concentrate available. 20

21 CONTROL MOSS AND ALGAE ON HARD SURFACES Moss and algae can grow on hardsurfaces around buildings decks and sidewalks. Non-staining, biodegradable Scotts EcoSense Moss B Gon 1L Ready-to-Spray attaches to garden hose for easy application. 1L concentrate formula can be applied with a tank sprayer for clearing large areas. 1 L CONCENTRATE 1 L READY-TO-SPRAY 21

22 A HEALTHY LAWN RESISTS INSECT STRESS BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY LAWN A healthy lawn is the best defense against insect pests. It endures insect feedings without showing visible signs of minor damage, and it repairs itself with new growth once the insects have departed. Common insect problems on Canadian lawns are white grubs, sod webworms, and chinch bugs. GRUBS White grubs are the larvae of several species of beetles. They feed on grass roots in the top layer of soil. The first sign of grubs may be holes in the ground caused by skunks or raccoons digging for them. SOD WEBWORMS Sod webworms are smooth green or light brown caterpillars about 2.5 cm long, with rows of spots on their bodies. They chew on grass blades. The adult webworms, also called lawn moths, fly up from the grass as you mow. CHINCH BUGS Chinch bugs are tiny winged insects that suck the juice from grass plants. CONTROL LAWN INSECTS Nematodes are microscopic, naturally occurring worms that can be applied to lawns to control grubs and chafers. Following a case of severe insect infestation, follow the overseeding steps for reviving a tired lawn described on pages

23 HAVE A LAWN CARE QUESTION? ASK A To find out when a Scotts Expert will be at your nearest location go to: homedepot.ca/scottsexpert WATCH THE VIDEOS FOR THESE SCOTTS PRODUCTS 23

24 Join our FREE online Garden Club at homedepot.ca/gardenclub You ll find useful how-to articles and do-it-yourself projects on Gardening, Lawn Care and Landscaping. Use our plant library to receive great tips on every plant we sell in our Garden Centre. As a Garden Club member, you ll receive exclusive savings on plants and gardening essentials. exclusive offers expert advice plant care and gardening tips Proud supplier of turf products to Like us on Toll Free Consumer Helpline: TURF and TM used under license by Scotts Canada Ltd. HAND12300E