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I have often written that one of the things I do best is to keep good garden records. Although it was not as hot and dry during August as it was in 2007, it still caused many lawns to go dormant. Bob Mugaas, Regional Extension Educator, has written many articles on lawns from early spring care to late autumn care, and from sodding to seeding to replacing, etc. Parts of this article are taken from his writings.

Now that we have had rain, and cooler temperatures are expected, lawns have returned to being green and have started to grow again. If your lawn had summer weather damage, this is the time to reseed, resod, or repair the areas. Cool-season lawn grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, fine fescues, and perennial ryegrass can still be planted. If your lawn is partially shaded, try a mixture with a greater percentage of fine fescue and for a sunnier lawn, go with a higher content of bluegrass.

Fall is a very active time for growth in lawns so it is important to keep it watered, especially if we go into another dry spell. The cooler temperatures will permit a good watering every couple of weeks. It is okay to let lawns dry somewhat between watering as it helps harden the lawn off for the coming winter. However, if the lawn gets too dry it will go into the winter stressed, which could lead to winter damage.

Late summer and early fall are good times for controlling perennial broadleaf weeds. These weeds are also actively growing and herbicides (weed killers) are very effective during this time of year. This group includes dandelion, white clover, plantain, wild violets, and creeping Charlie. The treated plants may not completely disappear this fall, but they should be gone by spring.

Crabgrass and other annual weeds are also growing this time of the year but it is not the time to control them. The good news is they have no frost tolerance and the first killing frost should take care of them. Keep track of where these annual weeds are and treat them with a preemergents next spring.

Fertilizing your lawn should also be completed by the 20th of September. This will allow nutrition throughout the active fall growing season without excessive growth late into the fall. It's too late to get a soil test for fall fertilizing so be sure to read the instructions on the fertilizer container and ask for help at a feed store or garden center. It's still a good idea to get a soil test of your lawn so you are ready to maintain your lawn starting early next year.

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