Rescue Your Fescue and Other Cool Season Grasses, Sept. - Feb.

Cool season turf may require fertilizing around three American holidays: 
Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day.

Cool season grasses like tall fescue, fine fescue and Kentucky bluegrass require fertilizing, aerating, reseeding, weed control and other maintenance beginning in September.

Here is a simple calendar by the NCSU Turffiles website. http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/Maintenance_Calendars.aspx#004377

September through November

Mowing: Mow to 2 1/2 to 3 inches in height.

Fertilization: Fertilize once in September and once in November. Have your soil tested. Ask your county Cooperative Extension agent about a free soil test. Then apply the nutrient your lawn needs. If you don't test, apply a complete nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) turf-grade fertilizer with a 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio (that is, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8). Fertilize with 1 pound of actual nitrogen (N) per 1,000 square feet in mid-September and again in November (about the time the grass is green but not actively growing). You need to apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, so how much fertilizer do you need to buy? Divide 100 by the FIRST number of the fertilizer bag. (The first number always represents nitrogen content.) For example, if you've got a 10-10-10 fertilizer, divide 100 by 10 and you get 10. That means you need to buy 10 pounds of fertilizer for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Aerification: Core lawns subject to heavy traffic or on clay soils to minimize compaction and improve rooting. Break up plugs.

Insect Control: Check for white grubs in September and October; fall is the ideal time to control white grubs. (See White Grubs in Turf, ENT/ORT-67, AG-366.)

Weed Control: Apply broadleaf herbicides to control broadleaf weeds like chickweed, henbit, and other weeds as necessary. Caution: Some herbicides may affect newly seeded turf. Follow label directions.

Watering: This turfgrass blend needs 1 to 1 1/4 inches of water every week, ideally all at once. A dark bluish-gray color and wilted, folded, or curled leaves indicate that it is time to water. Water until the soil is wet to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Use a screwdriver or similar implement to check. Sandy soils require more frequent watering (about inch of water every third day). Because clay soils accept water slowly, irrigate just until runoff occurs, wait until the water has been absorbed, and begin watering again. Continue until the desired depth or amount is applied. Proper irrigation may prevent or reduce problems later in the summer. Watering between 2 and 8 a.m. decreases the incidence of certain diseases.

December through February

Mowing: Mow to 3 inches and remove leaves and other debris.

Fertilization: Fertilize with 1 pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in February.

Aeration: Delay aeration until fall.

Weed Control: Apply broadleaf herbicides as necessary for control of chickweed, henbit, or other weeds.

Watering: This turfgrass blend needs 1 to 1 1/4 inches of water every week, ideally all at once. A dark bluish-gray color and wilted, folded, or curled leaves indicate that it is time to water. Water until the soil is wet to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Use a screwdriver or similar implement to check. Sandy soils require more frequent watering (about 1/2 inch of water every third day). Because clay soils accept water slowly, irrigate just until runoff occurs, wait until the water has been absorbed, and begin watering again. Continue until the desired depth or amount is applied. Proper irrigation may prevent or reduce problems later in the summer. Watering between 2 and 8 a.m. decreases the incidence of certain diseases.