Question
QUESTION: I live in Iowa and about a month ago seeded a lawn on a new houise we just built.  I have grass about 2 inches long now and winter is about ready to hit.  Someone told me I should feritlize after about a month and before winter with something but I can't remember what.  Could you tell me what you would recommend?

Also would it do any good to overseed right before the snow covers the ground?  Would that help it be thicker next springs when the snow melts.

Thanks

ANSWER: My concern is that with Winter about to descend, freezing temps will destroy any new growth on the Grass you have sowed.  Fertilizer will do just that, push new growth at the expense of the plant.  Nix the overseedingay.  Say no to planting Grass.

Fall is the perfect time for this project.  But Spring is nothing to sniff at, my friend.  Be vigilant next Spring, and freeze any Seed you have until then to raise the odds of sprouts.

Good luck and keep me posted,

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So I will nix the overseeding.  Thanks.  What about a fertilizer for the 5-6 week growth I have now.  It is about 2-2 1/2 inches long.  Would something like the Scots Winter Guard be good to put down and would I need to water it in?



ANSWER: Scotts is in the business of selling fertilizer, my friend.  They do not care about your Lawn.  Winter Guard is a ridiculous product.

The 22-2-14 formula does a few things.

It pushes Grass blade growth with a strong dose of concentrated Nitrogen at a time of year when Grass is naturally growing faster than in the Summer.  This would be good if the Grass is deficient in Nitrogen and bad if the Grass is not deficient.  Excessively fast growth is susceptible to Fungus and this happens also to be a time of year when Fungus ALSO is growing furiously looking for a nice place to call home.  Hello, Necrotic Ring Spot.  Pleased ta meecha, Fusarium Patch.  If applied later than mid-October, the weakened tissue problem is avoided, but then the Nitrogen has a short lifespan anyway and is going to vanish long before Spring when the Grass could use it.

The '2' in the middle is the root- and flower-supporting Phosphorus.  Very little of that there.  BUT....

Soil often already has PLENTY of Phosphorus anyway.  If you haven't done a Soil Test, you don't know.

At this point you're thinking, Just to be safe...  Just in case... Right?

Tsk, tsk, tsk!  Too much Phosphorus locks OTHER nutrients OUT of your Grass.  True, the '2' will tell you it won't do more harm than good, but it will also tell you it won't do any good at all.

That last number is the Potassium/Potash dose.  You short on Potassium in your Soil?  I doubt it.

Are you as confused as I am about what this all means?

Well, don't be.  It's all very simple.  You do not need it.  But I know you want to buy it, because those commercials are SO magical.  And you love your Grass.  You want to take care of it.

This is NOT a car.  You don't have to Winterize it.  You want to Winterize EVERYTHING you love?  Tell me, would you Winterize your kids?  Of course not!  Think of your Grass as you would one of your children.  Too many vitamins:  Bad!  Too much Fertilizer:  Bad!

If you really, truly love your Lawn, top dress it with Compost and/or Humus, throw down a little slow release Bone Meal which will cost you a small fortune and do only good things, and give it a Winter 'scalp' cut.  Just a little lower than usual.  Send me your Zipcode and I'll tell you where to get a nice, cheap Soil Test from a world class laboratory.  I promise it will cost less than a tank of gas.  A LOT less.  Any questions?

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wow.  Great answer!  I didn't know if I was going to hear back from you and bought two bags of Scots Winter Guard Saturday.  Haven't put it on so I can return it to Home Depot.  My zip code is 50677.  Waverly, Iowa.  I'll get a soil test.  Will the testing company make any recommendations on what I need?

Thanks again,

Answer
Waverly, IA -- nice blue color on that map.  Soil is not a laughing matter in your state; your economy counts on its farmers to know what they are doing to protect Soil fertility and successful crops.  Iowa State's Extension Service does cheap, reliable testing of Soil samples, starting with a $5 test for Peaches and Lime.  Their cheat sheet 'Take a Good Soil Sample to Help Make Good Decisions' explains the art of sampling:

www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM287.pdf

But the text is directed at farmers more than homeowners.  So although you should scan it, I recommend you follow more closely the directions for Soil sampling described by Cornell University:

cnal.cals.cornell.edu/faqs/default.aspx

I should point out that one of the important points they make in the Iowa State piece is that you should collect it BEFORE fertilizing.  Too late for this season, unless you maybe did just the back yard.  DO NOT SEND A BAD SAMPLE to them -- garbage in, garbage out.  Wait 'til Spring, then take your sample and put it in the mail.  And yes, they will give you a whole analysis of what's there, what's missing, what you need, including the question of whether you need to add Lime or not.

There is also a private Soil Testing consultant right in Waverly, Iowa: Shannon Gomes, based at 208 Rainbow Drive, Waverly, IA 50677.  I suspect this professional targets farmers and not homeowners, but for all I know, Shannon Gomes lives across the street from you, so I'm making you aware of it.

If you'd like to send me your results when you get them back, I'll try to look them over and see what you might do to customize your Soil for Lawngrass.  I'd also need to know which Grass you're growing, and if there are trees on your property that cast Shadows.  

Thank you for writing, RSVP:

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER