After the summer we’ve had, the fact we’re less than a week away from fall might come as good news for many of you (and your exhausted landscapes).
We realize not every commercial property in Northeast Ohio is fully irrigated. If that rings true for you, this summer’s minimal rainfall and 90-degree days most likely took its toll on your turf by way of drought stress. To say things were a little on the dry side would be putting it mildly, right?
Whether you’ve run an aggressive irrigation schedule or no irrigation whatsoever, let’s take a closer look at the potentially damaging effects of drought stress on your grass and what it’s going to take to salvage your turf ahead of another Northeast Ohio winter.
Spotting Drought Stress Is Easy
As the summer wraps up, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed the leaves on some of the trees on your commercial property starting to change color. No, fall hasn’t come early; that’s drought stress.
Another, more obvious example of this is the browning and thinning out of your grass. This is especially true if your site has a lot of large trees. Trees have enormous root systems and that means the battle for moisture is a lopsided one.
The Unwanted Effects of This Summer’s Drought Stress
Mother Nature has a tendency to remedy turf troubles with time. Having said that, a serious case of drought stress can weaken your grass, making it more susceptible to disease and insect pressure. Think: gray leaf spot, brown patch, red thread, dollar spot, rust, grub damage, chinch bugs, webworms, cutworms and the list goes on.
Identifying these lawn diseases and pests can be challenging since many of their symptoms are similar (and they can even look alike). If you see something that doesn't look right. we encourage you to get a second opinion.
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Crucial Fall Turf Care Services for Commercial Properties in Northeast Ohio
To help your grass recover now and also give it a fighting chance come spring, it’s important to give some consideration to the following fall lawn care services. For commercial properties experiencing serious turf damage, we recommend this four-pronged approach:
1. Fungicide Application
Way before we put an application of any sort down on your turf, a Schill turf care expert first determines how long the climatic conditions will remain favorable for the disease in question to occur. If the turf disease is persistent, a fungicide application will suppress and prevent any further disease (damage).
2. Fertilization
As we head into fall, fertilization is another critical component to fall turf care because it promotes root development and gives grass the nutrients it was missing during the stressful summer months.
Some people might suggest holding off on fertilization, especially when it comes to synthetic fertilizers and the turf burn it can cause. But think about it: The grass has been in a famine, so to speak, and having nutrients easily accessible will be extremely valuable as it tries to recover before winter.
At Schill, we run a bio-nutritional based fertilizer program which promotes faster recovery and very little risk of turf burn, especially when compared to a traditional fertilizer program.
3. Aeration
We’ve talked a lot about the grass up until this point, but what about the soil? Thanks to this summer's drought stress, the likelihood of your soil being compacted, dried out and depleted of nutrients is higher than usual.
When this is the case, your property is an ideal candidate for lawn aeration. Aeration loosens up compacted soil by pulling up dirt plugs, which breaks up dense thatch and also makes room for root development. Here are five more seriously beneficial reasons to aerate your lawn in Northeast Ohio this fall:
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It creates a better air exchange between the environment and soil.
- Aeration helps prevent lawn disease and drainage problems
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It improves a lawn’s ability to absorb water and nutrients/fertilizer.
- Aeration creates openings for grass to grow into.
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It will result in stronger grass roots, which you’ll eventually see and feel.
Want to know more about aeration?
Check out This Post for more details.
4. Overseeding
We like to think overseeding goes hand in hand with aeration. Overseeding in fall is ideal because your lawn will not require extra maintenance for grass seed to germinate. It also helps replace any grass that died off from summer drought, insect damage or turf disease.
While most property managers may be familiar with broadcast seeding, we suggest to our clients slit-seeding as another, more effective option for seeding commercial properties in the fall. A slit seeder mechanically slices into the soil and then drops grass seed directly into the openings it creates.
When was the last time you overseeded your turf? As a general practice, we recommend doing it every few years to diversify the grass on your property.
Let Schill Figure Out The Turf-Saving Steps You Should Take
Don’t wait until the final hour to discuss your property’s turf needs. Now is the ideal time to walk your property with one of Schill turf care specialists to ensure your grass is getting everything it needs before winter hits.
Let’s talk about this and other necessary fall to-dos for your property that will set up your turf and landscape for a successful spring. Call us any time at 440-327-3030, or fill out our online form to request a proposal, and we’ll get in touch with you.
At Schill, we act as an extra set of eyes on your commercial property, constantly keeping a watch for potential weak spots, so we can strengthen the grass using cultural practices and an appropriate turf care program. Healthy grass is sustainable grass.
