If you have questions you can always call the WSU Cooperative extension office. They will help you and give you advice, and it don't cost you a dime (our taxes at work ). Call 477-2048. If you want to go there in person, they are at 222 N. Havana, just south of the county fairgrounds. Pub # C067, Lawn care basics and #Eb 1117, thatch and it's control would probably be of interest to you. I disagree with their fertilizer advice but most of the rest of it is good stuff.

 

Early in the year (March) I like to use some Turf Builder and make sure you dont cut it too short when it is hot out. If you water too much at night it can stay too moist and rot or mold/mildew. If you water at night it shouldnt be swampy in the morning. Early morning is good cause it wont burn like if you watered it when the sun is out.

 

Wait, wait... I'm confused. 95 degrees is devestating heat?

 

Well it is for us right here in Spokaloo. We went from 40's and 50's to 95 in less than a week. You Texans would be amazed at this green stuff that survives in cooler climates called vegetation. This is not unusual heat for this area but it was cool for an unusually long period of time. Feels better than the 105 I had in Vegas last week.

 

Buy LOTS of green paint.

 

hey man i am close to you as well over here in coeurdalene well we just went through redoing our lawn from that ring wrom stuff they said it was from the roots of the sod and the neighbor redid his 2 summers ago for the same reason and it seemed to do the trick but anywho to keep it green we tend to go find the fertilizer w/ the highest nitrogen content that we can find at liek lowes or home depot and the raise the blade on your mower is a good idea i always raise mine around this time of year 1 notch higher on or mower than i do in the spring well i hope this helps Darren

 

your buddy kevin used to own a landscaping company why dont you ask him for help (look at our front yard for a representation of my skills instead of the back)



1.)cut your grass longer and a little less frequently (ONCE a week)
2.) water the HECK out of it.....I do about an hour and a half 3 times a week
3.) fertilize it.
4.) always water right after mowing.....cutting the grass dries it out...

trust me

 

PS...I agree with everything Billy said Except the watering at night (its okay to disagree all friendly like ) I water at night...fungus needs one thing to proliferate besides water.....dark...keeping your grass mowed..even if at a higher height (which is good because it helps the grass retain moisture) is the key to fighting yard fungus

 

Another vote here for the Ironite, this supplies elemental iron along with other micronutrients needed to get your lawn to a rich green color and without a overload on your macros, stay away from too much N this time of year. The Ironite wont burn either, unlike a Suphate of Ammonia (stay away from using this) or other high N fertilizer that will fry your lawn dead as a doornail if over fertilized.

 

I use ammonium sulphate and ironite all the time, Ive never had a problem with burning the grass...just follow the directions. We used to use it on customers lawns all the time because it was cheaper than fertilizer and just turned it green, it didnt increase growth rate a significant amount

 

Humm, amm sulphate only supplies Nitrogen and in a very large dose, it should make it grow like crazy. Problem is then it will turn yellow after the initial growth spurt from lack of a complete nutrient package when used alone. It probably worked better when used with the ironite by giving it the micros. A complete fertilizer like the Scotts Turf Builder when used in conjucntion with a occasional dose of the ironite should produce magnificant results with absolutly no chances of burning the yard. The problem most have with the amm sulphate is not appling the proper amount and just using it as the only fertilizer for their lawn, you cant burn with the ironite and will have excellent greening with this product.

 

Can you let the grass go dormant? Thats what we do in Maryland, when the fall rains come we fertilize and lime. I don't lime every year, wait till I see clover growing then lime that year. I wouldn't fertilize a heat stressed lawn unless it was with Mircale-Gro or some other mild liquid fertilizer.