Get your lawn ready for fall grass planting

As counter-intuitive as it seems, the warm months are not the best time to plant grass seeds.  Grasses have a shallow root system that takes time to establish.  The long, hot, sunny days of summer can not only damage your tender, new grass seedlings, but they also contribute little to  root growth.

Root growth most often takes place during the winter when everything looks "dead."  Truth be told, while it appears to our eyes that "nothing is happening", that could not be further from the truth.  While our plants are dormant above ground, they are busy underground, using stored up energy from the summer to establish healthy root systems.

Most grasses have shallow roots.

So too with grass.  Many people find that they are having to reseed their lawns each spring because the beautiful, rich lawns they planted the year before have not survived.  This presents a tremendous waste of money and effort.  The best thing to do is endure the ugly lawn during the summer and plant your grass seedlings in the fall.  The pay-off will be worth it when you not only have a fabulously lovely lawn, but one that is hardy and more weather resistant.

 What you can do to prepare your lawn for fall planting:

1. Test your soil's acid level.  Acidic soil (or soil with a low pH) is problematic for grass and if you find that your soil has a high acid level, this can be easily remedied with pelletized lime.  For best results, thoroughly mix your soil with the lime and a good fertilizer.  You almost can't use too much lime.
2. Aerate the soil.
   
3. Spread the grass seed evenly across your soil.
4. Lightly rake the area to get the best possible seed and soil contact.
5. Cover the area with straw, to hold in moisture.  There is no need to remove the straw once the seeds germinate.
6. Keep the top half inch of the soil moist. Until the seeds germinate and emerge, it is necessary to keep the top half inch moist.  This may require watering daily.
7. You may begin mowing your grass as soon as it is long enough to mow, but be careful not to mow more than 1/3 of the top growth in a single cutting.  For best results, plant the grass early enough so that it gets mowed 2-3 times before the cold sets in.

For more information, the Agricultural Cooperative Extension in Burlington is offering a free Lawn Care workshop that is open to the public:

	Lawn Care workshop August 26th, 2010 @ 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Burlington, NC
	It's prime time for lawn care. Horticulture Agent, Mark Danieley shows and tells all about establishing and maintaining healthy turf in your landscape. FREE. Registration required. 336-570-6740 Class will be repeated at 7PM Event Location Agriculture Building auditorium 209 North Graham-Hopedale Road Burlington, NC 27217 Contact Christine Stecker at (336) 570-6740

Plant now for spectacular fall color!

Wildfire Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica "Wildfire"

A beautiful shade tree with good spring color; the new foliage ends are red. 

This tree is one of the showiest of all the fall reds, it will stop you in your tracks! 

Not to be confused with the messy and annoying gum trees that drop those annoying gum balls. 

Full sun or part shade, with grow 40’ T x 20’ W 

This is a perfect alternative to a maple to give your garden more variety.

7 gallon $ 79.99

Wildfire Black Gum

Korean Stewartia
Stewartia koreana

This gorgeous specimen is somewhat pyramidal in it growth habits. 

It will reach 30’ T but only 15’-20’ W. 

These trees boast dark green leaves that turn to lovely shades of orange, red and purple in fall. 

Over a period from June to July, this tree is decorated with

lovely, pure white, yellow-centered blossoms, 

three inches across and flattened, appearing much like a single camellia flower. 

The bark of Korean Stewartia is probably the most outstanding characteristic, 

with orange/brown patches showing through the flaking, gray bark. Full Sun.

15 gallon  $ 184.99

Korean Stewartia

Weigela Rubidor 

Weigela Florida 'rubidor' 

Put on your sunglasses!  

Bright, neon foliage and the ruby-red flowers 

will make this a real attention grabber in your landscape. 

They will go 4’ T x 4’ W. 

The leaves turn orange/red throughout the summer 

and they flower for 2-3 months! 

Full sun or ½ day of shade, 

makes this a great understory shrub 

or it can be used as a colorful backdrop. 

3 gal. $ 23.99

Weigela 'Rubidor'

Have you hugged a big tree today?

We often spend so much time fussing over our house plants or flower beds that it is easy to forget our old friends the trees.  Yes, we make sure they get enough water and prune them every so often, but when was the last time you sought out an old gnarled up giant and rested under the shade of its branches with a good book?

AmericanForests.org has created a National Register of Big Trees for you to peruse and enjoy if you don't have any big trees on your property.  If you do have a big tree on your property, you may also nominate your tree for the registry.  Just measure your tree, making certain to follow their guidelines, fill out the form, attach a photo, and submit.  Who knows?  Maybe your old friend will become the next National Champion!

Lebanon Cedar - Tree of God

 If you don't have a big tree, but would like to have one (or two...or four), this is a great time to take advantage of our late Summer Blowout Sale.  Buy three items in any one category (for example tree, perennial, annual, or shrub) and get the 4th item from that same category for free.  You could get four Ogon Dawn Metasequoias (or Lebanon Cedars) for the price of three and start growing your own giant tree grove today!