Fall Lawn Renovation: Tips for Overseeding and Improving Soil
Hello, again!
Often, July is our hottest month of the year in South Central Kansas, with August temperatures starting to trend cooler. However, it appears August is also bringing us a couple of weeks of 100-degree days. As I continue to watch the forecast, I'll usually start overseeding my lawn in late August if the triple-digit temperatures don't overflow into September.
Fall is a great time for turf recovery. Living in our turf transition zone, an area where we can grow both cool- and warm-season species, we have to consider and manage our lawns a bit differently. While cool-season fescue lawns are popular in our area, our summers can be tough on them, with the 100º+ days forcing them into summer dormancy. Thankfully, with favorable fall weather conditions, the turf will naturally recover. The Kansas State Research and Extension recommends both overseeding and fertilizing in the fall to aid this recovery process.
The heat and UV rays of the summer sun can disrupt the valuable microbial activity in our soils. This is why our lawn program always includes ferti•lome Humic. Humic acids increase the uptake rate of micronutrients. With a water-holding capacity of 7x their volume, they contribute greatly to soil structure and indirectly buffer soil temperature. They also stimulate the growth of foliage and roots and increase valuable microbial populations. We believe in the benefits of Humic so much, we even include it in our Johnson's Soil Recipe.
If you need tips or have questions on starting the overseeding process, sign up for one of our upcoming Free Fall Lawn Overseeding Seminars.
I hope you'll make plans to stop by the stores soon as they get ready for fall. Our home-grown mums are starting to show color, spring-flowering bulbs are 'on the water' making their trip from the Netherlands, and pansies will be stocked as cooler temperatures allow. New foliage from Florida is starting to fill our greenhouses, and ferti•lome will be delivering a new batch of fall products any day. Pumpkins, gourds, and other outdoor decor should also arrive in the coming weeks, as we say goodbye to summer temps.
Chile roasting season is also in full swing. This past weekend we made the short trip to Radius Brewing in Emporia, KS to participate in their first Hatch & Hops Chile Festival and bike ride. 60+ cyclists made their way across the Flint Hills, and we welcomed them back to town with the aroma of fresh-roasted chiles. It was a fun surprise to see many riders wearing our old Iron ChileHead T-shirts and cycling jerseys. We were glad to bring a little piece of that now-retired festival back to Emporia. I've even been receiving messages over the past couple of days from recent chile converts telling me they didn't realize how good chile could be!
With another load of chile arriving today, we'll have a good supply for the next few weeks. Make sure to come by and get some!
Your friend in the garden,
Marty Johnson
Owner - Johnson's Garden Centers
