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| How often should I water my lawn? |
| I often hear that you should water your trees and shrubs in the winter, is this true and why? |
| How often should I fertilize my lawn? |
| Should I have my lawn aerated? |
| I just planted a new tree, can I fertilize it? |
| I usually throw away the lawn clippings, what else can I do with them? |
| My trees appear to have bugs what should I spray? |
| I plan on installing my own landscape. How much compost should I use and what kind? |
| I just transplanted a shrub or tree. How often should I water it? |
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How often should I water my lawn?
The answer depends on a variety of variables such as soil type, weather, type of grass and how well the soil was amended prior to planting. Typically a "screw driver" test is adequate. Push a large bladed screwdriver down into the soil. If you can easily sink it 4-5 inches, you do not need to irrigate. If it is difficult to get into the ground, then it probably needs water. back to top
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I often hear that you should water your trees and shrubs in the winter, is this true and why? During
western Colorado's typically cold and dry winters, the soil dries out
to a point of detriment to the plant. Root desiccation can occur when
water leaving the plant is occurring at a rate faster than it is taken
up. This is especially a concern with evergreens as they still transpire
even during the winter months.
On days when the weather is mild and warm or windy, transpiration is even greater. This is an even greater concern when you are dealing with a newly transplanted tree. A new tree has a very limited root structure; therefore the available moisture for the root structure is also very limited.
A once a month deep soaking would be advisable for all your trees, especially the evergreens. This of course is weather dependent. If the winter is quite wet, then you will not need to water the trees. back to top of page
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How often should I fertilize my lawn?
Four times a year would be ideal. A light application of .5 to 1 pounds
of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. in mid March, one pound of Nitrogen in mid
May to mid June, one pound in mid August to mid September and 1-2 pounds
of Nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. in late October. back
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Should I have my lawn aerated?
Yes, core aeration does two things. It assists in reducing thatch build up and it also helps alleviate soil compaction. Core aeration should be done once in spring and once in the fall. back to top of page
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I just planted a new tree, can I
fertilize it?
Your newly planted tree probably came with enough nutrients in the soil surrounding the root ball that first year fertilizing is not needed. Fertilizing a newly planted tree can even have detrimental effects. Applying fertilizer with a young tree can burn the tender roots and retard growth or even kill the tree. back to top of page
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I usually throw away the lawn clippings,
what else can I do with them?
Lawn clippings should be left on the lawn. If you leave the clippings on the lawn, you can cut down on the amount of nitrogen applied by 1/4 to 1/3 per year. Another good alternative to throwing clippings away is to recycle them in a compost bin. The clippings have a very high concentration of nitrogen that is crucial in a composting program. back to top of page
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My trees appear to have bugs what should I spray?
Do not spray anything yet. Take a sample of the pest to the local extension
office for advice. A house call from a Master Gardner
from the extension may be required for a very nominal fee. There are
literally thousands of pests in Colorado and some are difficult to diagnose
over the phone. back
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I plan on installing my own landscape. How much compost should I use and what kind?
Depending on what type of soil you have will dictate to a certain degree
what type of amendment. Do not use any type of fresh manure. Manure that
is less than a year old would be considered fresh. Aged manure does not
burn plant roots and ads a healthy amount of nitrogen, however this amendment
is quickly broken down in the soil. Also, you should use caution in using
manures on a repeat basis as most, especially cattle manure because it usually contains
high levels of salt.
For sandy soils, the idea is to slow drainage down and provide organic
matter that nutrients can "stick" to. Small to medium sized
compost works fine. In clay soil, the goal is to speed drainage and breakup
the clay. The Mesa County landfill sells a variety of compost. Mesa Magic
is a medium blend that is commonly used for both clay based and sand
based soils.
If you can mechanically break up the soil down to a depth of 6 inches,
I would recommend at least 4 yards of compost per 1000 sq. ft. of lawn.
An amount of up to 6 yards per 1000 sq. ft. of lawn area would not be
out of reach, if you can till it in the soil at a depth of 6-8 inches.
Keep in mind, most roto-tillers will not reach this deep. back to top of page
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I just transplanted a shrub or tree. How often should I water it?
This
depends on the type of plant in question. Reach down with a trowel and
dig about 4-6 inches into the ground, next to the root ball. Typically speaking, in broad terms,
if the moisture in the ground is not enough to make the soil stick together
when you squeeze the soil into a ball, then its probably time to water.
Consult with a nurseryman's guide as to that particular type of plants
needs. Remember, more plants die by over watering than under watering.
This especially holds true to plants planted in clay type soils. back
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