South Carolina pro bass angler Brian Latimer has garnered a boatload of accolades for his fishing prowess over the years. But, he also happens to have his fair share of expertise where landscaping’s concerned, too. In this Backyard Life video, BLat shares his lawn care tips for spring green up to help warm-season grasses look great, come summer.
3 Tips for Spring Green Up
Brian says the three key things you’ll want to focus on in spring to ensure a lush, healthy lawn and property when summer rolls around are fighting weeds, mulching and pruning, and scalping.
1) Fighting Weeds
Brian has a zoysia lawn, which is a warm-season turfgrass that goes into dormancy in late fall. Despite the appearance of not much going on in the fall, nothing could be further from the truth. It’s the time of year when—if left untreated—cool-season weeds will eventually germinate, come spring. So, to combat this, Brian begins applying pre-emergents.
Even with pre-emergent applications, Brian will need to apply post-emergent treatments to the tenacious, opportunistic weeds he sees most of: poa annua, henbit and chickweed. Brian notes that you’ll want to ensure any chemical being applied is safe for the type of grass you have. Although hand-weeding works, Brian likes to apply a chemical and let it go to work before getting his hands dirty.
2) Mulching and Pruning
While weeds tend to thrive in bare soil, they hate thick mulch. That’s why Brian recommends mulching during the spring to keep weeds from germinating. He says you can use landscape fabrics beneath the mulch to keep sunlight out, but you’ll want to be sure it’s a type that will allow water to still permeate your soil. For pointers on DIY alternatives to landscape fabrics, click here.
Brian also encourages pruning plants and trees during spring green up. This doesn’t just include cutting back new growth, but also cleaning out dead limbs or branches, and shaping areas that have become unsightly.
3) Scalping
Brian recommends “scalping” warm-season grasses like zoysia or Bermuda to start the season. While it may seem like you’re killing your grass when doing so, he says it’s just the opposite. Removing old growth by cutting your lawn super low will allow sunlight in, which warms root systems and soil temperatures up. Brian also suggests bagging your clippings so sunlight, fertilizer, and water will properly penetrate your lawn’s soil.
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