Autumn has finally arrived, at least on the calendar. Weather forecasts still predict some days in the low 90’s, but at least the humidity has moderated a bit.
While some residents of panhandle Florida consider working in the home landscape a chore, many view it as a means of enhancing their personal environment.
One of the tasks which often comes to mind is fertilizing the lawn and plants in the landscape.
While a routine undertaking for many, applying fertilizer requires thought and consideration to be effective without negative consequences. It should be a deliberate and well-planned accomplishment which is science-based.
The proper selection of a fertilizer should be based on a soil test. Every UF/IFAS Extension Office has supplies for pulling and submitting a soil sample for evaluation.
The weather is cooling a bit and some residents of panhandle Florida are tempted to fertilize their lawns with the hope of producing emerald-toned turf. Adding incorrect nutrients will do more damage than good, and there is another option to produce green turf in the autumn and winter in this region.
Additionally, there are other soil testing services available to homeowners, and these can be found on the internet.
Do-it-yourself soil testing is not recommended. The equipment available to the typical resident is not precise and will easily produce inaccurate results.
One factor which must be considered in light of the dormant season’s approach is the analysis of the fertilizer to be applied. Inappropriate or excessive application will waste resources and cause them to end up in the water supply where they will do no good.
As many warm season grasses and plants are reducing their growth rates to prepare for winter, the need for nutrients slows. Nitrogen, the first number on a fertilizer tag’s list of ingredient percentages, is especially vulnerable to misuse by the well-intended but inexperienced or uninformed person.
Seed labels are required by law. The contents of the bag must be accurately identified, but the homeowner must know if the seed will work in their particular situation.
Overapplication of nitrogen will promote the aggressive growth of tender green foliage in the lawn. If a frost or freeze occurs when the tender vegetation is present, the plant will experience excessive damage or death.
The directions on home and garden fertilizer bags, and soil test reports, all recommend restricting or eliminating nitrogen application late in the growing season. This is sound advice.
If a green lawn through the winter is desired, there is a viable and affordable alternative. Annual ryegrass is available in garden centers and big box retailers throughout north Florida.
Ryegrasses can be either turf-type or forage-type, and this information will be on the bag and/or the seed-tag attached to the bag. Selecting the proper cultivar is the first decision and a very important selection.
Turf-types are short growing and can produce a thick green lawn. Forage-types were bred to produce large amounts of biomass for livestock grazing.
While forage-type cultivars will grow in residential sites, they do not usually produce the results sought by homeowners.
Gulf annual ryegrass is a generic blend of seeds and the results are indeterminate. It is usually the least expensive ryegrass option, but as the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for…”
Overseeding a lawn with warm season grass is relatively simple. The seeding rate should be on the heavy side as only a percentage will lodge in the existing turf and successfully germinate.
As with warm season grasses, irrigation may be necessary when rains fail to leave appreciable moisture.
Lastly, turf fertilizers formulated for winter application will help the ryegrass and the underlying warm season grass.
When spring arrives, the annual ryegrass will die and the warm season grass will take over.
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