A little TLC now will ensure a healthy lawn come spring

— For people wanting to seed, reseed or otherwise prepare their lawns for the winter months, Barbara Faulk of Lowe’s Home Improvement says to prepare, don’t go overboard and be patient.

As far as preparation, Faulk suggests doing one’s homework so as notto spend money on things that might not work in the local soil and climate.

For example, she recommends seeding with a tall fescue or Bermuda grass, both of which will do well in Bella Vista.

“The best I’ve ever seen is EZ Seed,” she said. The product is a combination of mulch, seed and fertilizer designed to grow in sun and shade and everywhere in between.

“You can grow grass on concrete,” she said.

Before seeding, Faulk said to examine the yard and add soil to those bare spots.

To spread the seed evenly, Faulk likes Handy Green II, a hand-held spreader.

Once the seed is down, she suggests using peat moss as opposed to straw or hay to cover it. The mainadvantage, she said, is the peat will hold the moisture better and provide good drainage. That, she said, will save money by not having to water the lawn as often.

When it comes to fertilizing, think conservatively.

“The most common mistake I see

people make is they put fertilizer

on full strength,” she said. That will

only result in “burning” the seed

and sprouts.

For those looking to seed a yard

for the first time, Faulk suggests

using Green View Grass Seed Ac

celerator. It is a combination of

fertilizer, seed and mulch. Like the

peat, it will help retain moisture.

Also look for a seed that will grow

in the sun and shade and is drought

and disease resistant.

As far as the cost of seed, the

more expensive it is, the less weeds

it will have in it, she said. She rec

ommends, and personally chooses, a

seed that is 99 percent weed free.

For fertilizer, Faulk said an 18-

24-6 product will work in the local

soil. The numbers represent the

percentage of nitrogen, phosphates

and soluble potash, respectively.

Once the seed and peat moss are

applied, Faulk said to wait 14 to 21

days before fertilizing. That givesthe seed a chance to sprout.

When the weather is like what Bella Vistans experienced this past summer, Faulk said the soil will lose part of its iron content. She suggests applying something like Milorganite Natural, a product made from human waste that has 4 percent iron content.

“It won’t burn, and because it’s organic, there is nothing you can’t use it on,” she said. “And it’s very eco friendly.”

So, now you have the lawn seeded and the peat put down. What do you do once the grass starts growing?

“I would suggest raising the height of cut on your lawn mower going into the fall months before the first frost,” said Casey Crittenden, Bella Vista Property Owners Association golf maintenance manager. “This will help protect the crown of the plant during the winter months.”

Aside from cutting, the grass must be fed.

“I would also suggest using a winterfertilizer, something with high potassium; for example, a 10-0-30 or similar blend. The potassium will help harden the plants off before the cold weather.

“Furthermore, it’s important to maintain moisture levels in your lawn throughout the winter months.

This will prevent winter desiccation. This will work for both fescueand Bermuda lawns,” he added.

“I would suggest not mowing again until spring. I don’t think mulching leaves would hurt if the mower stayed at the same height of cut. It’s reasonable to think that the mulched leaves would help insulate your grass during the cold winter months so long as they are not too thick,” Crittenden said.

Lifestyles, Pages 30 on 10/26/2011