As we enter into September, it is time to do our chores if you follow the calendar.  I did not look through our archives, so I may have written this column last fall.  The main difference is the "follow the calendar" portion of this week's subject.  With the intense drought the mid Atlantic region is experiencing, some things may have to be delayed or postponed due to environmental conditions.  We are currently under mandatory water restriction with good reason.

    Normally one would be feeding turfgrass heavily at this point, but without irrigation you will probably do more damage than good.  In addition to vital nutrients, fertilizer also contains salt.  The application of salt on the roots of already desiccated plants will further dehydrate the roots.  Consequently, you should be very careful about applications.  Trees and herbaceous perennials can wait until it is very cold (late November / early December) for their dormant feeding. Evergreens shouldn't be fed just now as new growth can be stimulated and may not have  time to "harden off" prior to the cold winter.

    The cool season grasses such as tall fescue, ryegrasse, and bluegrasse would normally demand a heavy feeding right now.  As temperatures fall and if rain comes, feed them with a good quality slow release fertilizer.  If you do not wait for the rain and it does not materialize, your grass may suffer damage from fertilization.  Since the above mentioned grasses are heavy feeders, be prepared to fertilize when conditions are correct.  Normally we recommend a feeding in September and at Thanksgiving.  October and Thanksgiving will work as well under the circumstances, weather permitting.

    I believe grass seed should be applied during the month of September or early October.  This is the natural time for cool season grasses to reproduce by seeding themselves.  Even though it is dry, the seed will remain viable while waiting for the rains.  Overseeding of these grasses is usually done at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet (1/2 to 1 pound per 1000 for bluegrass).  You have probably lost much grass to drought this summer and should be doing some seeding.  Spring seeding rarely survives our summers.

    In summary, follow the calendar on seeding and proceed with caution on fertilization.  Until next week.

                                                                                            Andy Lynn