Welcome to the Sunshine Gardening Podcast, where we aim to help you nurture your passion for gardening! I’m Kristin Hildabrand, your host. In today’s episode, we talk with guest Kenneth Clayton, the University of Kentucky Extension Associate in Turfgrass, who will share some valuable tips on spring lawn care for Kentucky. We will discuss the dos and don'ts of maintaining a healthy Kentucky lawn, from rejuvenating grass to avoiding common pitfalls. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to cultivate a lush, thriving lawn that will last throughout the season. So, dust off your lawnmowers, roll up your sleeves, and join us as we dive into spring lawn care!

Interview with Kenneth Clayton:

1. Many people ask questions about their home lawns for the spring. Can you explain the dos and don’ts of Spring Lawn Care in Kentucky? What should we do first? starts at 2:42. 

• Properly maintain mower equipment, especially lawnmowers and string trimmers.
• Sharpen mower blades. Start the year off right.
• Take a soil test. Bring into the local Extension Office.
• Purchase pre-emergent herbicides, seeds, and fertilizers to have ready.
• Check the irrigation system. Prime it up for the spring. 

2. Would you recommend seeding the lawn in the spring if you want to improve it significantly if it is thinning? starts at 7:07. 

• Spring is the second best time for seeding the home lawn in Kentucky.
• It is a little more challenging because grassy weeds are now germinating.
• If seeding in the spring, you don't want to apply the pre-emergent herbicide. 

3. Talk to us about weed and feed products in spring. Yes or no? starts at 8:47.

• Apply if weeds are present. Scout your lawn. Don't just follow the calendar or buy the four-season package at the big box store. Walk your lawn and see what weeds you have. Look at the weeds and feed them to see if they will control your present weeds.
• There are not as good results with granular herbicide products as with spraying the weeds.
• Another consideration is to apply when the leaf blades are moist to help the herbicides stick to the weeds. 

4. What are your guidelines for fertilizing the lawn in the spring? starts at 10:02.

• Soils in Kentucky are sufficient for phosphorus and potassium for turfgrass. Water or nitrogen is the only limiting factor.
• Spring is the second best time for fertilizing
• Look over the soil test results.
• Make sure to take a look at the grass. If it looks good, you don't need to fertilize it.
• I would rather be reactive with fertility, and with weeds, I would be proactive.  

5. Spring mowing will soon start. What general recommendations do you give for mowing? It starts at 15:18.

• Typically, mow the lawn once a week.
• Not to remove more than 1/3 of the total height of the grass at any one time.
• Don't mow so much that you are leaving clumps of clippings that would then smother the grass.
• Not scalping the lawns.
• Don't mow too infrequently.
• When we mow frequently, we promote higher quality-denser home lawns. 
• Don't just fertilize to fertilize. You may not need fertility if the grass is healthy and growing well.

6. Are there things we should avoid for spring lawn care in the Kentucky lawn? starts at 19:23.

• Nitrogen may be the only ingredient needed. Usually, a healthy Kentucky lawn requires 1-2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year. Soils are generally rich in phosphorus and potassium.
• Don't scalp the lawns.
• If you do get rain and can't get mowed, raise the mower's height and come in a couple of days later to mow it down so that the clippings do not smother the lawn. 

7. What do you recommend for areas in the lawn that receive a lot more shade and not a lot of sunlight? starts at 21:33. 

• To grow grass well, it does best in full sunlight.
• Fine fescues are more shade-tolerant, cool-season grasses. Tall fescues can do well in the shade with less traffic. Raising plants' heights can help them get as much sunlight as possible.
• Breeding work is being done every year. New varieties tend to improve.

8. If homeowners have questions about home lawn care for Kentucky, do you have a website where they can get more information?

https://ukturf.ca.uky.edu/

Thank you for listening to the Sunshine Gardening Podcast! We hope you found today's episode on the dos and don'ts of spring lawn care in Kentucky informative and helpful in enhancing your gardening skills. Remember, proper care and attention are crucial for maintaining a robust and lively lawn. Thank you to our guest, Kenneth Clayton, for joining us today! To access the show notes for episode 26, please visit our blog at warrencountyagriculture.com.

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Stay tuned for more episodes filled with valuable tips and gardening wisdom. Until then, happy gardening!

Resources:

https://ukturf.ca.uky.edu/