The United States has several seasonal growing areas around the country, and each have their own distinct lawn care applications. America’s heartland, the Midwest, possesses a wide variety of weather patterns that range from hot summers to frigid winters. Because of these fluctuations, homeowners in the region should become familiar with lawn care considerations that are unique to their area.
Types of Grass to Grow
When seeding a new lawn, you will need to stay away from warm-season grasses. These species will grow lush during the summer but will most certainly die off during the winter, leaving you with a dried-up, yellow lawn and a re-planting project for the following spring. Always look for cool-season grass seed; some of the more common types are Kentucky bluegrass, bent grasses, fescues, and ryegrasses. These grasses are the best alternatives for a green and healthy lawn in the Midwest.
If you choose to buy sod, Briggs Turf Farm carries cool-season grass specifically tailored to the rigors of Midwest growing conditions. However, if you are partial to a specific type of grass, ask around until you find the grass that looks best to you. Briggs Turf Farm grows both Fescue and Bluegrass, we can help.
Care and Feeding
Ideally, seeding should be done in August and September, whereas the best time to lay sod is early spring or late summer (although it can be laid year-round). The ideal time to fertilize is during the fall, which is also the best time to aerate and dethatch your lawn. Although herbicides can be used any time throughout the year, crabgrass control works better in the spring and summer. Broadleaf weeds are easier to conquer in the late summer and early fall.
Mowing and Watering
Mowing can begin at the first signs of growth in the early spring and halted with the onset of colder fall temperatures. Watering is always a consideration throughout the entire growing year, but it needs to be curtailed in mid to late October.
