6 EASY STEPS TO “WINTERIZE” YOUR LAWN FOR A SPECTACULAR SPRING
October is my favorite month of the year! Fresh apple cider, carved pumpkins, cool crisp nights, and of course, where I’m at in the mid-west, the spectacular display of vibrant fall colors that compels me to break out my camera. And there’s nothing quite like the sight of a dense, lush green lawn filling in the foreground of a mixed beech-maple forest scene - where the red, orange, and yellow leaves are so intense, they look like they’re on fire.
Have you ever noticed how most lawns just “look” better in the spring, and again in the fall? That’s because most turf grasses are adapted to perform best during the cool/moist growing seasons in their native habitats. Here in the mid-west, those months tend to be May/June and September/October. At lower latitudes, those ideal growing seasons tend to begin earlier and end later respectively. As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to fall, turf grass metabolism slows, along with growth rate. Finally, that “first-frost” makes its appearance, and your lawn knows exactly what’s just around the corner; winter.
To ensure that your turf grass can survive the winter months, there are many steps you can take to “winterize” your lawn so that it has all the growing conditions and nutrients needed to make it through even the harshest conditions. Completing these 6 simple steps in autumn will strengthen your turf grass and give you the kind of lawn you’ve always dreamed about come spring!
1. LAST MOW OF THE YEAR TO PREVENT WHITE MOLD PREVENTION
When your turf visibly stops growing is when you should mow your lawn for the last time of the season. No need to overthink this one! However, one concern that should be on every landscaper’s mind is the threat of snow mold. Coming in two varieties (pink and gray), snow mold
is a fungus that outright kills grass in late winter/early spring when the snow starts to melt. Just because your lawn has never had it, doesn’t mean it can’t take hold in the right conditions. The best method of prevention is to lower your cutting blade by about 25% on your final mow of the year. This will reduce your lawns height which will in turn prevent grass blade matting (the perfect growing conditions for white mold). Keeping your thatch
layer below ½ inch, as well as leaf-mulching or raking all the leaves away
before the first snowfall are two other important steps you can take to prevent a potential outbreak.
- NOTE: In warm and arid climates, where the average rainfall is less than 20 inches per year, mowing should continue as normal but only about half as often (skip weeks). Leave the clipping on your yard for this layer will help hold in moisture over the winter while returning Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium back to a lawn. Don’t trim your grass too short but also be wary of leaving it too long; southern lawns need to be at a good length in order to let it protect itself naturally.
2. AERATION
The process of aeration
consists of nothing more than punching small holes in the ground at regular intervals. Aeration is an often-overlooked step that performs three important functions: 1.) It reduces soil compaction 2.) It prevents excess thatch accumulation 3.) It increases the number of channels for oxygen, water, and nutrients to make their way into the root system, resulting in healthier, denser roots and a more stress-resistant turf. This is a simple step everyone should add to his or her lawn care lineup.
3. APPLY NITROGEN FERTILIZER
Did you know that one of the most important times of year to apply nitrogen is in early fall? A supply of nitrogen in the fall will help fortify your turf for better winter survival and provide a reserve that the plant will utilize come spring. This simple step will also help promote a deep green color late into fall when most other grasses are losing their vibrancy.
- NOTE: Don’t apply nitrogen fertilizer during the 2nd half of fall; this creates a climate conducive to white mold outbreaks.
4. GOT WEEDS? APPLY POST-EMERGENCE BROADLEAF HERBICIDES
Naturally, the best defense against weeds taking hold is a dense, thick turf with minimal thatch and no bare spots. Sometimes, regardless of turf density, weeds are persistent. As a precaution, the use of a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide is recommended. Applying this in the fall will ensure that any weeds (such as dandelion, clover, and ground ivy) that might secretly be taking hold in your lawn don’t get a chance to blossom in the spring.
5. PERFORM SEEDING / RESEEDING / SODDING
The best time of year to plant cool season grasses from seed is late summer/early fall. Remember, cool season grasses are optimized to grow during the cool-moist season, so if you have any bare patches of land to seed, or any reseeding work to perform, wait until after the height of the summer temperatures. For most of the northern U.S., this means early September. For the southern U.S., late September to early October is the best time to seed. *Important* never use a pre-emergent herbicide while seeding/reseeding. Pre-emergent herbicides will kill germinating grass seeds. For soil that has been thoroughly turned over, make sure to use a starter fertilizer with optimum levels of phosphorous.
If you’ve decided to completely start your lawn over from scratch and have chosen to install sod over dropping seed, early fall is the best time to accomplish this task. Make sure to perform a soil test to check for any nutritional deficiencies. Most of the time, sod has already been adequately fertilized by the sod farm. After installing sod, allow the root system to adapt and anchor into the topsoil BEFORE adding any fertilizer (most sod experts recommend waiting 30-60 days before applying any fertilizer to a newly sodded lawn). During the first 7-10 days, make sure the lawn is adequately watered, then gradually reduce to recommended irrigation levels appropriate for grass type and climate.
6. ADJUST SOIL PH WITH LIME
Last, a simple soil pH test
will determine whether or not to add lime
to your soil, and if so, how much. It is important to remember that in extremely acidic soils, both turf grass and beneficial bacteria struggle to grow. The addition of fertilizer can have a profound effect on soil pH, therefore lime is the perfect balancing agent. It is important to read all application rate instructions to prevent the deposit of too much lime. Too much lime can lead to alkaline soil, which have been known to accelerate nitrate leaching, as well as decrease phosphorous availability to plant roots.
That’s it! FALL into these 6 simple habits, and your lawn will be more green and lush than it’s ever been when spring rolls in. In the meantime, don’t forget to enjoy this year’s peak fall color; it only lasts for a few short weeks each year!
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Turf Care Supply, LLC, a portfolio company of Platte River Equity, has officially acquired Beaty Fertilizer, the industry respected Tennessee-based manufacturer and blender of custom granular and liquid fertilizers, as well as combination products. This strategic move expands Turf Care’s manufacturing footprint, adds new product capabilities, and enhances overall production capacity. “The partnership with Beaty Fertilizer marks a major milestone in our journey and an important step forward in our mission to grow, innovate and lead in our industry,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “This acquisition is more than just expansion; it’s a powerful opportunity to strengthen our product offerings, broaden our market reach and provide greater value to our customers. By welcoming Beaty into the Turf Care family, we are reinforcing our commitment to excellence and positioning ourselves for an even brighter future.” “We are excited about this next step in the Beaty Fertilizer story. For almost 50 years, our family and our employees have worked hard to serve customers and communities with pride and heart,” said John Beaty, President of Beaty. “Now, we are embracing an opportunity for growth with Turf Care. With our combined know-how and resources, we’ll keep building on what we’ve worked so hard to create and bring even more value to our customers, employees and partners. We truly believe this partnership will keep the Beaty legacy going strong while opening up new doors for growth and innovation.” Tarun Kanthety, Vice President at Platte River, added, “We believe the acquisition of Beaty Fertilizer represents a strategic step in expanding Turf Care’s footprint and product breadth... as it scales and enhances its value proposition to customers.”
Root out Grubs, Before they Attack Yours! White grubs, the immature stage of several scarab beetles—including Japanese beetles, masked chafers, May and June beetles, and green June beetles—are a major threat to turfgrass across the Southeast. These beetles follow a complete metamorphosis (egg, grub, pupa, adult), with most species completing their cycle in one year. Eggs are laid in early summer, grubs hatch within two weeks, and begin feeding on turfgrass roots through the late summer and fall. May and June beetles differ slightly, with a two- to three-year life cycle and prolonged feeding as third-instar grubs. Grubs damage turf by severing roots, causing grass to yellow, wilt, or lift easily from the soil. Feeding is typically concentrated in patches and worsens during hot, dry weather. Wildlife digging for grubs can create further turf destruction. Healthy turf may tolerate 5–10 grubs per square foot, but damage becomes evident as populations rise or turf is under stress. Early detection and timing are essential. Scouting begins in late June, shortly after adult beetle activity peaks. Monitoring plants favored by beetles can signal egg-laying is underway. Treatment is most effective when small grubs are active—typically from mid-July through early August. For professional turfgrass managers, insecticides containing imidacloprid (Merit®), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn®), or trichlorfon (Dylox®) are the most effective tools. The primary months of preventative application of Acelepryn® is from April to end of May and Merit® from April into July - targeting grubs before they hatch. Curative treatments with Dylox® or similar products are applied July through the fall, when young grubs are feeding and most vulnerable. Always follow label directions for optimal application and safety. Timing may vary slightly by regional seasonal needs. Turf Care Supply has a variety of professional TCS Growstar insecticide fertilizers available to protect your turf and prevent grub damage, before it starts. Click on the button below to view products, contact your sales rep for addition TC Growstar products available.
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.