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The Bluffton Sun
June 21, 2023
GARDEN
Late frost affected lawns, resulting in shorter growing season By Mark Deloach CONTRIBUTOR
After a slow transition of seasons, it appears we are finally starting to get some consistency in our warm weather. Along with that warm weather comes some positive and some negative changes in our outdoor environment.
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This year has been a bit of a challenge for all turf types, and this challenge can be attributed to our unique weather patterns. We began warming up quickly in February and March, bringing color and growth back after dormancy. In March, we had three frost events that set us back, followed by many cool nights in April. Even up until the second week of May,
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we experienced many nights where temperatures dropped into the 40s. As a result of this, our soil temperatures struggled to make it into the 60s and grass growth has been stagnant. We are finally beginning to see some growth in our turfgrasses, which allows for recovery from damage that occurred through winter and spring. Its important to use this time to our advantage, being that we have a shortened growing season. If fertilizer was applied too early in the season, it would be beneficial to apply an additional application over the next month or so. If the areas impacted by unusual weather have become large sections, we recommend applying organic compost or top dressing at a half-inch deep, or even some pieces of sod depending on the size of the area. Along with the positive changes, we are also dealing with a few pests. It is important to be aware of your turf type and the specific
issues it may face so proper precautions are put in place. We see a large variety of weeds, diseases, and insects throughout the summer season. It can be very difficult to determine specific causes with the mix of inaccurate information found online, so we recommend calling in a lawn expert if unknown issues arise. Lastly, we would like to address watering as we work our way into summer. It is important to keep the lawn hydrated without oversaturating. If a lawn constantly remains wet, it is bound to develop fungal issues and a shallow root system. For this reason, we like to encourage less frequent watering and deeper saturation. Unless it is newly established turf, a lawn should only need to be watered one to three times per week if it is getting good saturation. Mark Deloach is the owner of Lawn Doctor of Beaufort County.