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David Epstein: Summer time taking care of lawns and we brought in John Moretti from Weston Nurseries to help us a little bit with exactly what to do. So, some of the questions people might be asking, should I put down a lot of fertilizers in this time of the year?
John Moretti: The kinds of lawns that we have in this area are cool season grasses. They have a natural dormancy period which occurs when temperature arise. So, the color in December will be different and it is the time of the year. We can fertilize it, but we have to be careful of what kind of fertilizer we use.
David Epstein: And so, what type of fertilizers is best to use in some of the summer part of the year?
John Moretti: Organic fertilizers.
David Epstein: Why organic?
John Moretti: Organics, break down slowly. The nitrogen becomes available over longer periods and it, because it is not insoluble form, it does not promote what we call serge growth.
David Epstein: If I fertilizer my lawn in the spring, do I need to do it now?
John Moretti: In most cases no.
David Epstein: I have maybe chick weed or clover or even crab grass. What do I do about that?
John Moretti: We do have over size that can take care of both the broad leaf and the grassy type weeds, do not apply this products when temperature exceed 90 degrees.
David Epstein: I notice the grass coupling are left here. Is that a good idea?
John Moretti: In most cases, yes it is healthy. They do recycle back in you have they do not promote vegetable.
David Epstein: I got a lot red thread it sort of the grass almost gets a pinkish fuzziness to it.
John Moretti: Red thread is a disease that sometime we can take care of through fertilization. Some time indicates that the lawn needs to, does not need to be feed. If conditions favor extreme development of the disease is some time needs a chemical to slow down and control that.
David Epstein: If I want to control red thread naturally, any recommendations?
John Moretti: Make sure the lawn does not need to rake out but there is a lot of fetch or perhaps spent grass clippings on the lawn that would promote that kind of thing. Aeration helps sometimes, certainly you can test of nitrogen levels if they are extremely low, sometimes fertilizing lawn will get it to literally out grow the disease.
David Epstein: Anything else this time of the year that you would like to tell people to do to keep their lawns healthy or not to do.
John Moretti: High fertilization during periods of heat and humidity, not a good idea.
David Epstein: Thanks John.
John Moretti: Okay.
David Epstein: So, do you have a lot of tips on how to keep your lawns looking good trough the entire summer season. Come back every week for our tips here at growingwisdom.com.
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