Welcome to the latest issue of the Home Lawn Care Newsletter from UMN Turfgrass Science! We will provide up-to-date information to address all your lawn care tasks at the times when you need to know.
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November 15, 2023: Issue 17
A warm November has given Minnesotans a few extra weeks to finish up those last few lawn care tasks.
Fall clean-up can reduce snow mold
Preventing or reducing snow mold disease pressure in the spring can begin now. Steps to avoid snow molds common in Minnesota begin by reducing the height of your grass going into winter. With your final mowing, consider lowering mowing height by 0.5-1.0 inches, to a final height of about 2.0-3.0 inches.
Warmer than normal temperatures this fall have allowed more tree leaves to drop and be broken down before snow cover. Mulching or removing excessive leaf litter can also help reduce snow mold pressure. Properly mulching tree leaves adds nutrients back into the soil to support helpful microbes, helps regulate soil temperatures, and even reduces weed germination. While snow cover and temperature play a role in snow mold development, these steps can help set you up for success.
- Snow mold prevention begins in autumn | UMN Extension
- When it comes to snow mold, fine fescue is the choice | UMN Turfgrass Science
- Do you really need to rake all your leaves? An update | UMN Turfgrass Science
- 2022-2023 Winter tree leaf mulching evaluation: OJ Noer Turfgrass Research Facility | University of WI - Madison
- Why the winter of 2022-2023 was a proverbial snow mold bloodbath | Golfdom
- Stop raking your leaves! | Washington Post
Dormant seeding tips
As we turn the corner to winter, you can still take advantage of dormant seeding your lawn. Dormant seeding can be used to renovate or thicken thin areas and requires little to no surface disruption. The latest findings by the UMN Turfgrass Science team indicate that using a biodegradable seeding blanket can improve your chance of success on a new establishment. If you dormant seed this year, don’t use pre-emergent herbicides in the spring as that may prevent the turf seedlings from emerging. This may lead to more annual or perennial weeds emerging, but these can be controlled using selective, post-emergent herbicides after the turf seedlings have matured.
- Dormant seeding your lawn | UMN Extension
- Dormant planting demonstrations | UMN Turfgrass Science
- Investigating dormant seeding as an approach to establish lawns in Minnesota | UMN Turfgrass Science
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If you enjoy getting timely lawn care information, please consider donating to our research program for Give to the Max Day! Bringing you new information about sustainable lawn care for Minnesota is a long-term endeavor, and your support makes it possible. You can donate online directly to the endowment that supports our Turfgrass Research, Outreach, and Education.
Core aeration has no substitute for relieving soil compaction
In our January 2023 newsletter, we addressed the overall ineffectiveness of liquid dethatchers. A similar group of products called liquid aerifiers are sometimes advertised as a suitable replacement for lawn aeration. These products sometimes contain humates and/or surfactants, but more often their contents and how they work are unknown. There is little to no support in published research for liquid aeration being an effective treatment to replace mechanical aeration. Core aeration is the best practice for relieving soil compaction, which can enhance water infiltration and air exchange.
Core aeration in either the early fall or late spring is best, but can be done as needed. The texture of the soil and how much people, pet, or equipment traffic the area receives will be a consideration in whether aeration is necessary. Soils higher in sand content will be less likely to compact over time. Visible ponding or water running off the lawn surface during even light rains can be an indication of soil compaction.
- Is liquid aeration the same as normal aeration? | PlantTalk Colorado
Research highlight
EPA award for water conservation collaboration
For the past several years, we have partnered with the Metropolitan Council on the Reducing Water Use on Twin Cities Lawns project. Recently, the Metropolitan Council earned a national award for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense Labeled Products from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; the award highlighted our collaborative and ongoing efforts with the Metropolitan Council on lawn water conservation. Congratulations to the Metropolitan Council for this great recognition!
Examples of some of the work sponsored by the Metropolitan Council that our team has done include:
- Outreach by Lawn Water Conservation Educator Gary Deters and Master Gardener Kim Sullivan
- An exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair on smart watering practices and other low-input lawn care practices
- Turfgrass responses to drought study conducted by Jillian Turbeville
We look forward to continuing our work with the Metropolitan Council to increase the efficiency of lawn watering and smart irrigation products in home landscapes.
Please note that we will be taking a short break in publishing this newsletter - watch for our next issue in January 2024!
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