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Spring plant and lawn care tips

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Robert Tigner
Robert Tigner

This document provides several spring lawn and garden care tips. It recommends hand-digging or spot spraying dandelions before they go to seed for effective control. Herbicides containing 2,4-D, MCPP, and dicamba can be used to control dandelions and broadleaf weeds when applied in spring or late summer. Applying glyphosate to buffalograss lawns after February 15th or before two weeks after the first hard freeze could severely damage the buffalograss. The document also recommends dividing perennials in spring before new growth begins and preparing vegetable beds by tilling or spading if the soil is moist but not wet.

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Spring Plant and Lawn Care Tips Dandelions blooming - The preferred method of control is to hand-dig and remove blooming dandelions prior to blooms going to seed. Or spot spraying individual dandelions in place of making a blanket application over the entire lawn as part of a fertilizer application. If the area is one where blooming dandelions are not an issue, keep in mind the blooms are an important source of nectar for pollinating insects. Where control is desired in spring and early summer, which is the second most effective time of year for herbicide control, spot spray dandelions during peak flowering. Herbicides containing the traditional active ingredients (ai's) 2,4-D, MCPP and dicamba are effective for control of dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. Relatively "newer" ai's like carfentrazone, triclopyr, fluroxpyr, quinclorac, and sulfentrazone combined with the traditional ai's can increase the speed of burn down, expand the spectrum of weeds controlled, and/or improve overall effectiveness depending on the product used. Whenever possible, spot-apply herbicides rather than treating the entire lawn. Broadcast applications are expensive and often less effective. Use caution when applying herbicides near ornamentals or trees as these are easily damaged by direct overspray or indirectly by volatilization of herbicide. The very best time of year to control dandelions and other perennial broadleaf weeds (white clover, ground ivy, violets, and/or plantain) is late August into October. Herbicides applied at spring flowering do not translocate as effectively and usually do not provide as effective control as when fall applied. Cool season weeds in buffalograss - It is too late to control green weeds growing in dormant buffalograss with glyphosate (Roundup®) products. If applied, buffalograss is likely to sustain herbicide injury or be killed. While dormant buffalograss can be sprayed with glyphosate (Roundup®) to control weeds, glyphosate applications applied to semi-dormant buffalograss will significantly delay green-up and could severely injure the buffalograss. To insure no injury, do not spray glyphosate (Roundup) after Feb 15 through two weeks after the first hard killing freeze (25°F) in the fall. Fall applications can be applied after the first hard killing freeze or when the buffalograss turns straw-brown. Don't apply glyphosate if
buffalograss is showing any green color. Dividing and transplanting perennials - Dividing and/or transplanting perennials is an important management practice for many species, helping to encourage vigorous growth and optimum blooming. As a rule, divide summer and fall blooming perennials during spring, beginning just before new growth begins. Many perennials benefit from division once every three to five years. Dividing is also a good way to propagate perennials. Preparing the vegetable garden - With the rise in temperatures, many home gardeners will be anxious to begin working their garden beds in preparation for vegetable planting. Now would be considered a good time, as long as the soil is not too wet from recent rains. Working too-moist soils leads to compaction and other problems down the road. If, however, the soil is moist but not wet, tilling and/or spading of vegetable beds is a great step of preparing for vegetable planting. If the homeowner has not done a soil test ever, or recently, it would be a good time to do so to know what amendments, if any, are necessary. Many people also like to add compost in the spring to work into the soil, but this can also be done in the fall.

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Spring plant and lawn care tips

  • 1. Spring Plant and Lawn Care Tips Dandelions blooming - The preferred method of control is to hand-dig and remove blooming dandelions prior to blooms going to seed. Or spot spraying individual dandelions in place of making a blanket application over the entire lawn as part of a fertilizer application. If the area is one where blooming dandelions are not an issue, keep in mind the blooms are an important source of nectar for pollinating insects. Where control is desired in spring and early summer, which is the second most effective time of year for herbicide control, spot spray dandelions during peak flowering. Herbicides containing the traditional active ingredients (ai's) 2,4-D, MCPP and dicamba are effective for control of dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. Relatively "newer" ai's like carfentrazone, triclopyr, fluroxpyr, quinclorac, and sulfentrazone combined with the traditional ai's can increase the speed of burn down, expand the spectrum of weeds controlled, and/or improve overall effectiveness depending on the product used. Whenever possible, spot-apply herbicides rather than treating the entire lawn. Broadcast applications are expensive and often less effective. Use caution when applying herbicides near ornamentals or trees as these are easily damaged by direct overspray or indirectly by volatilization of herbicide. The very best time of year to control dandelions and other perennial broadleaf weeds (white clover, ground ivy, violets, and/or plantain) is late August into October. Herbicides applied at spring flowering do not translocate as effectively and usually do not provide as effective control as when fall applied. Cool season weeds in buffalograss - It is too late to control green weeds growing in dormant buffalograss with glyphosate (Roundup®) products. If applied, buffalograss is likely to sustain herbicide injury or be killed. While dormant buffalograss can be sprayed with glyphosate (Roundup®) to control weeds, glyphosate applications applied to semi-dormant buffalograss will significantly delay green-up and could severely injure the buffalograss. To insure no injury, do not spray glyphosate (Roundup) after Feb 15 through two weeks after the first hard killing freeze (25°F) in the fall. Fall applications can be applied after the first hard killing freeze or when the buffalograss turns straw-brown. Don't apply glyphosate if
  • 2. buffalograss is showing any green color. Dividing and transplanting perennials - Dividing and/or transplanting perennials is an important management practice for many species, helping to encourage vigorous growth and optimum blooming. As a rule, divide summer and fall blooming perennials during spring, beginning just before new growth begins. Many perennials benefit from division once every three to five years. Dividing is also a good way to propagate perennials. Preparing the vegetable garden - With the rise in temperatures, many home gardeners will be anxious to begin working their garden beds in preparation for vegetable planting. Now would be considered a good time, as long as the soil is not too wet from recent rains. Working too-moist soils leads to compaction and other problems down the road. If, however, the soil is moist but not wet, tilling and/or spading of vegetable beds is a great step of preparing for vegetable planting. If the homeowner has not done a soil test ever, or recently, it would be a good time to do so to know what amendments, if any, are necessary. Many people also like to add compost in the spring to work into the soil, but this can also be done in the fall.