Gage County
1115 West Scott St., Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370

News Column

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator

DON'T HURRY SPRING

Now is the time to trim fruit trees, clean-up the yard prepare the garden for early planted crops and enjoy spring, but do not rush it. A client called the other day who had power raked, fertilized and watered the lawn. They may have a nice lawn if they also spend lots of money on herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, reseeding, resodding, etc. Kicking the grass or other landscape plants into high gear on March 1 is not a good idea. Early spring flush growth is very susceptible to injury by cold temperatures as well as producing lots of top growth not supported by root growth in the cool soil which puts the pressure on when Nebraska summer heat comes.

Make a decision now about which areas of the yard to maintain at what level of care. This will help keep water use in line. Deciding in mid-summer to reduce watering on a high maintenance yard is a likely disaster.

Tall fescue lawns actually use more water per day than bluegrass lawns. They also stay green and growing for two weeks after bluegrass goes dormant. The reason tall fescue can do this is all in root growth. Tall fescue will root 3 feet deep as compared to 18 inches for bluegrass. Since our soils store 2 inches of usable water per foot of soil, that means an extra three inches of water available to the tall fescue.

Decide before the season starts if you are going to water your lawn or not. The part of the lawn being watered needs 1-inch of water per week in 80-90 degree weather and 2-inches per week in 100 degree weather. Try to put this on in one application and not more than two applications. Shallower and more frequent watering results in shallower rooting and more evaporation of water.

Mowing height of 2.5 to 3-inches can reduce soil temperatures and water use by plants. If you mow weekly clipping collection is unnecessary as clippings supply needed nutrients and ground cover protection.

Ask yourself now if the garden is really going to be used and cared for throughout the season. If it is going to be neglected later keep the size and effort down from the start. Space plants out well and use mulches to reduce water usage.

Reduce the number of new plantings to care for. A landscape is a work in progress over the life of the home, not an instant garden catalog photo opt. We are going to need planty of water and effort to take care of existing landscape plants and trees this year due to recovery from last summer's water shortages. Don't over-extend your resources of time, water, or investment.

Using native plants and other drought tolerant plants in your landscape can reduce water demand a good deal. Plants like yarrow, pussytoes, sedum, prairie clovers, and daylilies are examples of perennials which are quite drought tolerant. Plant like plants together, a few high requirement plants can force you to water an entire bed more frequently. Again the use of mulches is key to weed control and water use efficiency.

View other Gage County News Columns & News Letters: http://gage.unl.edu/news/news.htm

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
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