Rutgers Master Gardeners of Burlington County Blog

By Bobbie Herbs This is the last article of our series about 2019 spring lawn care.   Following these guidelines can deliver a lush, verdant and healthy lawn this season and for years to come. Links to other articles in this series can be found on this page. General Maintenance You know the type of grass you have, your lawn mower blade is sharp, and you’re armed with tips on weed and pest control.  What about general upkeep?  Dethatch Your Lawn Let’s start spring when the ground is dry by raking and dethatching.   Doing this before peak growing season ensures you don’t damage tender sprouts as you rake deeply.   Look for matted patches of grass, remove them as you rake ensuring new grass can grow up without a natural obstacle.   Compaction – Take Action Now or… While you are raking check to see if the soil has compacted.   This occurs in high traffic areas and may show visible lawn decline.   Make a note of the areas where this has occurred. Experts disagree abo

By Bobbie Herbs Combating Insect Pests Photo by PSU Estension Integrated Pest Management As defined by Penn State Extension, ‘i ntegrated pest management (IPM) is a pest management system that is gaining popularity and acceptance in the turfgrass industry. It incorporates all suitable control techniques to keep pest damage below an established threshold level. The use of IPM strategies should result in effective pest control with minimal impact on the environment and on people. It is important to understand that IPM is not pesticide-free turfgrass management. However, a successful IPM program should result in a more efficient use of pesticides, which usually means a reduction in pesticide use.’ You can read more here : https://extension.psu.edu/developing-an-integrated-turfgrass-pest-management-program There are several control measures that comprise IPM. They include: Cultural practices include mowing to the recommended height dependent upon the turf type you hav

By Bobbie Herbs Controlling Weeds Spring is the optimal season to control weeds by using a pre-emergent herbicide as soil temperatures rise, and post-emergent herbicides once weeds have started actively growing.   It’s important to remember what encourages weed growth - poor cultural methods. Improper mowing and fertilizing, shallow watering, and compacted soils cause a decline in turf health, and making room for weeds to take over.   Generally, warm-season and cool-season grasses will benefit from spring weed prevention. Spreading a pre-emergent herbicide will prevent the weed seeds from germinating by forming a ‘shield’ over the soil surface.  P re-emergent herbicides impact germination of many weed seeds, including insidious crab grass. As the climate fluctuates, so does the soil temperature making it a little more difficult to predict when soil temperatures reach 50 degrees. It is better to check soil temperature monitoring websites. Using Pre-emergent or Post-Emergen

Healthy Turf – Spring Maintenance Kicking off your 2019 lawn care takes some preparation. Following these guidelines can deliver a lush, verdant and healthy lawn this season and for years to come. Look for updates weekly, adding to your knowledge and expertise. Article 1 First Steps to Spring Lawn Care Identify the grass you grow . There are two types of grasses used in South Jersey a region sometimes identified as Transition.   With varying climatic zones from cool to warm, arid to humid, it presents a unique set of challenges for healthy turf growth. Timing your care based on your grass type will lead to improved results. Warm-season grasses thrive in the heat whereas cool-season grasses struggle in our typically hot summer months.   Cool-season grasses include fescue, bluegrass, and rye. Most common to South Jersey, these grasses have a moderate growth phase in spring, followed by a significant growth spurt in fall.   For the most part they are dormant in summe

By Bonnie McNamee  There is a wonderful book called, “herb gardening from the ground up” (no caps in the title), written by Sal Gilbertie and Larry Sheehan.   It has a wealth of information on growing herbs from seed.   Sal Gilbertie is the third generation owner/proprietor of Gilbertie’s Herb Gardens located in Westport, Connecticut.   Mr. Gilbertie is the largest herb grower and supplier in the United States today.   All the information written below is from his book. Photo by Alabama Cooperative Extension Starting herb seeds indoors: Southern exposure.   A window with a sunny southern exposure all day in the winter.   Temperature.   70⁰F before germination and 60 - 65⁰F after germination. Planting mix.   Good grade Topsoil (30 percent), Compost (30 percent), Peat moss (30 percent), Perlite (10 percent).   This is the same formula to use in your herb garden plot outdoors.   A soil test for outdoors is recommended by your Extension Service.   Cutting m