Colorado Real Estate Journal - March 2, 2016
Landscapes are an important and invaluable element of any commercial property. The landscape provides the first overall impression for patrons as they’re welcomed to your facility and the last impression those patrons see as they drive away. Paying close attention to the care and maintenance of your landscaping will draw customers in rather than drive them to your competition. In addition, landscapes can increase the value of your property and the likelihood of retaining and attracting valued tenants With winter becoming a distant memory and the promise of spring inspiring us, I’ve listed common questions and my answers in hopes to provide property managers with information they can use for the seasonal transition. What are some watering tips for turfs early in the season? The start of the season always is stressful. Activating irrigation systems often is done later in the season when turf begins to green up. And while early watering is important, you don’t need to activate your sprinkler system to be effective. I always pay close attention to areas that are south and west facing (especially if the land is sloping) and around evergreen trees and shrubs. Turf mites are one of the most damaging turf pests, and they damage turf in these south- and west-facing areas of the lawn. South sides of structures with brick or stucco facades also tend to dry out more easily. Watering these areas of your grass with a hose-end sprinkler or hand nozzle will mitigate turf mite damage, not allow turf roots to desiccate and provide much needed moisture to the evergreens. A short 5- to 10-minute watering of these areas provides enough moisture early in the season. Why is a spring aeration important? What about power raking? Aeration is critical in the spring because root growth tends to accelerate at this time of year. Turf also grows quickly during the April-June period, so it makes sense to aerate because the turf roots need oxygen and nutrients that aeration can facilitate. I never recommend power raking to my clients. Going over your turf with mower blades set to their lowest setting will help remove the dead grass blades without ripping out healthy new growth, which often is a result of power raking. Following aeration, do not remove the plugs from the landscape. While they can be unsightly, it’s best to let them dry out and then mulch them back into the grass when mowed. Clay soils are predominant in most areas of the Front Range. By nature, these are low-oxygen soils so aeration reincorporates oxygen into the root zone. Is snow mold a problem in Colorado? How can I prevent it from killing the landscape? I’ve had snow covering most of my lawn since mid-November. In the 35 years I have been caring for Colorado grass and landscapes, I have yet to see a serious or costly problem resulting from snow mold. In this area, we typically don’t see the more damaging snow molds found on golf courses and in the mountains. Snow molds damage bentgrass turf more than bluegrass, ryegrass or tall fescue turf. The most significant damage seems to be found on bentgrass turf in the mature areas of the metro area. Fungicide treatments for snow mold are expensive and not really necessary along the Front Range. Golf courses with bentgrass greens, tees and fairways do require proactive (late fall) applications of fungicide to prevent snow mold outbreaks that can be costly to repair. I recommend when all the snow melts away, lightly raking the matted areas – that is all that is needed. Will a dull mower blade damage the grass over time? While commercial lawn mowing services typically maintain their equipment, it’s best to ask how often they change their mower blades. Dull mower blades are an invitation for some grass diseases to rapidly spread, and a dull mower blade leaves ragged cuts. While you won’t always see these ragged cuts, they often allow disease spores to penetrate the blades and cause the grass to loose moisture faster, which then requires additional watering. When is the best time to fertilize in the spring? I typically recommend the first round of fertilizer sometime in March after the landscape clears of snow and then again in early to mid-May. Most of the turf grass lawns in the Front Range are “cool-season” grasses, which grow best and quickly from April through the end of June. To have high-quality, thick, healthy turf that is ready for the hot summer months, fertilize when the grass grows quickly. Providing key nutrients at the right time will thicken turf and promote deeper root systems. Thicker turf allows fewer weeds to germinate (important for every property manager) and deeper root systems benefit the lawn come July and August. While it’s important for commercial properties to have perfectly manicured grass, remember that short-mowing practices completely defeat the idea of thick turf keeping weeds out and deep-root systems, which enables the grass to survive the hotter and drier months.