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Cool season grass fertility management: Part 1By David G. Hallauer Meadowlark District Extension agent, crops and soils/horticulture Kansas If earlier spring green-up and increased forage production are attractive to your operation, start planning for cool season grass fertilization now. Fertilizing smooth bromegrass in late November or December, as long as the ground is not frozen or saturated, is ideal for cool season grasses for the aforementioned reasons. If it helps from a work load management or financial standpoint, the benefits are even greater. For fescue, we actually seem to get about the same benefits from December through February fertilization. It's late enough in the year that a fertilizer application will not stimulate plant growth in late fall or early winter, when it won't be utilized efficiently. It's also early enough to make sure the nutrients have time to move down into the root zone before plant growth resumes early next spring. Brome studies show similar results. And while 2008 NEK studies didn't show a lot of difference between fall and spring applications, past studies have. Fall applications, particularly in situations where needed phosphorous is applied, tend to give excellent responses. Giving the fertilizer good opportunity to move into the root zone seems to speed green-up and vigor the following spring. What rate should you use? We'll go into that in more depth in part two. Multicolored Asian lady beetles If history is any indicator, multicolored Asian lady beetles (MALB) may again be invading soon. MALB were introduced in the late 70s and 80s to help control aphids. They do a fine job of that, hanging out in trees and shrubs eating those plant pests. In recent years, they've found soybean aphid to be yet another option of choice. Now, as we head into cooler weather, MALB begin their migration to protected areas--homes, barns, and other buildings; they start causing concern to homeowners. Invading suitable sites by the thousands, they can be a real nuisance. Their numbers and nuisance level have the potential to be on the increase this year since soybean aphid numbers were again high--resulting in more aphids present. To protect your home from their invasion (at least as good as you can), start planning now. Seal all cracks around windows, doors, etc. and make sure your screens are tight-fitting if window/doors are left open to enjoy the great fall weather. When invasions do occur, you'll notice that the beetles start aggregating on the south and west side of your dwelling during the late afternoon; it is best to sweep them up with a broom or vacuum and remove them a considerable distance--or they may just quickly return. 11/3/08 Date: 10/30/08 Advertisement
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