Fall arrived on September 23 with cool weather on the way. That’s good news for our lawns in NJ, since our lawn grasses are primarily cool season species, such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass. These grasses thrive in the fall, growing vigorously, recovering from the stresses of summer and preparing for winter—provided they have adequate water and nutrition, that is. To make sure that soil fertility is within the optimum range for plant growth, (don’t guess!) soil test.
Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory, a service unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, analyzes soil samples to determine essential nutrient levels and soil pH and then provides appropriate recommendations for fertilizer and limestone, if needed. For more information about soil testing at Rutgers, see http://njaes.rutgers.edu/services. Instructions can be found under the link for Soil Testing Laboratory. For more information about lawn care, see Rutgers Cooperative Extension publications at http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/category.asp?cat=5.
Jerry Frecon
Agricultural Agent
