Learn to Grow Grass

The author of this blog post, Robbie Cheatham, is a Paulding County Master Gardener Extension Volunteer.  As representatives of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Master Gardener Extension Volunteers are trained experts, who answer questions about home horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices using unbiased, research-based information from the University of Georgia.  For more information on gardening in Paulding, contact a Master Gardener or the County Extension Agent at the Paulding County Cooperative Extension Office at 770-443-7616 or check us out online at www.ugaextension.com/paulding. 

When is the best time of year to start preparing a green and weed free lawn? (a) Winter (b) Spring (c) Summer (d) Fall. 

The only correct answer is fall. 

Here are a few fun facts: Our lawns are designed to imitate British estates and we grow grass for its recreational use and pleasing appearance. Americans annually spend $30 billion maintaining a collective 50,000 square miles of lawn.  The lawn is the landscape element we value most.  It is the emblem of pride of ownership.

Growing grass is complicated.  But, Paulding County Cooperative Extension Coordinator Mary Carol Sheffield says, ” it ain’t rocket science” because the University of Georgia Turf Scientists are willing to share their proven Turf Management Recipe.

 The Master Gardener Extension Volunteers along with Paulding County Cooperative Extension will host a Turf Management Class to teach residents of the county the recipe. The secret is doing the right chores at the right time of year.  This class will make you an expert at growing grass which will maximize your efforts and minimize your time maintaining your green space.

I am a transplant who came with lawn care practices that were successful on the east coast.  They simply did not work here. My lawn with its eight different weeds was the worst on the block.  The recipe helped me reach a green Nirvana.

The Class will include:

1.       Timing guidelines for pre-emergent weed control and fertilization

2.       Importance of a Soil Test

3.       When to seed and aerate

4.       Time for Questions and answers-You can even bring your weeds for identification and recommendations!

The class will be offered on September 24th at the Paulding County Cooperative Extension Office starting at 7 pm.   Pre-registration is required and the cost for the class is $10.  As a part of the registration fee you will receive a Soil Test Report from the University of Georgia Soils lab so that you can get started improving your lawn!  To register, send your name, address, phone number and email address along with a check for $10 made out to  Paulding County 4-H,  to Paulding County Cooperative Extension, 530 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, Georgia 30132.  Registration is due by Thursday, September 19th at 5 pm.    For more information call 770-443-7616, email uge2223@uga.edu or visit the Paulding County Cooperative Extension  Office– 530 West Memorial Drive, Dallas, GA 30132.