Spring is in full swing and homeowners are now shifting focus to their lawns and gardens. Despite popular belief, the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence — one’s yard can turn out just as healthy, green and full as the neighbors’, but it takes the right timing and know-how.

According to Gene Fox, agriculture-consumer horticulture agent at the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension, due to unseasonal weather in early March, warm season grasses in the area started to green up earlier than usual. That leads homeowners to think applying fertilizer earlier is appropriate, but it is not the case, according to Fox.

Fox said fertilizers should be applied to yards with warm season grasses in mid-June and any earlier application can be detrimental to the health of the grass. A cold snap the area experienced in early April is just the reason why jumping the gun on turf management can be a bad decision.

“You usually don’t see (grass greening up) until May,” Fox said. “If you add that fertilizer, you cause it to really start growing. It puts out these stolons. They start growing across the ground, and essentially, it will kill all your grass because it hasn’t had time to harden off. The plant has exposed itself and now it has nothing left. It’s called winter injury.”

Centipede grass, which is common warm-season grass in the area, is frequently used in yards and spread via stolons, which are shoots that bend to the ground or that grow horizontally above the ground and produce roots and shoots at the nodes where tillers grow.

The Extension recommends homeowners do not apply herbicides that prevent weeds from growing early in the spring, because it can actually keep the grass from rooting, Fox said.

“It really needs to be able to root during prime season, which is June through September,” Fox said. “Most of the folks I deal with and calls I field come from folks who are having issues with Centipede grass. It’s just not a good idea to put a spring pre-emergent on Centipede. If I could get landscapers and homeowners to learn that, it would help them out a lot. There’s a preconceived notion, driven strongly by companies and media outlets, when spring rolls around, this is what you’re supposed to do, but Weed B Gon has a fertilizer and pre-emergent in it. You’re really shooting yourself in the foot because if you get a frost, it could be the downfall of your grass for that year. It’s like rolling the dice.”

So how does one really know how and when it’s the right time to move forward with any kind of turf management?

According to Fox, an invaluable resource to refer to when unsure about turf management is Turf Files through North Carolina State University. The amount of information available on the Turf Files website allows consumers and landscapers to access dos and don’ts specific to types of grass, seasons, diseases, insects and other conditions related to turf, according to Fox.

“The wealth of information there is great,” Fox said. “You can find out your type of grass. If you’re getting ready to replant your yard or you want to start a whole new yard, there’s a ‘Do It Yourself’ section. It’s awesome. It’s a very comprehensive website. If you follow the maintenance calendar, your turf will have way less problems because you’re keeping your turf healthy. Happy, healthy turf is the best solution for disease and weeds.”

Fox said those with questions about turf management or other issue related to lawn and garden care can contact the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension.

For more information, visit www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/ or contact the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension at 252-946-0111. The Extension office is located at 155 Airport Road in Washington.