With cars whizzing by on a nearby highway, the Cornell Cooperative Extension marked the spot where it began 100 years ago when a farmer set out in a horse and buggy to help local growers. The farmer, John Barron, was recently honored with a stone marker next to a bank on a former field in Binghamton, NY. And while the landscape has changed dramatically, the mission of the extension program, now in every state, has not.
Today there are 2,900 extension offices across the country that not only help farmers raise crops but tell homeowners how to get greener grass and identify the pests in their yards. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the state land grant colleges and universities, the extension service may seem a bit retro. That is until you need a cure for crab grass or find telltale signs of a varmint in your yard.
Every state has a cooperative extension system. To find the office closest to you check the map on the USDA’s website. In New York alone, 10 million people take advantage of information shared by the extension service on everything from growing fruit and vegetables to finding a farmer’s market.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension, for example, has a month-by-month guide to lawn and yard care. Here’s what they recommend for April. (If you live in a warmer region, check your state’s extension site for advice.)
Mowing. Begin when turf is 4 to 4 1/2 inches tall. Set mower height to 3 inches. Remove only one-third of the overall grass height with each mowing.
Fertilizing. Don’t fertilize yet if your lawn looked good after winter and/or you fertilized in late fall. Excess fertilizer in early spring promotes top growth at the expense of root growth. Deeper roots are more resistant to pests and drought.
Seeding. Seed only if you have a thin, weak lawn or bare spots. Depending on the species, grass will germinate when soil temperatures reach 45 to 55° F at the 2-inch depth.
Irrigating. Spring rains should be sufficient.
Monitoring soil temperatures. Insert a thermometer to 2 inches and wait 5 minutes.
Scouting. Search for large grubs, but do not apply insecticides because they will not be effective.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2007/07/tip-of-the-day-sharpen-your-mower-blade/index.htm
https://www.consumerreports.org/lawn-care/a-cut-above-how-to-get-the-perfect-lawn/
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