what type of grass and fertilizer grow in this red dirt in monroe nc??

MML Staff_Erin H EXPERT April 07, 2008

The drought last year really did a number on lawns in North Carolina! And this year droughts are again being predicted.

Lawn experts in North Carolina are suggesting a reseeding this spring. Now is an ideal time. Assuming your grass is thin and/or has bare spots, just rake the grass with a ground rake to expose as much soil as possible (but don't rip up the live grass). Scatter grass seed and keep moist for a week or two until it germinates.

Another important factor is the type of grass you plant.

Tall fescue is the grass most commonly planted in North Carolina, but it's a pretty thirsty plant. Choose instead more drought-tolerant grasses such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and centipede. (These drought-tolerant grasses will go dormant and turn brown over the winter, then green up in the spring.)

As for fertilizing, it depends on the type of grass you have. The less drought-tolerant grasses that green up first in spring should be fertilized in February, September, and November. The drought-tolerant grasses that green up later should be fertilized during the late spring and summer. usually April, June, and August.

One other tip: Compost is a great way to improve the soil throughout your garden. It helps break up red clay and make it darker and richer and more absorbent. As much as possible, work the compost into the soil. When you're reseeding a patch, spread 1-2 inches of compost on the soil and rake it in.

And to give your lawn a real treat, each spring, if possible, spread ¼ inch of compost over the entire thing and lightly rake it in with first a ground rake and then a leaf rake. (This helps even out bumps and dips as well.)