Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif). Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's. What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Snuffy

"Snuffy \"Hub Cap\" McKinney"
writes:

Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif).
Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's.
What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Simple answer:

NONE

Whatever you apply, it will get washed away.

--
Dan Espen

Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif).
Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's.
What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Snuffy


I like a back rub. YMMV

--
David

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A better world requires a daily struggle
against those who would mislead us.

"Dan Espen" wrote in message ...
"Snuffy \"Hub Cap\" McKinney"
writes:

Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif).
Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's.
What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Simple answer:

NONE

Whatever you apply, it will get washed away.

--
Dan Espen

I thought about that, but was thinking the fertilizer granules would sink down under the grass. But your suggestion makes sense, so I'll hold off.

What about the next day or so, after the rain stops, but the ground is still wet?

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message ...
Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif).
Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's.
What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Snuffy


I like a back rub. YMMV

--
David

Great idea!

Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:

Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the
PRC (Calif). Grass is growing like crazy, with the
weather still in the 60-70's. What kind of treatment
is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

rain has a bit of fertilizer in it.

i'll agree with David on the backrub.


songbird

On 12/15/2014 9:09 PM, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:
Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif). Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's. What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Snuffy


Google sez, PRC is Peoples Republic of China but we know what you mean.

I don't fertilize if heavy rain is expected as it might wash away.

I also don't have to cut grass in winter.

Snuffy McKinney wrote:

What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Scotch.

"Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney" wrote in
message ...
Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif). Grass is
growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's. What kind of
treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?

Snuffy

if grass is growing like crazy, it doesn't need fertilizer.

Best to wait until spring and fertilize a bit when you expect a light rain.


Now, trees are a different story, since their roots are deeper. But
consider your terrain and don't apply if too much rain is coming so it can
be washed off rather than dissolved and percolated into the ground.

On 12/15/2014 6:09 PM, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:

Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif).
Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's.
What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?
Snuffy


In anticipation of the rain storm before last night's storm, I broadcast
a generous amount of gypsum on my back lawn. The lawn is red fescue, an
ornamental grass that grows about 6-12 inches and flops over.
Previously, before earlier storms, I did the front lawn ("pink clover",
Persicaria capitata) and the beds both in front and back. I used a
total of about 225 pounds of gypsum.

Gypsum is not a nutrient. It reacts with the clay soil that is so
common in southern California, causing the clay to become granular and
porous. That means any further rain will soak into the soil instead of
all running off. Unfortunately, the gypsum eventually leaches away; so
I have to repeat the treatment about every other year.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

On 12/17/2014 2:10 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 12/15/2014 6:09 PM, Snuffy "Hub Cap" McKinney wrote:

Looks like we're in for rain every week or so in the PRC (Calif).
Grass is growing like crazy, with the weather still in the 60-70's.
What kind of treatment is good just before a 1-2 inch rain?
Snuffy


In anticipation of the rain storm before last night's storm, I broadcast
a generous amount of gypsum on my back lawn. The lawn is red fescue, an
ornamental grass that grows about 6-12 inches and flops over.
Previously, before earlier storms, I did the front lawn ("pink clover",
Persicaria capitata) and the beds both in front and back. I used a
total of about 225 pounds of gypsum.

Gypsum is not a nutrient. It reacts with the clay soil that is so
common in southern California, causing the clay to become granular and
porous. That means any further rain will soak into the soil instead of
all running off. Unfortunately, the gypsum eventually leaches away; so
I have to repeat the treatment about every other year.


Gypsum, calcium sulfate, will lower lawn pH.
Western soils tend to be alkaline and gypsum is useful to lower pH.
Those in the eastern US tend to be acidic and limestone is often used to
raise pH.