An abundant strawberry crop doesn’t ‘just happen’! It takes effort to make sure the bed is well taken care, weeds are kept at bay, and diseases are monitored to determine when control programs are needed. It also includes an adequate fertility program.

Nitrogen applications now are very important for our spring-bearing varieties if you want to increase the number of strawberries produced next spring. Adequate sunlight and warm temperatures the last 75 days have resulted in the growth of new runner, or daughter, plants. Once we reach September and October, daylight hours will decline, temperatures will grow cooler, and fruit buds for next year's fruit crop will develop. That means fertilization now to keep plants vigorous during this period of fruit bud development.

Apply nitrogen products in mid-August at a rate of one half to three quarters of a pound of actual nitrogen per 100 feet of row. Use a nitrogen only or balanced fertilizer. For example, urea (46-0-0) would be applied at one and a half pounds per 100 feet of row whereas a 12-12-12 fertilizer would be used at five and a half pounds per one hundred feet of row. Water with at least a half inch of water after application to move the nitrogen into the root zone.

Cool Season Grass Cultivars

While K-31 has been the cool season turf grass of choice for many over the years, newer tall fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass cultivars have been developed over the years that give homeowners a ton of options when it comes to seeding the home lawn. As with everything – not all are created equal!

It might surprise homeowners to know that there are actually trials that rate turf grasses for various features on a monthly basis! These ratings are part of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Trial testing program. Want to check out the latest and greatest turf grass varieties for Kansas? Find those results online at: http://www.ntep.org/states/ks.htm . If you want the ‘short’ list for Kansas, drop me a line and we’ll send it to you!