Mercer County to Offer Four-Part Lawn Care Course

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by Master Gardeners of Mercer County.

As spring approaches, many homeowners will have questions about what should be done to have a nice lawn in 2013 and still maintain a healthy environment and a reasonably intact wallet. 

A four-part course, Basics of Successful Lawn Care, will be offered at the Mercer County Rutgers Cooperative Extension office for professionals in the lawn care industry and for homeowners who care for their own lawns or hire maintenance companies.

Join Mercer County Horticulturist Barbara J. Bromley on Wednesday evenings, Feb.  6, 13, 20, and 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.  Pesticide recertification credits are being offered.  The charge will be $12 per class or $40 for all four to cover the cost of printed handouts.

The course has been divided into four parts.  Each session stands alone, but there will be many references to material learned in earlier classes.

Part 1, Management Strategies and Selection of Grasses, will cover determining lawn maintenance levels, characteristics of cool and warm season grasses grown in New Jersey, soil testing, and understanding the basic grass requirements of light, water, and soil. 

Part 2, Basic Maintenance Strategies:  IPM Practices, includes mowing, edging, soil testing, fertilizing, liming, and watering.

Part 3, Pest Control will cover the identification and control of insects, diseases, and weeds. 

Part 4, Troubleshooting, Lawn Renovation and Establishment, includes how to identify some common problems, renovate a damaged lawn and establish a new lawn on bare soil by seeding or sodding.

For a full outline of the course, to have questions answered, or to pre-register (strongly advised) call Rutgers Cooperative Extension at (609) 989-6830 or visit the office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 930 Spruce St. in Lawrence Township, adjacent to the Trenton Farmer’s Market. 

All classes will be held at the Extension office.  There is ample parking.