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Many lawns in this area are planted with cool-season grasses including Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and fine fescues. They typically withstand cold winters, but each summer their growth slows. But a few simple steps can revive them in late summer.
Youâll often see lawns planted with these varieties begin to brown out in the summer. This is the time to raise that mower deck, because short mowing heights promote shallow roots, which makes it harder for the plants to access water and nutrients in the soil. Cutting your grass at a height of 3 or 4 inches will help promote deeper roots, as well as allow the grass to out-compete weeds, such as crabgrass. Research has shown that tall fescue lawns mowed at 3 or 4 inches will naturally inhibit 85% to 100% of crabgrass germination.
You may have walked into your garden recently and found plant leaves decimated or flowers chewed. Itâs the season for Japanese beetles and, as you already may have noticed, they are voracious feeders.
Japanese beetles easily are recognized by their attractive, shiny emerald-green and copper color. They are about 7/16 of an inch long. If you look closely, youâll see patches of white hair on their sides.
The beetles have sharp, chewing mouth parts that allow them to grind up tender leaf tissue between the veins, leaving the leaves skeletonized and lacy. But they donât stop at leaves. They will shred flowers â youâve probably seen them buried into the blooms on your roses â and even eat fruit.
Rural young Kentuckians will have the opportunity to explore their artistic skills while learning about farm safety and mental health through Farmers’ Dinner Theater, a partnership between the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environmentand the UK College of Nursing.