Nebraska Extension Scotts Bluff County

By Jim Schild and Gary Stone, Extension Educators, UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Fertilizing a turf grass lawn is a lot more than just buying a bag of fertilizer and spreading it all in the spring.

There are several decisions to make. One is how much fertilizer to apply; another is when to apply it. And spring is not the best time to apply most of the year's fertilizer.

The goal of a good fertilizer program is to keep growth at a minimum while maintaining a good, thick, dense, well-colored lawn. To reach the goal, at least two-thirds of the fertilizer should be applied during the fall to thicken the turf and help the grass recover after the summer stress.

       A pair of Scottsbluff High School Students, one who graduated in 2017 and one who will be a senior in the fall, are exchanging roles this summer, becoming teachers to younger students at a Scottsbluff elementary school.

      Teens as Teachers is a pilot program that Nebraska Extension is trying in Scotts Bluff, Hall, Madison and Colfax counties. According to local coordinator Leo Sierra, Teens as Teachers is aimed at providing positive learning experiences to under-served audiences by youthful teachers who look like them.