Yard & Garden

One-day average soil temperatures and 7-day average soil temperatures are provided year-round, through CropWatch. Soil temperatures are taken at 4 inches below the soil surface under bare soil. 

Find your current soil temperature here. 

More detailed soil temperature and precipitation data is provided daily by the Nebraska State Climate Office (NSCO). Visit the NSCO and Nebraska Mesonet websites for more detailed local and state climate data. 

A basic soil sample is good to have to know the basics about a soil, such as pH, organic matter content, and more. This can lead to good soil management practices which are the foundation of plant health. The University of Nebraska no longer provides soil sampling for a fee. Instead, we provide information on private labs soil samples can be sent to.

There are several commercial labs across Nebraska which can do soil and water testing. Visit Nebraska Soil & Water Testing Labs for more information. 

Either spring and/or fall. Grass should be actively growing so it can recover and grow out of any damage done to plant crowns during the process. 

Eastern Nebraska

• mid- April to late May
• mid-September to late October

Western Nebraska

• May
• September

Cool Season Lawn Calendar - Eastern Nebraska

Cool Season Lawn Calendar - Western Nebraska

Each spring, homeowners wonder when is the best time to make their first spring preemergence (PRE) herbicide and fertilizer application. 

PRE herbicides act by killing germinating weed seedlings, which come in contact with the herbicide as they grow their first shoot or root. The herbicide is gradually broken down by light and soil microbes, and this process starts as soon as the product is applied regardless of whether weed seedlings are present or not. Applying your PRE herbicide too early reduces the length of its actual effectiveness during periods of active weed growth, providing less weed control for your dollar. 

The guideline for PRE applications is based on the required soil temperature for germination of crabgrass and foxtail; 55° F at 4-inch soil depth for several days. To be exact with your application, check soil temperature reports for your location from the Nebraska State Climate Office.

Here are general guidelines based on historic spring temperature patterns for easter and western Nebraska. 

Eastern Nebraska

• 1st application: April 25-May 1
• 2nd application: June 1-15

Western Nebraska

• 1st application: May 1-10
• 2nd application: June 10-20

Cool Season Lawn Calendar - Eastern Nebraska

Cool Season Lawn Calendar - Western Nebraska

If your lawn is thin, overseeding may be needed. Provide good seed-soil contact through aerification. If seeding can’t be done before May 15^th, then wait until fall to overseed.

Careful selection of a preemergent herbicide is necessary for your seeding to be successful. Mesotrione and siduron (Tupersan) are the only preemergent chemicals that can be used on lawns while seeding. Both kill germinating crabgrass and foxtail, but will not kill germinating Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue seeds.

Mesotrione is the active ingredient in Scott’s Turf Builder Triple Action Built for Seeding and is one of the most common homeowner products in stores for new seedings. If any other preemergent was used – including prodiamine, benefin, balan, dithiopyr – germinating grass seeds will be killed along with weed seeds.

Eastern Nebraska

• Spring: April 25-May 15
• Fall: August 15 - September 15

Western Nebraska

• Spring: April 25-May 15
• Fall: August 15 - September 5

Cool Season Lawn Calendar - Eastern Nebraska

Cool Season Lawn Calendar - Western Nebraska

Establishing Lawns From Seed.

Looking at your pine trees this time of year, you may see trees with a very thin canopy, many brown needles or completely brown dead branches. Several problems could be responsible, including Diplodia tip blight or Dothistroma needle blight. Both of these diseases are caused by fungus infections and can be controlled or minimized with fungicide applications in spring. 

• Dothistroma needle blight - 2 applications. Mid-May and again mid to late June. 
• Diplodia tip blight - 2 applications. Third week of April and again 3-4 weeks later. 

Diseases of Evergreen Trees, Nebraska Forest Service