Natural Resources

Staff and volunteers with the Prince William Cooperative Extension’s Environment and Natural Resources program provide educational programs for individuals and business to implement sound practices producing aesthetically pleasing landscapes that have minimal negative impacts on the environment. Programs include:

Seasonal Tips

The Environment and Natural Resources team and Master Gardener Volunteers of Virginia Cooperative Extension, answer many questions during spring and summer months.  Below are some of our most frequently asked questions for this time of year.

Lawns

Early spring abounds with national advertising campaigns from lawn care companies. While appropriate for some areas of the country, spring is not a good time to fertilize cool season lawns in our area. Doing so is likely to cause disease problems in the summer and fall. Some warm season lawns can benefit from late spring (May) fertilization. Remember to test your soil before applying fertilizer to make sure you are putting down the appropriate nutrients. Soil test boxes and instructions can be obtained from the Extension Office at (703) 792-7747 or at a local Prince William County Library.  Instead of soil testing yourself, you can sign up for our BEST Lawns program where a master gardener will come to your home to measure and sample your lawn. When the soil test results come back, you will be provided with a nutrient management plan customized to your lawn.
 

Weeds to Watch For

Crabgrass is an annual and needs warm soil for the seeds to germinate; this usually coincides with the blooming of forsythia and daffodils. A little crabgrass is best controlled with a thick, healthy lawn and the occasional hand removal. If the problem is severe, pre-emergent herbicides can help knock back crabgrass. If you choose to use a pre-emergent, make sure to use one that does not contain fertilizer to avoid over-fertilizing and inviting disease problems.
 
Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum) is an invasive weed in our area. It is a warm season annual capable of producing a large amount of seed every fall. It is tolerant of shade and prefers moist areas. Left alone it will generally grow upright to about 3’. When mowed, it will sprawl across the lawn.
 

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