Transcript
Rx for a Healthy Lawn
Linda BlueAgricultural Extension
AgentBuncombe County
Look familiar?
Healthy Lawn
Benefits of a healthy lawn:
• Aesthetics• Erosion control• Air quality
Maintain a healthy lawn
Lack of adequate groundcover :
● Erosion● Sedimentation● Pesticide and
fertilizer runoff
6 Steps to a Healthy Lawn• Select the right grass• Soil test • Plant correctly• Fertilize correctly• Mow correctly• Water correctly
Warm season vs/ cool season
Select Good Varieties• Cool season varieties
– Tall fescue– Kentucky bluegrass– Fine fescues
Variety testing
Plant a healthy lawn• Select
varieties best suited to your area
• Read the label• Plant at right
time of year• Correct
seeding rate
Read the label
Read the label
Read the label
48.3% Creeping Red Fescue 26.2% Annual Ryegrass
25.5% Kentucky Bluegrass
2 lb. bag (covers approximately 1,000 square feet)
$19.90
CANADA GREEN GRASS SEED Mixture
Comparison:• Canada Green
– $19.90 / 1,000 sq. ft.
• Rebels Hybrid Blend– $10 / 1,000 sq. ft.
• Kentucky 31– $8.50 / 1,000 sq. ft.
Grass needs at least 50% sun
Tree roots
Shade tolerant ground covers
Shade garden
Plant Correctly• September is best• Late February / early March • Tall fescue: 5 - 6 lb / 1,000
sq. ft.• Fescue + bluegrass:
– 5 lb. Fescue– 1 lb. Bluegrass
Can this lawn be salvaged?
To this?
Yes !
Before After
Soil preparation
Don’t guess:
Soil test
Correct soil pH according to plant needs
Healthy roots: healthy plants
drought tolerance
“Starter Fertilizer”
Adequate phosphate for good root growth
Super phosphate
Incorporate amendments
Renovate existing lawn
• Kill with non-selective herbicide• Scalp and rake
Core aerate and over-seed
Spread seed
Straw
50 % cover
Water • Water daily if
needed• Keep moist
until emerged
6 weeks
Do not remove straw
Sod requires the same soil preparation.
Page 10; Delete:Water sod on a regular
basis and fertilize with a starter-type fertilizer to promote rooting. Use ½ to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet every three weeks for the fastest growth.
Maintain a healthy lawn
Healthy lawn:
• 15 times less runoff
• Filters runoff
Maintain a healthy lawn•Fertilize •Mow •Water •Pest control
Fertilize Correctly
• Slow release nitrogen• Apply at right time• Use correct amount
Fertilize correctly
• Less runoff or leaching
• Better plant health
• Fertilize at right time
Use slow release fertilizer
Turf Fertilization
Turf
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N
DTotal lb. N/ 1,000 sq ft/yr
Bermuda 1 1 1 1 ½ 4.5
St. Augustine ½ ½ 1 ½ 2.5
Zoysiagrass ½ ½ ½ 1.5
Fescue ½ -1 1 1 2.5 - 3
Bluegrass ½ -1 1 1 2.5 - 3
Fescue/bluegrass
½ -1 1 1 2.5 - 3
Turf growth responseCool Season Grass Soil Temperature Warm Season
Grass
Roots stop growing 33°FShoots stop growing 40°F Roots stop growing
50°F Dormancy beginsOptimum root growth
50 – 65°F
Optimum shoot growth
60 – 75°F
Roots stop growing 75 – 85°F Optimum root growth
Shoots stop growing 80 – 95°F Optimum shoot growth
110°F Roots stop growing120°F Shoots stop growing
Turf Fertilization
Turf
J
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M
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S
O
N
DTotal lb. N/ 1,000 sq ft/yr
Bermuda 1 1 1 1 ½ 4.5
St. Augustine ½ ½ 1 ½ 2.5
Zoysiagrass ½ ½ ½ 1.5
Fescue ½ -1 1 1 2.5 - 3
Bluegrass ½ -1 1 1 2.5 - 3
Fescue/bluegrass
½ -1 1 1 2.5 - 3
Sweep up spills
Mow Correctly• Right height• Frequently• Only when dry• Mulch clippings
You’re not mowing a golf course
What is correct mowing height ?
What is correct mowing height ?
Fescue 3”Bluegrass 2 ½ - 3”
Mow correctly
Mowing too short:
• Thinning turf• Erosion• Weeds
Mow cool season grass taller for larger root system
Correct mowing height
Correct mowing height
Correct mowing height
Mowing height = best weed control
2 ½”2”1 ½”
1”
½”
Recycle grass clippingsDo not remove more then 1/3 at a time
Use a mulching mower
Reasons to leave clippings on the lawn
• Less work• No longer
accepted in NC landfills
• Acts as mulch:– Moisture retention– Weed suppression
Nutrient recycling
100 lb dry clippings:
4 lb. N½ lb. P3 lb. K
Do not mow when wet
Brown Patch
Sweep clippings off pavement
• High nitrogen content
• Nitrogen pollutes rivers and streams
Water Correctly• Seldom but deeply• Allow established lawn to go
dormant• Morning is best
Allow turf to go dormant
Water wisely• Growing lawns
1 inch once a week
• Dormant lawns1 inch every 3
weeks
Water deeply
Why the path?
Why the path?
Soil compaction
Core aerate• Increase water
absorption
• Improve fertilizer uptake
• Improve root growth• Improve drought
tolerance
Thatch
Do you need to de-thatch?
Thatch
No Fescue does not
build thatchBluegrass only when
over-fertilized
Ah! Fall!
Do not let leaves accumulate
Lawn Problems
• Weeds• Diseases• Insects• Moles
An ounce of prevention: good cultural practices
Brown Patch
Weeds
Weeds • Prevention
• Pre-emergent herbicides
• Post-emergent herbicides– Selective– Non-selective
Prevent brown patch• Correct N
applications• Correct mowing• Correct watering• Correct pH
White grubs
Japanese Beetlelife cycle
Mole traps
What’s wrong ?
What’s wrong ?
Annual rye
The End
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