Establishing Lawns Horticulture Mr. Fitzgerald. Turf Facts §Approx. 50 million acres of managed turf in US §As of 2004, the annual value of the U.S. turfgrass.

Establishing Lawns

Horticulture

Mr. Fitzgerald

Turf FactsApprox. 50 million acres of

managed turf in US

As of 2004, the annual value of the U.S. turfgrass industry was $35 billion.

Nationally, homeowners spend $6.4 billion per year on lawn care.

Get to know your grassType:

Cool Season• Fescue, Kentucky

Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Bentgrass

Warm Season• Bermuda, Centipede,

Zoysia, St. Augustine

Name of seed producer Seed Lot # Seed Variety % Purity % Germination % Weed or Crop Seed % Non-Seed Material Date when seed was last tested for Germination

Seed Label Information

What are you buying????

How much seed do you need?

Based on % pure live seed & # of plants required for area

GOAL Establish 1000 plants per

square foot for newly seeded lawn

Pure Seed or MixtureMixture

meets wide environmental & use requirements select mixture based on desired characteristics turfgrass vary in resistance to disease and insects

What can be mixed? Any turf that spreads by rhizomes or tillers (Fescue, Bluegrass, Ryegrass) Do not use stolon grasses, tend to segregate

• Bermuda, Bentgrass, Zoysia, Centipede, St Augustine)

Methods for Establishment

SeedingPluggingSpriggingSodding

Soil Test

Soil pHpH governs the availability of nutrients & activity

level of microorganisms

pHMost lawns grow best in a soil pH 5.5 - 6.5

Low pH < than 5.0 (acidic soil) Dolomite or Limestone Avoid over liming - weak growth will result

High pH > 7.0 (alkaline soil) Ammonium sulfate , Aluminum sulfate,

Sulfuric acid

Establishment StepsRake & Remove DebrisWeed Seed GerminationAdd Nutrients & Lime

Soil Test Recommendation Phosphorous (2-3 lb per 1000 sqft)

Application of Seed, Sprigs, Sod, Plugs

Rake & Roll • ensure good soil contact

Water

Seedbed must stay moist for seeds to germinate

1st 3 weeksSeed & Sprigs

Keep moist by frequent, light watering until new root system develops

Sodding

Any turfgrass that spreads by rhizomes or stolonsBest Time: when turfgrass is actively growingAdvantages:

Instant Lawn Less Weed Competition Decrease Erosion

Disadvantages High cost

Installing Sod Cost More

Instant Lawn

Sodding

Cost: $.12 - .35 / sqft12” wide x 2’ long to 18” wide x 6’ longPallet = 450 sq ftThickness 1” - 1 1/2”

1/2” should be soil & roots

Sprigs & Plugs

Most common: Bermuda & BentgrassSold by Bushel1 Bushel = 1 sqft of sodHome Lawn: Sprig 4-5 Bushels per 1000 Sq

ftTrays of 1-2 Dozen (4”pots)

Sprigs & Plugs

Time of Year Early Spring to Late Summer

Spacing• 10-12” apart, checkerboard

Planting set root systems completely under soil surface

Soil Contact Roll area after planting

Water•Sod & Plugs

– Heavily soaked so that soil underneath is completely wet

Establishment

Mowing as soon as grass gets high enough to cut at its

optimum height

Weed Control 1st year chemical weed control is discouraged

Converting Old Lawns

Grass selection: Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede conversion2 year for conversionSteps:

1. Cut Lawn Closely 2. Dethatch / Aerification 3. Correct pH / Nutrient Level 4. Sprig / Plug / Seed 5. Roll & Water Thoroughly

Maintenance of Established Lawns

Fertility Major Nutrient

– Nitrogen

– Phosphorous

– Potassium

Minor Nutrient– Sulfur

– Magnesium

– Iron

Maintenance of Established Lawns

Fertilizer Application Type of grass Soil Analysis Fertilizer Burn

• Salt Toxicity

• Check spreader calibration

Spreader Selection & Application

Low quality spreader can leave streak or patches in the lawn

Causing unsatisfactory control of weeds, insects, as well as poor fertilizer performance

Drop vs Rotary Spreader

Drop Spreader meter out fertilizer and

drop it directly on lawn

Small lawn Doing job as precisely

as possible is important don’t mind taking a bit

longer

Drop vs Rotary Spreader

Rotary spreader meter out the fertilizer and throw granules in a swath

very large lawnwant to get the job

done w/speeddon not have

flowerbeds nearby

Best Results: Apply header strip along edge

When to Fertilize

Cool Season Grass Fescue Sept, Nov, Feb, April

Warm Season Grass Bermuda: April, May, June Centipede: June Zoysia: April, June St. Augustine: May, June, July, Aug

FESCUE ALERT!

Fertilize fescue with caution. Too much will make it disease prone and

drought sensitive. If you haven't fertilized in six weeks, apply

now at half the rate recommended on the bag.

Maintenance of Established Lawns

LimeAmount Based on Soil TestSlow Release LimeApply : Fall

Irrigation

General Rule

1” water per week

How to measure ?

Water when dew is on the ground

Lack of Water Stress Signs

Grass turns a silvery blue in stress area Footprints in lawn, does not spring back

Mowing

Avoid Scalping

Never cut more than 1/3 of leaf blade in one single mowing

Mowing too low

Decrease grass ability to develop food reserves for stress & dormant periods

Expose growing point to heat/cold

Larger % leaf cut the longer period root will not grow = shallow root system

Mowingrecommended heights

Turf Height of Cut Mowing Height

Centipede 2” 3”

Tall Fescue 2” 3”

Bermuda ¼ -1” 3/8 – 1 ½ “

Zoysia 1-2” 1 ½ - 3”

St. Augustine 2” 3”

remove no more than 1/3 total leaf area

Blade Sharpness

Mowing EquipmentRotary Mower vs Reel MowerChemical Mowing

Growth Regulators reducing leaf growth

Reel Mower

Aerification

Clay SoilBenefits

Decrease compaction Improves water movement Increases irrigation efficiency Increase oxygen exchange Increase nutrient availability

Aerification

Equipment Solid Tine Hollow Tine (Core Aerifiers) Slicing / Vibrating Aerifers High Pressurized Water & Air

• (depths from 1/4” - 16”)

Aerification

Thatch ManagementOrganic material produced faster than it can be

decomposedProblems

Decrease water movement Decrease soil aeration Decrease root growth Increase insect/disease problems Creates barrier for fertilizer movement

Thatch Management

Look For Spongy Turf Cut section of turf & measure No more than 1/2” thatch

Remove Thatch Vertical mowers Power rakes Dethatching mowers

Problem Solving

ID ProblemSelect Treatment Specific to Problem

WeedsBroadleaf & Grass-Type

Weed Control

Pre-emergence Apply: Feb -March & Sept - Oct Balan, Surflan, Dacthal, Ronstar

Post-emergence Apply: Summer during Early Weed Growth MSMA, Trimec, Acclain, Weedar, Banvel

Disease Control

Brown Patch Dollar Spot Banner,

Tersan, Maneb, Topsin

Disease

Pythium Blight / Root Rot /Fairy RingAlliette, Captan, Sudbue, Banol

Moss Problem

ShadeCompact SoilPoor DrainageLow Soil Fertility Poor Air CirculationHigh or Low pH

Raking and Copper Sulfate

Change Conditions

Insects

Feed on RootsWhite Grubs / Mole

CricketsOrthene, Sevin,

DiazionMilky Spore “Doom”BT Powder

Jap. Beetle Grubs

Insects

Feed on leafArmy Worms/Chinch

BugsDursban, Diazion,

SevinDamage results when

chewed foliage dehydrates and turns brown