turfgrass establishment and care. turfgrass can be used for a variety of things erosion control...
TRANSCRIPT
Two major types of Grasses
• Warm Season: These grasses are dormant in the winter. They are typically grown in the south or warmer areas.
• Cool season are dormant in the summer and are typically grown in the north or cooler areas.
• Both can be grown in the transitional areas such as Kentucky.
Establishment by Seed
• Different types of grass require different methods.
• Early spring or fall is the best time to establish grass.
• Use blended mixture of seeds.
• Till up soil and remove weeds.
• Spread seed.
Establishment Continued
• Rake seed in and add fertilizer. Roll grass with seed roller.
• Cover with straw.
• WATER!!!! A LOT!!!
• Or by seed blankets and put over prepared soil.
Planting Sod/Plugs
• Establish area similar to planting seed.
• Role out sod or plant plugs.
• Roll sod or plugs.
• WATER!!!! A LOT!!!
Maintaining Turfgrass
• Test Soil.
• Fertilize spring, summer, fall.
• Summer fertilization can effect drought tolerance.
• Manage weeds, disease and pests using proper care methods.
• Mow often remove little.
• Irrigation (watering)
Mowing
• Be careful at first the grass is delicate.
• Never take more than 1/3 the height at a time.
• Use sharp blades.
• Cool season grasses mow to 3-4 inches.
• Warm season can be mowed from 1-2 inches.
Fertilize
• Use high Nitrogen in the spring and summer.
• Use higher potassium and phosphorus in the fall.
• Rule of thumb 1 lb nitrogen per 1000 Square feet
Watering
• About 1” per week depending on the weather.
• No need to water.
• Cool season grasses will brown in the summer but will break dormancy in the fall.
• Water in the morning.
• It is better to soak the plants and water less frequently.
Weeds/Pests/Disease
• By having healthy grass one can minimize these without having to spray or physically remove them.
• Fungicide: Kills fungus
• Pesticide: Kill pests
• Herbicide: Kills plants (weeds)• Selective kill only broad leaves• Non-selective kills all
Other Care
• Thatch: Build up of dead grass clippings. This can be managed by proper care or raking by hand or with a machine.
• Aerification: This takes plugs out of the soil to give the soil pore space.
• Remove leaves in the fall or mulch them by mowing over them several times.
Common Turfgrass in our Area
• Most lawns are a blend.• Kentucky bluegrass: Full sun grass, Cool season • Red fescue: Shade grass cool, season• Fine fescue: Shade grass, cool season• Annual Ryegrass: full sun, annual, used to
establish grass• Bent grass: Full sun, cool season, used for golf
courses• Bermuda grass: Full sun, warm season, used for
golf courses
Common Pests
• Grubs: Eat the roots
• Chinch bugs
• Army worms
• Sod webworm,
• Billbug
• Chinch bug
• Aphids.
Common Disease
• Dollar spot• Red thread• Rusts• Leaf spot/melting out• Snowmold• Summer patch• Necrotic ring patch• Fusarium blight• http://urbanext.illinois.edu/lawnchallenge/lesson
8.html