Lawn Care Present by Dr. Teri Hamlin Georgia Department of Education Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June, 2002

Turf Facts There are an estimated 800,000 acres of home lawns in Georgia The average homeowner spends $400.00 / acre annually to maintain lawn $312 million total turf maintenance expenditures

Get to know your grass Type: Cool Season Warm Season Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryegrass, Bentgrass Warm Season Bermuda, Centipede, Zoysia, St. Augustine

Methods for Establishment Seeding Plugging Sprigging Sodding

Soil Test

Soil pH pH governs the availability of nutrients & activity level of microorganisms

Most 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 Steps Rake & Remove Debris Weed Seed Germination Add Nutrients & Lime Soil Test Recommendation Phosphorous (2-3 lb per 1000 sqft) Application of Seed, Sprigs, Sod, Plugs Rake & Roll ensure good soil contact

Seed Label Information 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 Mixture Mixture What can be mixed? 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)

Seedbed must stay moist for seeds to germinate Water Seedbed must stay moist for seeds to germinate 1st 3 weeks Seed & Sprigs Keep moist by frequent, light watering until new root system develops

Sodding Any turfgrass that spreads by rhizomes or stolons Best Time: when turfgrass is actively growing Advantages: Instant Lawn Less Weed Competition Decrease Erosion Disadvantages High cost

Installing Sod Cost More Instant Lawn

Sodding Cost: $.12 - .35 / sqft 12” wide x 2’ long to 18” wide x 6’ long Pallet = 450 sq ft Thickness 1” - 1 1/2” 1/2” should be soil & roots

Sprigs & Plugs Most common: Bermuda & Bentgrass Sold by Bushel 1 Bushel = 1 sqft of sod Home Lawn: Sprig 4-5 Bushels per 1000 Sq ft Trays of 1-2 Dozen (4”pots)

Early Spring to Late Summer 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

Heavily soaked so that soil underneath is completely wet Water Sod & Plugs Heavily soaked so that soil underneath is completely wet

Establishment Mowing Weed Control 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 conversion 2 year for conversion Steps: 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 lawn want to get the job done w/speed don not have flowerbeds nearby

Best Results: Apply header strip along edge

When to Fertilize Cool Season Grass Warm 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 Lime Amount Based on Soil Test Slow Release Lime Apply : 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

Mowing recommended heights remove no more than 1/3 total leaf area

Blade Sharpness

Mowing Equipment Rotary Mower vs Reel Mower Chemical Mowing Growth Regulators reducing leaf growth

Reel Mower

Aerification Clay Soil Benefits 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

Organic material produced faster than it can be decomposed Thatch Management Organic material produced faster than it can be decomposed Problems Decrease water movement Decrease soil aeration Decrease root growth Increase insect/disease problems Creates barrier for fertilizer movement

Thatch Management Look For Remove Thatch Spongy Turf Cut section of turf & measure No more than 1/2” thatch Remove Thatch Vertical mowers Power rakes Dethatching mowers

Problem Solving ID Problem Select Treatment Specific to Problem

Weeds Broadleaf & Grass-Type

Weed Control Pre-emergence Post-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 Ring Alliette, Captan, Sudbue, Banol

Raking and Copper Sulfate Moss Problem Shade Compact Soil Poor Drainage Low Soil Fertility Poor Air Circulation High or Low pH Raking and Copper Sulfate Change Conditions

Insects Feed on Roots White Grubs / Mole Crickets Orthene, Sevin, Diazion Milky Spore “Doom” BT Powder Jap. Beetle Grubs

Insects Feed on leaf Army Worms/Chinch Bugs Dursban, Diazion, Sevin Damage results when chewed foliage dehydrates and turns brown

Fire Ants Drench: Dursban , Sevin Granular: Dursban, Diazion Dust: Orthene Liquid Fumigant: Earthfire Bait: Amdro, Award, Affirm

Low Maintenance thamlin@doe.k12.ga.us